Confused With Options To Obtain BestQuality iTunes

I'll throw another wrench into the works: Using iTunes as your software to deliver the music is going to limit the sampling rate to the conventional 16/44 no matter which hardware you deliver it with. Also, if you output via any USB 1.0 / 1.1 device it will limit throughput to 16/44. If you do utilize USB at all to interface with a DAC you want to use the better implementation of that interface, which means Asynchronous or some variation on that theme. Suggestions there: Empirical, Wavelength, Wyred4Sound, Ayre, Zodiac...there are more. Cheap implementation of USB can really make an otherwise good DAC sound very poor in comparison to feeding the same DAC through SPDIF.

Wireless is an excellent way to go. Your friend is right though, for the ultimate you'd want to go with a wired Ethernet connection to get the most from a network based server that feeds a DAC (like a Touch or Transporter). I don't think that particular difference is huge though and wireless is awfully convenient. You can easily experiment and see if the difference is audible and significant to you. The Apple Express and Apple TV are not optimal for getting the best sound - I would steer clear of them. Lots of jitter there. Go with a modestly priced Squeezebox Touch for a much better alternative in the same (just a bit more) price bracket.

My suggestion is to rip and store your files as FLAC using MAXX software if you are on a Mac, using the "CD Paranoia" setting for error correction (plenty of other options for various ripping software on PC, EAC and MediaMonkey are good ones). Use Squeezeserver to organize your library. Feed the files to a Squeezebox Touch. Digital SPDIF out from the touch to an (optional) de-jitter device like a Monarchy DIP or Genesis Digital Lens, then digital-out to a good DAC. You can control this setup remotely from your laptop using Squeezeserver, from a Sqeezebox controller or remote, or from an iPhone or iTouch using the iPeng app. Do this right and it will rival most high-end players, but with tremendous convenience and your entire music library at your fingertips.

A simpler version would be to get one of the better USB DACs that have that interface down pat as a non-issue. Fewer boxes, but you'd be hard-wired to your computer. You could also use an Empirical Pacecar to improve a USB>DAC connection if the DAC in question were not up to snuff in the USB department.

Much of this, which path is the best one, is splitting hairs and really needs to take into account how resolving your system is, how resolving your own ears are, your expectations and thresholds, budget, and finally personal preferences. Some factors do make a significant difference though so it is good to research. You can find plenty online, here and elsewhere (Computer Asylum, Computer Audiophile, Empirical Audio, Wavelength Audio, etc.).

Hope there's some help in there for you.

Sorry for the confusion (my own) on the iTunes interface. It was auto-switching of the sample rate that it does not support. As has been pointed out you need to go into the Audio Midi setup and switch the sampling rate manually, which personally I feel is a PITA, especially when there are options to do it on the fly automatically.

I was not suggesting that iTunes handles FLAC files - it certainly does not (one of the reasons I prefer not to use it). I specified to use Squeezeserver to handle your library which will automatically adjust sample rate on the fly. If you really like iTunes you can still use it to organize your music and just point squeezeserver to it and it will still deliver, but I personally would not recommend using iTunes because of these two drawbacks:

1. No auto-switching of sampling rates.
2. Poor error-correction on ripping CD's (compared to software like MAXX using Full Paranoia, or EAC. I have heard audible differences in files ripped via iTunes vs EAC so prefer to go with better ripping software.

Squeezeserver can use iTunes, and one other music folder to create a library from, so you could conceivably store your FLAC files in a separate folder and all others you want to catalogue in iTunes. I have to say I actually do like the iTunes interface - Apple has user-friendly down!

FLAC is a universal, full resolution format that makes storing and converting files very easy. It is cross platform and very versatile. Software like MAXX can do bulk conversions from FLAC files to several alternate formats in basically two steps. With iTunes such conversions have to be done manually format by format. As said earlier, itunes will not support FLAC at all.

One further detail that I think I need clarification on myself is the limitations of bandwidth / sampling rates on the USB interface. I know the older 1.0 interface was pretty limited and cannot stream high-rez. 1.1 improved a bit (high-rez capable?), and 2.0 is fully capable of streaming high-rez files as is the newly introduced 3.0. Can someone educate me further on this?

One other note on USB - beware of plugging your USB DAC into a hub or a keyboard, or in tandem with any slower USB devices as that will slow down the performance of the shared USB port as I understand it.

I would avoid WAV too. The metatagging issue is a royal PITA and will come up to bite you if you ever need to move files around outside of iTunes, or need to restore your library. I also have found no difference between WAV and FLAC that I can hear. I have heard differences between WAV and ALAC that I could hear, and I've also heard differences between files ripped by iTunes vs same file via EAC. If you are sticking with iTunes I'd personally go with AIFF (basically a Mac version of WAV)

I've had no problem at all streaming 24/96 via wireless using Squeezeserver to a Touch>24/96 DAC. The only hiccup is a brief initial buffering dropout, but once past that it streams without a problem.

USB 1.0 is more limited, and I'm pretty sure cannot stream 24/96...or at least that was the impression I was under. I was wondering about USB 1.1 myself - I think it has the bandwidth for 24/96.

I'm on a Mac using FLAC and have not had any problems at all using Squeezeserver. iTunes will only batch convert to one-format at a time. MAXX will convert to many different formats in one batch process. 4est - what problems are you suggesting that Mac has with FLAC files?

Joekapahulu - You can continue to use iTunes and use Squeezeserver to access and catalogue your iTunes library, as well as one additional folder that contains music files. I don't know about other SW - perhaps someone else can comment.

Tobias - thanks for the clarification on USB. So the Squeezebox Touch must be using those drivers because it allegedly can do 24/96 via USB 2.0? I have not tried it though - I've tried both wireless and via SPDIF. Good tip too to run with 5mhz wireless. Thanks!

Part of my problem is I fairly recently switch to my Mac from PCs and am still not quite up to speed on it.

Consider yourself lucky you didn't go the opposite way...then you'd really have a steep learning curve!

What I can't quite figure out is how to tell the Squeezebox to get my music files from AyreWave, or maybe better yet, from both AyreWave and iTunes. From the Logitech site,

I read that you can run multiple folders (right term?) by saving one into the other. So I take it the easiest thing would be to save the AvreWave directory in ITunes as a folder -- which would make it a subdirectory. Is that right?

Squeezeserver has a toggle box among the various "Settings" screens (access from lower right corner of the finder window) that dictates it to "Use iTunes". It is under the tab that reads "iTunes" and is the top box. Click that box and direct it to your iTunes folder. In addition to this there is another setting right there under the "Basic Settings" tab that asks you to direct it to the music folder you want it to use. In the case that you were using AyreWave to store some music separately from iTunes you would find that file that that software stores the music in and point it to it. I'm not at all familiar with AyreWave though - isn't it a player of sorts? Anyway, that's how you'd get Squeezeserver to access both libraries. If AyreWave is just accessing your iTunes library anyway, then you don't need to do any of this - just tell Squeezeserver to use iTunes. Squeezeserver will deliver full res to 24/96 via Touch or Transporter. Lower to previously available devices (Duet, SB3, etc)

Tpy - I'm not familiar with AyreWave. If it is a media player then you will be bypassing both iTunes AND Squeezeserver I imagine. If it uses your iTunes library then you'd just point it at the folder and continue using iTunes to catalogue your music. Sorry to add confusion to the mix. I'm not sure how you'd utilize AyreWave to play Squeezebox devices though since they do require Sqeezeserver otherwise. Someone more familiar with the new software would have to say.