# dBpoweramp encoding
**URL:** https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541
**Category:** Network Audio
**Created:** [February 25, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541 "2019-02-25T18:43:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@michaelhifi](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/michaelhifi)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541/1 "2019-02-25T18:43:43Z")
I’m trying out ripping CDs with dBpoweramp. I’m curious to see if they sound any different then my previous ripped CDs. One question I have is what do you use for encoding? The default is “Lossless Level 5”. Anyone use “Lossless Uncompressed”?
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### Author:  [@watchdog507](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/watchdog507)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541/2 "2019-02-25T18:54:08Z")
I just looked at my settings and I use Level 8 or Uncompressed. I used to use level 5, that was their recommended setting. But I’m not interested in saving space so I’ll go with the level or no compression.
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### Author:  [@michaelhifi](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/michaelhifi)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541/3 "2019-02-25T18:56:38Z")
Thanks I will give no compression a try.
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### Author:  [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541/4 "2019-02-25T19:00:42Z")
Level 8 is max maximum compression, level 0 is uncompressed.
Personally I use level 8, but my CDs are so small compared to my SACDs that the compression doesn’t matter. But fewer byes over the wireless connection to my NAS does make a difference.
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### Author:  [@scotte1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/scotte1)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541/5 "2019-02-25T19:35:10Z")
I recommend “uncompressed”. AIFF is my preferred file format. FWIW.
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### Author:  [@speed-racer](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/speed-racer)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541/6 "2019-02-25T20:08:56Z")
Actually, FLAC level 0 is still compressed. Look here:
> **[FLAC | Compression levels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLAC#Compression_levels)**
>
> libFLAC uses a compression level parameter that varies from 0 (fastest) to 8 (slowest). The compressed files are always perfect, lossless representations of the original data. Although the compression process involves a tradeoff between speed and size, the decoding process is always quite fast and not dependent on the level of compression.
> According to a .WAV benchmark, using higher rates above default level -5, takes considerably more time to encode without real gains in space savings.
The “Lossless Uncompressed” option in dBpoweramp is uncompressed. Some but not all rippers offer this option.
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### Author:  [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541/7 "2019-02-25T20:15:10Z")
Thanks - I knew that, but got ahead of myself.
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### Author:  [@1cdfoley](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/1cdfoley)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541/8 "2019-02-25T21:51:18Z")
I saw one U-tube video reviewer of compressed lossless, forgot who. Two points were made.
1. The very slightly longer time its takes to decode compressed files, has virtually no effect on the newer DACs. Or SQ due to difference in time needed to decode at various compression rates.
2. The reviewer says that he cannot hear a difference in the playback of the uncompressed versus a 8 level compression. And suspects no one else can. I can’t (based on a test of only 2 tracks, admittedly not very scientific 😉 ).
i agree with all others comments. Now, I just roll with level 5, because it works well with streaming via ROON/Tidal.
Feel free to ‘rip’ my contribution herein. Gee, I hope I don’t start a fire storm. 😄 In the past, I have resisted any cable quality comments
Chas
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### Author:  [@Sohail](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Sohail)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/dbpoweramp-encoding/9541/9 "2019-02-26T00:07:42Z")
Most of my CD’s are ripped at level 5. Recently started using lossless uncompressed. Don’t know if I can tell the difference. However, since storage space is so inexpensive nowadays, it can’t hurt.