Digital music questions

There are no third-party integrations with Apple Music so if you go the separate streamer route, you’ll need to use AirPlay which is stuck at 24 bit / 48 kHz max for AirPlay 2.

You can play back high-res files from Apple Music on your Mac. You just need to enable it from the Music app. Go to Preferences -> Playback and then select the highest resolution from the ’Streaming’ and ’Download’ dropdowns.

You’re on the right track as far as audio quality and streamers go. They’re all 1’s and 0’s. As long as the data is getting to your McIntosh DAC intact, then one streamer is no better than another in terms of audio quality.

There can be wide variations in terms of ease of use, features and technical support so I encourage you to make your choice based on those criteria rather than on anecdotes on sound quality.

A streamer is basically a computer with some specially configured audio software. For example, I’ve made my Mac mini into a streamer using a free app called Kodi. I also have a Raspberry Pi based streamer running moOde for my basement system. I’ve got a fairly technical background so I went the DIY route. You might view the Mac as a temporary situation or are less technically inclined which nudges you towards a turnkey solution.

You’re on the right track as far as audio quality and streamers go. They’re all 1’s and 0’s. As long as the data is getting to your McIntosh DAC intact, then one streamer is no better than another in terms of audio quality.

@yage Uh, I couldn’t disagree more.  You’re completely missing the critical issues of noise and clock quality among other things. 

I’ve got a fairly technical background

Ah, that explains it.  Ugh.

They’re all 1’s and 0’s. As long as the data is getting to your McIntosh DAC intact, then one streamer is no better than another in terms of audio quality.

🤯🤦‍♂️🙄🙄. Of course, digital, it either works or it doesn’t 🙄.

I was wondering when the ASR contingent was showing up to get people straight with “science”

@soix 

Noise and clock quality are basically immaterial when you're using the USB interface as the transport. This is an asynchronous mechanism - the receiver (i.e. the DAC) will buffer and clock out the data.

Also, I'm not sure why having a technical background is frowned upon. All of these concepts and components were created and advanced by scientists and engineers. In short, audio reproduction wouldn't exist without science.

@thyname 

I'm not part of the 'ASR contingent' as you call it but I do like to see and use evidence (whether it's from measurements or valid listening tests) to make more informed choices when it comes to spending my money. I guess you have a different system.

@yage : OK. Fine. Judging but what you previously said, and I quoted above, I sense you did not try anything (such as experimenting). Anyone with any digital system knows that statements such as  “zeroes and ones, it either works or it doesn’t, one streamer is no better than another “ cannot be taken seriously, regardless of what the technical acumen (or the power of their Google Machine) of those who proclaim it with confidence, or forcefully demand “evidence” of the contrary.