tasiv

One article I read (https://www.whathifi.com/advice/high-resolution-audio-everything-you-need-to-know#o2qH7tmS5OoDJcZR.99) says TIDAL claims a 30,000-strong catalogue of MQA files, with about 400 "clearly labelled," but you have to wonder why they wouldn’t label all of them. Moreover, when I go in under Masters, it can really vary how many it will show you. Sometimes you have to exit the desktop app and enter it again to see more albums. The most I’ve seen at one time is around 80, but certainly not 30K. What am I missing?

In his "Listening" column in the July 2011 issue of Stereophile Magazine, Art Dudley states that an iMac running software later than OS 10.6.4 will allow playback higher than 96kHz by changing the sample rate in the Audio MIDI setup. I have OS 10.6.8 and when I go to the setup, the dropdown menu still only goes as high as 96kHz. Don't know if it matters, but I'm not using USB: I am using a S/PDIF cable from the lower portion of headphone jack to my Benchmark DAC1-PRE. What am I missing? By the way, my interest in this is driven purely by curiosity. I am not convinced that I could really hear any discernable difference between a clip in 24/96kHz vs 24/192kHz.

I'm wondering why a Halide Bridge would be needed at all. Don't the MacBook Pro and Mac Mini have direct S/PDIF connections through the headphone jack (embedded deep inside) like the iMac does?

I see today that Jack Johnson's debut album has been remastered by Bernie Grundman and made available for download at 16 bit / 48 kHz. I also found that on eclassical.com, most of what they call "FLAC 24s" from BIS are issued at at 24 bit / 44.1 kHz.<br /> <br /> My question is, why wouldn't these be issued at 24 bit, in the first example, and 48, 88, 96 or above kHz in the second example? I don't see the point in limiting them.<br /> <br /> Thanks,<br /> <br /> Allen Scott<br />

JP: You are correct. In retrospect, I spoke (wrote) too quickly. What I should have said is that CDs are not the highest resolution possible. I, too, have found many of them if they are well-produced to be of good quality. They have certainly improved vastly since their introduction in the early 80's!

I recognize that CD-quality is less than audiophile, but sometimes the artists I want are only available that way. Since mass-market vendors such as iTunes and Amazon offer only MP3 tracks for sale, I was curious if anyone knows a source of a broad inventory of "CD-quality" (i.e., 16/44.1) files without having to buy the physical CD (Besides the sites such as HDTracks, Linn, Naim Label, and others that offer a relatively finite range of choices). Right now, if I find an artist or track I like, I buy the CD from Amazon, rip to my Mac's hard drive and then store the CD itself away in a cabinet, never to be touched again. Equipment: iMac 27" OSX 10.6.6 Benchmark DAC1 PRE Connection from iMac to Benchmark: S/PDIF cable PureMusic interface with iTunes for upsampling/playing native format Krell FBP 300 Power Amplifier Krell KRC-HR Preamp B&W 802 speakers (original model)