Mac Mini and 24/192 files

[ID.]

I've started downloading a few hi resolution flac files (2496 and 24/192) and converted them to apple lossless, but as output from my iPod is a max of 24/48, I was looking into incorporating a macmini and harddrive as a multimedia setup to go with my stereo in my living room.

Does anyone know whether the toslink on the macmini can output 24/192 files from iTunes, or would I need to get different software or even use bootcamp and do it with windows?

I'd use USB but the USB input in my DAC is a maximum 2496.

 

[manicm]

You've already lost resolution by converting the files to Apple Lossless. iTunes anyway does not support ripping such hi-res material as far as I know.

Also, due to the limitations of Mac support for FLAC, I would rather get a low to medium cost Windows notebook/netbook, dedicate it to audio duty and nothing else, get a DAC and in this way get the most out of your hi-res files.

 

[ID.]

From what I can tell iTunes seems to support them, or at least the info lists the files as 24 bit 192khz. As I haven't tried linking my PC to my DAC I'm not sure what would come out of iTunes, but as my laptop doesn't have toslink, etc. I'd be limited 24/96 using USB. I might try it just to see as some of the files I have are 24/96.

Also, a Macmini would be unobtrusive because they don't make much noise and I'd be using my TV as a monitor.

I've got a DAC (I an use the RZ-1's DAC for external sources). I suppose a PC running something something like Foobar2000 is a possibility (or even Mac running windows using foobar2000...)

 

[Dan Turner]

ID.:
From what I can tell iTunes seems to support them, or at least the info lists the files as 24 bit 192khz. As I haven't tried linking my PC to my DAC I'm not sure what would come out of iTunes, but as my laptop doesn't have toslink, etc. I'd be limited 24/96 using USB. I might try it just to see as some of the files I have are 24/96.

Also, a Macmini would be unobtrusive because they don't make much noise and I'd be using my TV as a monitor.

I've got a DAC (I an use the RZ-1's DAC for external sources). I suppose a PC running something something like Foobar2000 is a possibility (or even Mac running windows using foobar2000...)

The optical output on a MacBook Pro is limited to 96khz - I'm assuming that the same is true of a Mac Mini, but I don't know for certain so definitely continue to check that out. If you connected via USB you would not be restricted, but given that your DAC is limited to 96khz, it won't matter whether you use optical or USB.

Apple lossless format hasn't lost you anything - once itunes unpacks it as it's replayed you'll get 24/192 back, which presumably will then be downsampled to 96 khz before output. Some people say that they an tell the difference between lossless and uncompressed files, but I can't and it's something you could try for yourself.. What you have to bear in mind though is that iTunes can't automatically change sample rates when you play back a track - the Mac will automatically change the format to match the audio midi settings (i know this is true of the optical output - not 100% sure about USB). Also any changes to the audio midi settings won't take effect unless itunes is restarted.

So if you stick with using iTunes alone, if you have been playing a cd-sourced 16/44 file and then you want to play back something with a different sample rate, you'll need to close iTunes, open the 'audio midi setup' utility change the settings of the built in output to 24/96 then re-open itunes. Then when you want to go back to standard 16/44 stuff you need to repeat the procedure to change the audio midi settings back to 16/44 to ensure the Mac is not unnecessarily manipulating the audio data before it's output.

You can get some 3rd party applications like Pure Music or Amarra which take over replay duties but use iTunes as the interface, and these will automatically switch sample rates as well as supposedly offering better sound quality. Check them out.

 

[Alec]

A quick Google indicates that Amara costs a fortune (not even a small one, imo), and I can see a page advertising a free trial of Pure music, which implies that it costs a bit too.

Can anyone confirm?

 

[Dan Turner]

al7478:
A quick Google indicates that Amara costs a fortune (not even a small one, imo), and I can see a page advertising a free trial of Pure music, which implies that it costs a bit too.

Can anyone confirm?

I did the free trial of Pure Music and it seemed pretty good. I remember thinking that I thought it sounded better than just using iTunes, but unfortunately I never got round to doing an A/B comparison because my 15 day trial coincided with a fairly busy couple of weeks. I think the price quoted was in USD, but I have £70ish in my head - Google it and you'll find it easily enough. Yes Amarra is very pricey!

The main problem I found with Pure music is that because it is handling the playback it means that you can stream to airport expresses in other rooms at the same time Whilst the iPhone remote app works, it doesn't update the track position (although that's only a minor niggle).

 

[Alec]

Cheers Dan.

 

[manicm]

Dan Turner:

Apple lossless format hasn't lost you anything - once itunes unpacks it as it's replayed you'll get 24/192 back

By converting a FLAC 24/192 file to Apple Lossless? I don't think so, not in Windows iTunes anyway.

 

[Dan Turner]

manicm:Dan Turner:
Apple lossless format hasn't lost you anything - once itunes unpacks it as it's replayed you'll get 24/192 back

By converting a FLAC 24/192 file to Apple Lossless? I don't think so, not in Windows iTunes anyway.

Apple Lossless can support 24/192 and you can get apps like Max for the Mac which can convert files (including FLAC) to ALAC. I'm sure there are equivalent apps for windows. Given that iTunes has no support for FLAC you'd have to be using a 3rd party app to do the conversion anyway.

 

[ID.]

Interesting. Looks like maybe it won't be as easy as I was hoping, especially if my files are all at different bitrates, etc.

Apple has updated iTunes to go up to 24/192 and I managed to convert them from flac to apple lossless using dbpoweramp.

I think to make it worthwhile to rip everything to lossless I'd want something like the ChordQBD76 or similar DAC that can deal with jitter effectively to bring better performance than listening to the actual CDs.

Have to do some more thinking about where my priorities lie. I think new speakers...

Thanks for the feedback!