[Death_Block]

I've been looking for a dac/amp for purely using music streaming and playing from downloaded files from for eg tidal in the highest quality available. Is there a bit rate where some DACs have capabilities of being overkill for the music quality offered with these music services?

 

[warrenpchi]

Pretty much all DACs are overkill for streaming music. You're not likely to find anything streaming at higher than 24/192, but many (if not most) DACs these days are capable of 32/768.

 

[Death_Block]

Pretty much all DACs are overkill for streaming music. You're not likely to find anything streaming at higher than 24/192, but many (if not most) DACs these days are capable of 32/768.

If the file is downloaded, is it still 24/192 playback? Even with master files eg?

 

[warrenpchi]

I don't know, I guess that depends on the streaming service (and possibly settings).

 

[Roseval]

many (if not most) DACs these days are capable of 32/768

See a lot of DACs with 24/192 over S/PDIF and 32/ 768 USB.
Might it be that 192 and 768 is a properties of the receivers, not to be mistaken for the internal sample rate used by the DAC chip?

 

[Roseval]

Is there a bit rate where some DACs have capabilities of being overkill for the music quality offered with these music services?

No. Sources range from 16/44.1 to 24/192 kHz. Modern DACs can play them all. App's often allow you to play them at their native sample rate as well.
The difference between streaming audio services is the format they use. This can be lossy compression, CD quality (16/44.1) or Hires, anything with a bigger bit depth (24) and sample rate compared with CD quality.

 

[Death_Block]

I wish I still had my physical music collection.