Ripping CDs (decently)

[Hxc]

I can never decide what I want to do regarding ripping.

My MP3 player does not support FLAC, and as such I would use it exclusively for PC files; but then I'm wasting space, and I am not getting the benefit due to my odd setup (USB Dac/Amp running into a desktop amp), so I sorta concluded on just using the CDs in the CD player seperate, and having 320kbps mp3s for normal use...

 

[alex24]

Foobar does the job, songbird seems like it needs more work.only thing with Foobar is I can't browse my albums nicely as I could in wmp.
For the chap using cds,what mp3 player do you have? I have a toshiba gigabeat f, well two (20 and 40gb) with rockbox custom firmware loaded. This allows for flac playback and allsorts, might be compatible with yours too. I wouldn't change my mp3 player for anything, its ace! I can notice a difference between 320 mp3 and flac for sure, even with poor speakers or my creative headphones (fairly basic ones).

 

[Flibster]

You can set Foobar to have a media library - then you can sort by artist, path, album etc.

MP3 player wise - all of mine support FLAC so I just use that.
Cowon X5
Cowon M3
Cowon D2
Cowon O2
iRiver H140
Sandisk Sansa

 

[Hxc]

Foobar does the job, songbird seems like it needs more work.only thing with Foobar is I can't browse my albums nicely as I could in wmp.
For the chap using cds,what mp3 player do you have? I have a toshiba gigabeat f, well two (20 and 40gb) with rockbox custom firmware loaded. This allows for flac playback and allsorts, might be compatible with yours too. I wouldn't change my mp3 player for anything, its ace! I can notice a difference between 320 mp3 and flac for sure, even with poor speakers or my creative headphones (fairly basic ones).

Zune 120gb

Very, very few people can tell the difference between 320vbr encoded properly and FLAC; I certainly can't through either my speaker+amp seperates setup (not a particulary high end one), nor through £120 (more now the exchange rate has died, prob close to £200) headphones.

I like CDs though, and use them when not playing music on the PC. The DAC certainly sounds nicer than my DAC/AMP combo, and as such I prefer the sound of a CD to that of a FLAC/VBR mp3 file on the PC. Really need to get a decent dedicated DAC, so I can remove double amplification from my system, and so that it'll sound much better overall.

 

[Hamster]

You can set Foobar to have a media library - then you can sort by artist, path, album etc.

MP3 player wise - all of mine support FLAC so I just use that.
Cowon X5
Cowon M3
Cowon D2
Cowon O2
iRiver H140
Sandisk Sansa

Just out of interest, if you can be bothered, can you rank these in terms of sound quality?

 

[Trifid]

Zune 120gb

Very, very few people can tell the difference between 320vbr encoded properly and FLAC; I certainly can't through either my speaker+amp seperates setup (not a particulary high end one), nor through £120 (more now the exchange rate has died, prob close to £200) headphones.
ll.

I have my FLAC collection plus the collection in Windows lossless for my Zune...

 

[Flibster]

Just out of interest, if you can be bothered, can you rank these in terms of sound quality?

iRiver H140 - battery life is terrible though. Only used when plugged in now.
Cowon D2 - My day to day player
Cowon X5/M3 - Possibly the best when line out is used and an external amp.
Cowon O2 - just too quiet
Sandisk Sansa - Only use it for Audible audiobooks anyway...

 

[Hamster]

iRiver H140 - battery life is terrible though. Only used when plugged in now.
Cowon D2 - My day to day player
Cowon X5/M3 - Possibly the best when line out is used and an external amp.
Cowon O2 - just too quiet
Sandisk Sansa - Only use it for Audible audiobooks anyway...

Nice, thanks

I have the same iriver and was wondering how you compared it to the Cowon players. It's certainly the best featured player when it comes to inputs and outputs and sounds incredible standalone and also through an Arcam AV amp via the optical out.

If you are thinking of replacing the iriver battery you can get batteries from ebay which are pretty easy to fit and have a larger capacity than the original. This one is a recommended seller going by advice given in the misticriver forums:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Replacement-...h=item350057234456&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262

Just need to make sure you get the polarity the right way round when fitting it.

 

[Flibster]

Nice, thanks

I have the same iriver and was wondering how you compared it to the Cowon players. It's certainly the best featured player when it comes to inputs and outputs and sounds incredible standalone and also through an Arcam AV amp via the optical out.

If you are thinking of replacing the iriver battery you can get batteries from ebay which are pretty easy to fit and have a larger capacity than the original. This one is a recommended seller going by advice given in the misticriver forums:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Replacement-...h=item350057234456&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262

Just need to make sure you get the polarity the right way round when fitting it.

The X5 and M3 are as good as the H140 when using the line out.
The H140 is the best unamped though.
D2 is very very close indeed.

I not only want to change the battery but also upgrade the hdd if possible. 40gb isn't enough anymore.

 

[Hamster]

I not only want to change the battery but also upgrade the hdd if possible. 40gb isn't enough anymore.

Me too, especially when hooked on FLAC!! I'm waiting until the new 240GB Toshiba drives are released and whether it will fit in and work with the iriver. If it doesn't i'll go for the tried and tested 120GB Toshiba.

 

[Hxc]

I have my FLAC collection plus the collection in Windows lossless for my Zune...

I don't want the restriction of Windows Lostless or the hard drive space of both!

 

[Pdog]

Just had a read through the link posted above, which is very informative. I do have one question though some of you mentioned using EAC and cue sheets? I couldn't see any mention of this in the guides and just wondered why it is recommended.