Digital Out on Macs - Sample Rates...

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

Ever since I plugged my DacMagic 2 in to my Mac Pro the only sample rate it would detect was 44.1kHz.

I downloaded a 10 second sample FLAC encoded at 96 kHz to hear the difference in sound quality. When I hit play - within VLC - still the 44.1 kHz light remained on when surely it should've changed!

After a little bit of googling, I discovered a tweak that allows you to manually set the sampling output rate for the TOSLink port. You have three 'format' options; 44.1, 48 & 96 kHz.

I changed mine to 96 kHz and low and behold the light changed on the DAC immediately and it does actually remain lit on 96 constantly now. The sample file also sounded significantly better. Even sound from my Sky+ box benefited - as it transmits at 48 kHz. DVDs would also benefit from this I'd presume.

I can't say the sound on 44.1 kHz files/Spotify changed much, if at all though which I was expecting.

The application you use to change it is called 'Audio MIDI Setup'. You can find it via Spotlight or going to Applications>Utilities. You can leave something playing in the background and change the sampling rate on-the-fly to hear the difference it makes.

Hope this will benefit some of you using a Mac as your source.

 

[Anonymous]

Great info - I tried this on my Mac last night but was only able to change the input sampling rate. The output sampling rate section of the window was blanked out.

Anyone else have this problem? I am using the optical/toslink output via a 3.5mm adapter feeding the DacMagic.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ed,

Yeah, it is grayed out by default. On the left hand side you'll see a drop down menu next to 'Properties For:', open up the drop down and choose 'Built-In Digital Out'.

You'll then see the options to change sampling rates on the bottom right.

Hope that helps...

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks.

Guys - I tried this last night and there was a clear improvement in sound quality when playing FLAC files. Like what Martyp said in his previous post, you can change the sampling rates during playback to judge for yourself.

This is an excellent (and best of all - free) immediate upgrade/ tweak. I'm going to play around with it more tonight to see whether there is any improvement in my 192 and 320 mp3's (I doubt it - but will see).