Resolved Rip music via iTunes or Exact Audio Copy: What's the difference?

Between ripping music to the computer via iTunes (using the settings: WAV, custom, 48,000 kHz, 16-bit, stereo), and via Exact Audio Copy (don't know what settings are available w/ EAC - as I've never used it).
http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/

 

I've never used itunes to rip music to my computer. I've only used it to update and load my ipods.

Also I save my music as MP3's. I've tried different programs over the years and as far as the rippers/encoders that I've tried, Windows Media Player was the fastest and I could here a difference. It was Bad. Now lets be fair, encoders have improved over the years.

The program I use now, EAC and Lame work. Thats why when I hear others saying they can hear a difference, I wonder how its ripped and encoded.

Again. it may be old ears. But I have challenged many people, friends and Acquaintances to tell the difference between the original and the MP3. And the results are always similar to someone quessing. Now I am not running a scientific double blind test (I'm not that bored) but I can tell you that I have never met anyone that could tell me which was which at over 70% accuracy.

Back to EAC, what I like about it is the fact that it reads the info more than once. If it detects an error it will read the section again so that it can correct the problem. If it cannot correct the problem it will report the location of the problem so that we can deal with it.

AudioGrabber can rip a song to my computer at speeds around 25X to 35X. Thats pretty fast, EAC typically only rips at 5X to 10X because it is double checking the info.

Now lets be fair, if your drive is in good shape and your CDs are in good shape, there will be no difference between the wave file produced by AudioGrabber and EAC.

 

Makes me wonder if there is a difference between EAC and iTunes as far as the quality of the rip.

 

I have never thought of that, I would assume that the wav files would be the same. During Spring Break, I will rip a couple of songs with a few different programs, including itunes and compare them. I'm curious.

 

Chas watches and waits w/ baited breath.