Optical Input Sound Quality for Apple Music Hi-res

Answered

energyd

• March 19, 2023 07:33
• Edited

Through my Node N130, I'm trying to use my macbook pro 16'' 2019 model as the source playing apple music hi-res lossless. Using a Douk Audio U2 as DDC to hook up macbook usb out to my node's optical 3.5mm input. Then from the node RCA output to a pair of Genelec G3 speakers on my office desks(for near field listening only during work).

 

I can see in apple music that the playback res exceeds 16 bit and 44.1khz. The sound sounds fine to me but I didn't have too much experience comparing it with Airplay2 or direct integration with services like Tidal.

 

Am I doing the right thing? Nobody mentioned this approach before. I know the Node is supposed to be used as a network streamer. But my goal is to get highest sound quality possible from my current hardware(suppose the DAC in the node is as good as it's advertised).

 

Any suggestion for me？Should I just buy an external DAC. Would getting sth like RME ADI-2 DAC FS make a huge difference in sound quality?

1

• Official comment

  

  Tony W.

  Product Support Manager

  • March 20, 2023 12:43

  Apple AirPlay is limited to 16/44.1 when using a MacBook. 

  Here's how to get 16 bit lossless using AirPlay on a MacBook; https://support.bluos.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403218953495
• 

  energyd

  • March 20, 2023 14:54

  Hi Tony, I'm not asking about Airplay. I'm asking about using the wired optical input.

  The limitation of 16/44.1 is exactly the reason I don't want to use Airplay

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• 

  energyd

  • March 21, 2023 16:24

  Anyone? The question is not answered at all.. 

  0
• 

  Bjørn Ulvik

  Hi-Res

  • March 21, 2023 16:57

  Optical input supports up to 24/192.
  Your ears should be the judge regarding your question if you need another DAC.

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• 

  Seppi Evans

  Hi-Res

  • March 21, 2023 17:11

  I can’t comment on what the DDC will do to the output but you can get lossless from Apple Music out of a MacBook into a Bluesound device and once system wide audio setting have been configured.

  https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/4405223632023-Apple-Music-Hi-Res-Lossless-

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• 

  energyd

  • March 22, 2023 04:26

  Thanks guys.

  Optical input supports up to 24/192

  But will I be able to get 24/192 with how I connect it up? I noticed that Apple recommend using an usb dac for hi-res lossless.

  You can get lossless from Apple Music out of a MacBook into a Bluesound device and once system wide audio setting have been configured

  Yea I just want to get hi-res lossless (sth like 24bit/96khz). I think the only way I can get it is through a wired connection because Airplay limit it to 16/44.1. However Node doesn't have USB input so I have to use the DDC

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• 

  Enrique Alvarez

  • February 02, 2024 02:15

  

  New POWERNODE owner here wanting to do the same thing. I used this USB-C to mini-TOSLINK converter on my MacBook Pro, connected via TOSLINK cable, and hooked it into the POWERNODE's optical input. On the MacBook Pro, I changed the sound out to the USB-C converter and then stream high-resolution tracks from the Apple Music application to the POWERNODE. I tested AirPlay2 as well and the optical connection definitely sounds better. Unfortunately, the BluOS Controller (on both iOS and MacOS) does not report the actual sound quality when the optical input is selected. Nevertheless, this sees to be working for me. 

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