24-bit/96kHz audio with iTunes/Mac OS X/Cyrus 6XPd

[thompsonpb]

Hi

I've recently purchased some 24-bit/96kHz audio content and I'm keen to get my system utilising all this information.

The content is in iTunes on a Mac running Snow Leopard. I've connected my Cyrus 6 XPd via USB. When I go into the "Audio Midi Set-up" tool and configure the audio setting for my Cyrus the maximum sampling rate it'll allow me to select is 48Khz and it won't allow be to select 24-bit.

Whilst Cyrus's web site discusses the amps ability to perform up-sampling I don't think it states whether it can handle 24-bit/96kHz input.

I wonder if the DAC is limited to 48Khz/16-bit or whether there's an issue with my set-up (e.g. drivers) that's not allowing me to select the settings I'm after. I've spoken to my dealer, who wasn't sure and left a message with Cyrus. In the meantime if anyone can shed any light on this I'd greatly appreciate it.

Many thanks

Paul

 

[Anonymous]

Might be a question to put on a Mac forum? But noting that quite a few earlier (and more recent cheaper...) USB soundcard implementations do not support higher bitrates as input, even if the DAC itself can e.g. if connected via s/pdif. Some recent work I did in Linux on this kind of setup found that using a different sound sub-system gave me better results.

This FAQ suggests the USB on the Cyrus is limited: http://www.cyrusaudio.com/faq-xpd-amplifiers - is an s/pdif out not available on the Mac?

 

[Andrew Everard]

As a poster kindly reminded us the other day, this device will enable you to get an S/PDIF coaxial output from your computer, able to handle hi-res files.

 

[datay]

thompsonpb:
Whilst Cyrus's web site discusses the amps ability to perform up-sampling I
don't think it states whether it can handle 24-bit/96kHz input.

I don't understand all this stuff that well myself, but isn't it the Qx module that upsamples all inputs to 192kHz? The standard 'd' DAC doesn't upsample. I may be wrong.

 

[Andrew Everard]

The DAC module can accept signals up to a sampling rate of 96kHz, via S/PDIF.

 

[thompsonpb]

putt1ck:
This FAQ suggests the USB on the Cyrus is limited: http://www.cyrusaudio.com/faq-xpd-amplifiers - is an s/pdif out not available on the Mac?

Thanks! I think that explains a lot. I think my audio jack on the mac Mini has s/pdif (it's a little hidden and needs a special adapter). So, in theory if I use that I just need to set the output of the "built in" audio to 24-bit and use the right cable and I'm in business? If so, that's great.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Paul

 

[SteveR750]

thompsonpb:putt1ck:
This FAQ suggests the USB on the Cyrus is limited: http://www.cyrusaudio.com/faq-xpd-amplifiers - is an s/pdif out not available on the Mac?

Thanks! I think that explains a lot. I think my audio jack on the mac Mini has s/pdif (it's a little hidden and needs a special adapter). So, in theory if I use that I just need to set the output of the "built in" audio to 24-bit and use the right cable and I'm in business? If so, that's great.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Paul

You can buy the toslink adapter for about £3 from Amazon - I thought all macbooks had a combined headphone / s/pdif output. I know that Pros do.

 

[eternaloptimist]

Hi Paul,

I have a PreXPd so am familiar with the DAC...

You are correct that the USB input doesn't accept above 48kHz. The SPDIF optical / coax accepts up to 24/96. The USB input is not asynchronous so you may get a better result from the optical input in any case.

Cheers,

D

 

[datay]

With the upsampling of all digital inputs to 192kHz in the Qx, is it worth me getting one of these adapters? I've only just set up laptop to PreXPd Qx, using a Wireworld Ultraviolet USB cable I got on _bay. I have an Atlas Opus coaxial I could use if so. (Won't be able to have the laptop on my lap when listening, the USB is 2m long but the Opus is 1m or less). Laptop listening for me is just podcast mixes and stuff at the moment (I have tons of CDs and can't see myself stopping buying them for a while) but likely to buy high res stuff tyhe more it becomes available.