[rbrb]

If I was to rip a CD into Windows Media Player in WMA lossless would it sound any different than a CD that I ripped as a WAV and then played from the Windows Media Player?

Would they sound different if I was to burn them to a CD?

Sorry if this has been discussed before.

[CSMR]

Not if it was ripped with windows media player. However there is software that is better than WMP for ripping (fewer glitches, any errors reported): EAC and Plextools.

[rbrb]

Thanks EAC looks like what I need.  Are EAC and Plextools two of the more transparent software players also?  Or does a 'transparent' software player actually exist?

[Val]

However there is software that is better than WMP for ripping (fewer glitches, any errors reported)

I use EAC, but WMP10 reports errors, should do the ripping job just as well and is easier to use.

[rbrb]

Is WMA Lossless truly lossless??

[CSMR]

Thanks EAC looks like what I need.  Are EAC and Plextools two of the more transparent software players also?  Or does a 'transparent' software player actually exist?

I don't know whether EAC plays CDs or audio files.; plextools I think will play CDs. Not it's real job. If you want to be sure what bits are going to the DAC it's best to use ASIO using foobar for instance.

[CSMR]

However there is software that is better than WMP for ripping (fewer glitches, any errors reported)

I use EAC, but WMP10 reports errors, should do the ripping job just as well and is easier to use.

WMP9 came up with a few glitches for me; maybe they fixed that with version 10. Plextools is really good though, adjusts read speed when it comes across problems, reads many times, accurately reports when there are errors. It's only for scratched discs that there this is important naturally.

[CSMR]

Is WMA Lossless truly lossless??

yes