[n4k33n]

^ My dac has upsampling but I can still hear the difference between 24/96 input and 16/44. Not sure why exactly.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by n4k33n /img/forum/go_quote.gif With the airport express can you output 24/96 from the optical? I want to switch to an airport exp, but I don't want to lose that capability...

Sadly not.
The AirPort Express support 44.1Khz/16-bit only. So you will loose quality when playing high-def audio.

 

[n4k33n]

Does the squeezebox do 24/96? If not what will?

 

[iJoe]

Hi all,
Just tried switching my output to 96 from 44 - but i cannot say i heard much difference, arn't CDs in 44 anyway? Can i rip HD on my Intel mac? Has anyone tried HD downloads from Linn?
I currently rip in Lossless and with error correction enabled, is that the best set up? I too was thinking of switching optical cables, currently use a Cambrige audio Optical for £20, it has a adaptor for the 3.5mm to TOS link so as to connect to my Onkyo 515DAB, however having studied Optical fibres intently on my uni course i realise that the added interfaces will degrade the signal - but would paying out another £45 be worth it?

 

[Uncle Erik]

I use optical out.

 

[grawk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sadly not. The AirPort Express support 44.1Khz/16-bit only. So you will loose quality when playing high-def audio.

Luckily, there's very little hi-def audio available that can actually be streamed by itunes anyway

. Unless you're playing live recordings, or 24/96 needledrops, etc.

 

[dgbiker1]

wow, I just switched from USB to optical today and the difference in SQ is huge w/ my Extigy- possibly because the USB Extigy drivers for mac are very poor. I'll definitely be sticking with optical from now on.

 

[OptionTrader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by melomaniac /img/forum/go_quote.gif and which optical if you don't mind?

For now, I am connecting to a Denon DVD-9000. I'm shopping for another DAC with more I/O flexibility.

 

[blessingx]

Wireless to various Squeezeboxes
Optical to DA10
USB to Pico

 

[ozz]

optical out of mbp and airport express

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Luckily, there's very little hi-def audio available that can actually be streamed by itunes anyway . Unless you're playing live recordings, or 24/96 needledrops, etc.

Hi-def audio is not available on the same level as CD audio, that for sure.
But there certainly are some out there. Ex:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f9/new...s-hdtt-295149/
Linn Records - specialists in Classical, Jazz and Celtic music

For those I use the optical out on my MacBook Pro, which handle 24/96 audio data just fine.

 

[jetstream]

Apogee MiniDac - Firewire
Apogee Duet - Firewire
Stello DA100 - USB
Airport Express Airtunes - Optical into Lexicon MC-12B

 

[iamoneagain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Luckily, there's very little hi-def audio available that can actually be streamed by itunes anyway . Unless you're playing live recordings, or 24/96 needledrops, etc.

I can hear a slight improvement with just apple lossless files upsampled to 24/96. I hear just a bit more space around everything. I think the improvement is the same as the way DACs upsample 16/44.

 

[grawk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamoneagain /img/forum/go_quote.gif I can hear a slight improvement with just apple lossless files upsampled to 24/96. I hear just a bit more space around everything. I think the improvement is the same as the way DACs upsample 16/44.

Everyone has to decide what they can hear, what that's worth, and what matters most in terms of convenience and cost.

 

[iamoneagain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Everyone has to decide what they can hear, what that's worth, and what matters most in terms of convenience and cost.

But if you're using the mac as a source, it doesn't cost anything to play around with the Audio Mini output settings and see if you hear a difference yourself. If you don't like it or can't hear a difference, just change it back. At first the 16/44 sounds more solid but then it seems something's missing. After testing on a few songs, I ended up preferring 24/96.