For those interested, I did a test comparing the results of ripping one song using 3 different programs on PC and Mac with surprising (to me, others might say, doh!) results. This might explain the reason for the difference in what I am hearing when listening to ALAC versus WAV encoded using iTunes on the Mac.
Conclusion:
I will no longer use iTunes to rip anything for high end listening, but will use EAC instead.
Even iTunes rips from Mac and PC can differ for the same file format! iTunes ALAC and WAV files differ on my Mac but not on my PC. Probably optical drive related issues come into play now as well.
For those interested in the details please see below:
Testing Results of ripping using:
• iTunes on MacMini,
• iTunes on PC,
• Max on MacMini
• EAC on PC
Test media – 1 Song from an unscratched purchased CD
Aqualung – 01. Strange & Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You)
Comparison Test Software
Foobar bit comparison to find differences in rip.
Test Results:
Test 1: EAC WAV file versus iTunes on PC AIFF file on auto settings
• differences found: 20327754 sample(s), starting at 1.0012698 second(s), peak: 1.9772644 at 129.1615193 second(s), 1ch
Test 2: EAC WAV file versus iTunes on PC WAV file on auto settings
• differences found: 20327754 sample(s), starting at 1.0012698 second(s), peak: 1.9772644 at 129.1615193 second(s), 1ch
Test 3: EAC WAV file versus iTunes on PC WAV file on custom settings 48Khz, 16bit, stereo
• Comparing failed (sample rate mismatch).
Test 4: EAC WAV file versus iTunes on PC AIFF file on custom settings 48Khz, 16bit, stereo
• Comparing failed (sample rate mismatch).
Test 5: EAC wav file versus iTunes on Mac WAV file on auto settings
• differences found: 20324423 sample(s), starting at 1.0012698 second(s), peak: 1.9230347 at 119.3403855 second(s), 1ch
Test 6: EAC wav file versus Max on Mac AIFF file on 32bit Core Audio setting
• differences found: 20324423 sample(s), starting at 1.0012698 second(s), peak: 1.9230347 at 119.3403855 second(s), 1ch
Test 7: iTunes on PC WAV file 48Khz versus iTunes on PC AIFF 48Khz file
• No differences in decoded data found.
Test 8: iTunes on PC WAV file auto settings versus iTunes on PC AIFF auto settings
• No differences in decoded data found.
Test 9: iTunes on PC WAV file auto settings versus iTunes on Mac WAV auto settings
• differences found: 20322886 sample(s), starting at 1.0023583 second(s), peak: 1.9734802 at 58.8010204 second(s), 1ch
Test 10: iTunes on PC ALAC file auto settings versus iTunes on Mac ALAC auto settings
• differences found: 20323701 sample(s), starting at 1.0023583 second(s), peak: 1.9734802 at 58.8010204 second(s), 1ch
Test 11: EAC on PC WAV versus iTunes on PC ALAC auto settings
• differences found: 20327754 sample(s), starting at 1.0012698 second(s), peak: 1.9772644 at 129.1615193 second(s), 1ch
Test 12: EAC on PC WAV file versus iTunes on Mac ALAC auto settings
• differences found: 20324874 sample(s), starting at 1.0012698 second(s), peak: 1.9230347 at 119.3403855 second(s), 1ch
Test 13: iTunes on PC WAV file auto settings versus iTunes on PC ALAC auto settings
• No differences in decoded data found.
Test 14: iTunes on PC AIFF file auto settings versus iTunes on PC ALAC auto settings
• No differences in decoded data found.
Test 15: iTunes on Mac AIFF file auto settings versus iTunes on Mac WAV auto settings
• differences found: 104100 sample(s), starting at 3.3365986 second(s), peak: 0.1472473 at 4.2235374 second(s), 1ch
Test 16: iTunes on Mac AIFF file auto settings versus iTunes on Mac ALAC auto settings
• differences found: 44225 sample(s), starting at 3.3365986 second(s), peak: 0.7921753 at 4.5601134 second(s), 1ch
Test 17: iTunes on Mac WAV file auto settings versus iTunes on Mac ALAC auto settings
differences found: 90334 sample(s), starting at 3.5097959 second(s), peak: 0.7921753 at 4.5601134 second(s), 1ch
Test 18: Max on Mac AIFF file 32bit using Core Audio versus Max on Mac AIFF file 16bit using Core Audio
• No differences in decoded data found.
Test 19: Max on Mac AIFF file 32bit using Core Audio versus Max on Mac AIFF file 24bit using Core Audio
• No differences in decoded data found.
Test 20: Max on Mac AIFF file 16bit using Core Audio versus Max on Mac AIFF file 24bit using Core Audio
• No differences in decoded data found.
Test 21: EAC wav file versus Max on Mac AIFF file on 16bit Core Audio setting
• differences found: 20324423 sample(s), starting at 1.0012698 second(s), peak: 1.9230347 at 119.3403855 second(s), 1ch
Test 22: EAC wav file versus Max on Mac AIFF file on 24bit Core Audio setting
• differences found: 20324423 sample(s), starting at 1.0012698 second(s), peak: 1.9230347 at 119.3403855 second(s), 1ch