Playing 320Kbps files on a 192Kbps DAC

[kennethsross]

Hi Folks
 
Please forgive me if this question is really stupid, but here it is anyway.
 
Will 320Kbps files play fine through a 192Kbps DAC / Headphone amp?
 
I am looking for something a bit better than my PC onboard sound. I'm presently listening through a 30 year old A&R Cambridge A60 amp, either driving Allison Acoustic AL100 speakers, or a pair of AKG K141 MK II's. I have this evening ordered a pair of AKG K550's, and I'm now thinking about putting a USB DAC / Headphone amp in between my PC and the A&R Cambridge amp. (Presently thinking of the ASUS Xonar U7)
 
So - does a DAC like the U7 (or other similarly priced 24bit/192kbps DACS) happily convert higher bitrate MP3's, or FLAC's for that matter?
 
Appreciate any collected wisdom!
 
TIA
 
Kenneth Ross

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Please forgive me if this question is really stupid, but here it is anyway.
Will 320Kbps files play fine through a 192Kbps DAC / Headphone amp?
I am looking for something a bit better than my PC onboard sound. I'm presently listening through a 30 year old A&R Cambridge A60 amp, either driving Allison Acoustic AL100 speakers, or a pair of AKG K141 MK II's. I have this evening ordered a pair of AKG K550's, and I'm now thinking about putting a USB DAC / Headphone amp in between my PC and the A&R Cambridge amp. (Presently thinking of the ASUS Xonar U7)
So - does a DAC like the U7 (or other similarly priced 24bit/192kbps DACS) happily convert higher bitrate MP3's, or FLAC's for that matter?
Appreciate any collected wisdom!

Your 320Kbps (and FLAC) audio files can be used with a 44.1K, 48k, 96k or 192k DAC.
A quality 96K DAC would sound better then a low cost 192k DAC.
Are you looking for an external DAC/Amp for music files? or also for gaming and movies?

 

[kennethsross]

Thanks for your reply.
 
Not for movies or gaming - strictly for music.

 

[tylercaulfield]

I don't have direct experience with that Asus you're talking about, but I don't usually see the kbps listed like that. You might want to check and make sure what your reading isn't 24bit/192KHZ. 192KHZ doesn't have anything to do with limiting which type of mp3 files it will read and you should be totally fine with your files. Flac files can be a little bit more complicated but most are within the parameters of 16 or 24 bit so your DAC shouldn't have a problem. I would double check how your ripping or downloading your flac files but I have used Fiio and Schiit DACs with no problem.
 
Hope this helped.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Thanks for your reply.
 
Not for movies or gaming - strictly for music.

The Asus U7 is an external sound card that is a DAC and amp and an audio processor for surround sound features
Where as an external DAC/Amp is just 2-channel audio, which is fine for music.
FiiO E10 USB-DAC-Amp sells for $75 and should easily drive the 32-Ohm AKG K550s
and possibly make the K550s sound a little better then the U7 would. .

 

[kennethsross]

Many Thanks
 
I'll check the FiiO E10 out.
 
Kind regards
 
KSR

 

[kennethsross]

  Many Thanks
 
I'll check the FiiO E10 out.
 
Kind regards
 
KSR

Thanks, Tyler
 
Shows just how green I am at this digital stuff! Yes, 192khz.
 
Just wanted to be sure that my rather large collection of ripped CDs (at 320kbps) would play OK through a DAC.

 

[kennethsross]

  I don't have direct experience with that Asus you're talking about, but I don't usually see the kbps listed like that. You might want to check and make sure what your reading isn't 24bit/192KHZ. 192KHZ doesn't have anything to do with limiting which type of mp3 files it will read and you should be totally fine with your files. Flac files can be a little bit more complicated but most are within the parameters of 16 or 24 bit so your DAC shouldn't have a problem. I would double check how your ripping or downloading your flac files but I have used Fiio and Schiit DACs with no problem.
 
Hope this helped.

 
Thanks, Tyler
 
Shows just how green I am at this whole digital thing. Yes, I should have put 192 khz.
 
Just wanted to be sure that my collection of music (mostly ripped at 320Kbps) would play OK