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16 bit dac playing 24 bit music

post #1 of 4
2/16/11 at 8:58pm
Thread Starter 

Hi, I'm quite new to Computer Hi-fi, so I'm posting for help. I'm using my Mac laptop as the sound source, and I'm buying a Scott Nixon USB DAC Tube. I found that the usb version doesn't work with 24 bit. So here comes the question:

 

(1) Can I change the setting in OS X to ask the computer output 16 bit regardless of the format of the music file (say, if it's 24 bit), so that the USB DAC will work?

(2) Will this approach significantly reduce the sound quality?

(3) Or, 24 bit will never be able to play as long as I have a DAC that can only decode 16 bit?

 

Thanks in advance for any input.

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post #2 of 4
2/17/11 at 3:08am

Probably the input of the DAC is not only limited to 16 bits, the sample rate will be probably limited to 48 kHz like almost all cheap USB audio implementations.

As 24 bits audio often uses a higher sample rate than 48, you will lose that as well.

 

In the audio midi settings you set bit depth and sample rate: http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/OSX/OSX.htm

All audio with a different bit depth or sample rate is converted to this setting so will play.

I do think there are better USB audio implementations available: http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_DAC.htm

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post #3 of 4
2/17/11 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the input! So, to sum up, I'll be able to play 24 bit music with my 16 bit DAC; yet I'll lose part of the information in the 24bit music, since the OS X will "cutoff" those information so that the output format (from Mac) will fit the 16 bit requirement for the DAC, right?

 

That's very helpful! Thanks!

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post #4 of 4
2/18/11 at 1:05am

Correct.

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