It is simple just import your CD's into the Ipod at the same bit rate as the CD (16 bit 44k in an AES or Wave file) and you will have the exact same quality as the CD . Still buy the CD just import it into Ipod and put CD away . This way all the CD's you own will be on your Ipod and you will never have a need to take the actual CDs with you in your car again . You will have instant random access to all of the material you have imported at the exact same sound quality .

Carlos .. there is no way a compressed file will make the files sound better than the original CD unless you personally like that compressed sound ... And there is no need to compress the files ... the Ipod can be had in up to 60 gig now so there is plenty of room to import CD's at their true bit and sampling rate . The compressed files are sounding better as compression algorithms get better but they do not sound as good as the original sampling rate . This is very apparent the better the sound system is and if it is the Bose option on the 997 , get an ipod that is large enough to have all your CD on it in the exact same Bit rate as your CD's .

When you import your CD's into itunes go to the preferences and under importing choose AIFF or Wave .. Itunes defaults to a compressed format to accommodate the Apple music store which is not so good if you want to pull in your CD.s . They really should explain the compressed file default , or you have people importing their CDs into Itunes with compression and no matter how little compression there is it degrades the sound quality to some degree . As cheap as hard drive space is it is far better to keep buying CD's and import them at the exact same bit rate and not buy music online { too bad companies that sell music online do not offer the music in anything other than compressed files .. so many people are buying music online and do not know that if they would buy the CD and import it in the AIFF or Wave format it would sound the way it does on the original master . ... I guess online music companies do not want to tie up their servers ). The down fall of sound quality of an ipod has nothing to do with the ipod and everything to do with your original source material and how you get it into your ipod . random access to all of the material you have imported at the exact same sound quality .

Carlos .. there is no way a compressed file will make the files sound better than the original CD unless you personally like that compressed sound ... And there is no need to compress the files ... the Ipod can be had in up to 60 gig now so there is plenty of room to import CD's at their true bit and sampling rate . The compressed files are sounding better as compression algorithms get better but they do not sound as good as the original sampling rate . This is very apparent the better the sound system is and if it is the Bose option on the 997 , get an ipod that is large enough to have all your CD on it in the exact same Bit rate as your CD's .

When you import your CD's into itunes go to the preferences and under importing choose AIFF or Wave .. Itunes defaults to a compressed format to accommodate the Apple music store which is not so good if you want to pull in your CD.s . They really should explain the compressed file default , or you have people importing their CDs into an Itunes with compression and no matter how little compression there is it degrades the sound quality to some degree . As cheap as hard drive space is it is far better to keep buying CD's and import them at the exact same bit rate and not buy music online { too bad that companies that sell music online do not offer the music in anything other than compressed files .. so many people are buying music online and do not know that if they would buy the CD and import it in the AIFF or Wave format it would sound much better ... I guess online music companies do not want to tie up their servers ). The down fall of sound quality of in an ipod has nothing to do with the ipod and everything to do with your original source material and how you get it into your ipod .