Does ripping software affect the sound?

[Dennis Graves]

I have seen comments on this and other forums that indicate that the ripping software one uses may affect the sound ultimately obtained from a music server. Obviously, the features and accuracy of one ripping package vs another may influence a decision on ripping software. But if the function of ripping software is merely to (accurately) transfer zeros and ones to a hard drive, I should think the zeros and ones ripped by two different software packages would sound the same (assuming both are ripped accurately and both are played back on the identical software). The only possible explanation for a potential difference that I can think of is that, even if the zeros and ones are accurately ripped, a timing/jitter issue might remain. Perhaps one ripper deals with jitter better than another? Can someone enlighten me on this.

Thanks.

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

"assuming both are ripped accurately"

 

 

Hi Dennis - That assumption is the major issue.

 

Here is an article I wrote on ripping that may help http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Computer-Audiophile-CD-Ripping-Strategy-and-Methodology

 

[audioengr]

IME, it does matter. Particularly, you must enable Accurate-Rip to verify your rips.

 

My recommendation is to use XLD for Mac:

 

http://tmkk.pv.land.to/xld/index_e.html

 

and dbpoweramp with PC:

 

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

 

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

 

[Part-Time Audiophile]

I use Max w/ the CD Paranoia setting. Not sure it makes a difference (over iTunes) with brand-new CDs.