The Centrance HiFi M8 thread - Page 138

 

That's correct, but bypassing the internal dac allows playback of high res files at its native bitrate. But for many people it's a matter of convenience by going with flac.

If this is the case, how come the folks at High Resolution Technologies say (the following is taken from the FAQ for the new iStreamer:

 

it is a high performance external sound card/audio interface that has been specifically designed to exclusively interface with modern iDevices such as the iPod Touch® (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gen), iPod Classic®, iPod Nano® (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th gen), iPhone 4®, iPhone 3GS®, iPhone 3G®, iPhone®, iPhone5®, iPad®, iPad (3G)®, iPad 2®, the New (2012) iPad®, and the iPad Mini®. The iStreamer AC redirects the digital music stream from the iDevice to itself, bypassing the iDevice’s own internal Digital-to-Analog converter (DAC) and uses its own DAC instead, taking over the job of decoding the digital bits into analog music, allowing a far higher level of sonic performance than if listening directly from an iDevice

 

*iDevices are limited by Apple to play music files with a maximum resolution of 16bit/48k, so one cannot play any “Hi-Res” files (24bit/96k, etc.). Basically, if you can load it onto or play through your iDevice, the iStreamer AC will play any given stored or streaming file at its full native resolution up to a max of 16bit/48k.

That's what I said. The devices(meaning hardware) are limited. That's why you need a compatible dac to bypass the internal dac. I think you are confusing hardware with software.
Edited by moodyrn - Today at 12:33 pm

Here is some information regarding sample rates from the Hifi-M8 Blog

Make of them what you will

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Hifi-M8 blog 2013/05/07 (May).

http://centrance.com/products/new/blog/2013/05/07/questions-and-answers/

 

 

Yes, but for me, it’s not about what data bit rates the M8 is now capable of processing, but what the various legacy and current idevices are capable of transmitting to it.

For the iUniverse, we can already play 16/24 bit files and 44.1 / 48 kHz Sampling Rates now. We are still working on higher res than that. It’s too early to tell which devices could do which things, but I’ve posted sometime back on the blog about the devices that “may” give you better resolution and those that will not, due to their internal limitations. Basically, consider that all iPads, phones above 3GS, and modern iPods, including Touches will be fine with higher res. Stuff prior to that, including classic iPad, is stuck at 16/44.1 or some such. Nothing we can do about that.

For the USB Universe, we’ve been at 24/192 for awhile.

 

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And an OLDER post (March 2013)

http://centrance.com/products/new/blog/2013/03/15/status-report-part-3/#comments

 

Edited by ExpatinJapan - Today at 4:32 pm

I too look forward to the high resolution capabilities of the HiFi M8, but that is not the only reason I have invested in it.

Just because something is recorded is high resolution does not necessarily mean that it will sound great. A high resolution poor recording (poorly balanced, bad mastering, not great source material) will still be a poor recording.

I look forward to listening to music.

+1.

The conversation is about sample rates at the moment and the possible technological boundaries and capabilities of the Hifi-M8.......of course our preference is to listen to well recorded, well mastered recordings and with that we would also like the chance/and or option to listen to them using higher sample rates.

Considering the past limitations of idevice capable dac/amps it is a curiousity many of us pre-order folks want answered, hopefully in the affirmative towards higher rates.

Is more better?, not always - but in this case maybe yes.

But as you wrote in the end is it about the music, hopefully well recorded, well masteredand in high native bitrates:)
Edited by ExpatinJapan - Today at 5:21 pm

 

Me too. I just don't want to loose sight of my "primary objective". And thanks for the first impressions from the show.

yes, it can be easy to fall for chasing the 'audio rainbow' and i have been guilty of that myself, when it all comes together though - audio/music, gear and technology .....bliss.