DavidJPettifor Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Can I change my audio output via Audio Midi Setup on my iMac to 24-bit/96 kHz and then forget about it or do I need to change back and forth each time I play a 16-bit/44.1 kHz or vice versa in iTunes? I'm a little confused. -- djp Intel iMac + Beresford TC-7510 + Little Dot MK III + beyerdynamics DT 231 = Computer audiophile quality on the cheap! --- Samsung Q1 + M-Audio Transit + Sennheiser PX 100 = Computer audiophile quality on the go! Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 This one is really up to you. I change it for each sample rate. Many others set it once at 24/96 and forget about it. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
tfarney Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Does it upsample if you set it and forget it? Tim I confess. I\'m an audiophool. Link to comment
DavidJPettifor Posted September 24, 2008 Author Share Posted September 24, 2008 So, what would be the benefits of changing it for each sample rate? Does iTunes up-sample all 16/44.1 tracks to 24/96 if set by default to the later? One thing I noticed when I went to alter the audio output, by default it was set to 2ch-24bit. Wouldn't this be more appropriate, set at 2ch-16bit for 16-bit/44.1 kHz encoded files? -- djp Intel iMac + Beresford TC-7510 + Little Dot MK III + beyerdynamics DT 231 = Computer audiophile quality on the cheap! --- Samsung Q1 + M-Audio Transit + Sennheiser PX 100 = Computer audiophile quality on the go! Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 iTunes itself doesn't up or downsample anything. It is Audio Midi that handles this. Playing a 16/44.1 track with Audio Midi set at 24/96 will mean your track is upsampled by Core Audio to 24/96, then sent out to your DAC. 2ch-24bit v. 2ch-16bit - I'm no expert on this one, but I believe as long as the bit rate is larger than the actual bit rate you are playing everything will be totally fine. I think the problem is when bits get chopped off of a 24 bit stream down to 16 bit. Again, don't quote me on this. I will check with a couple sources as well. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
tfarney Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 And this would be a waste of code if you're playing 16-bit sources or sending it to a 16-bit DAC, yes? Tim I confess. I\'m an audiophool. Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Hi Tim - The sources I talked to said it's a non issue. It isn't sending 24 bits to the DAC if the source is 16 bit. 2ch-24bit is really just a larger highway for the 16 bits to travel on. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
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