1957Goldtop

I was just wondering the same thing... did a google search and came to this thread. Unfortunately it wasn't answered. Does drive quality effect ripping quality? Or, are the bits the bits regardless of the drive/system it came from?

Thanks! I just downloaded the Pure Music demo and the 96/24 files worked. But my 176/24 files aren't working as suggested by the limits of the Mac. However, they are showing up as 44.1kHz. Why wouldn't they be the max supported 96/24? Is this a limitation of the MacPro/OSX or the MacPro sound card? Is there a replacement soundcard that will support above 96/24?

I just setup my newly purchased Marantz SR6005. I also just downloaded some high def audio tracks from HDTracks but I'm not sure I'm getting the full quality from my receiver. The tracks in question are a 96kHz/24-bit recording and a 176kHz/24-bit recording. The Marantz does support up to 192kHz/24-bit. I converted the FLAC flies to ALAC so I can play them through iTunes. I have the Marantz directly connected to my MacPro via an optical cable. The tracks play just fine, but when I view the "audio input signal" on the Marantz OSD it only shows 44.1kHz (the display doesn't show the bits). Why would I not be getting the full 96/24 and 176/24? Thanks!

On the Apply TV would I get better quality playing audio from the digital output or HDMI?

So from the looks of it, at this time, the Apple TV can only do CD quality audio with my ALAC files. If I get higher res files it will downsample them so I'd need to play those directly from my computer. I'll check out Pure Music as well. Thanks!

I'm not sure I understand why I'd get better quality with a USB to SPDIF converter... wouldn't direct with nothing in between be better? I do have an Apple TV2 (well, will have in a few days). Since that will be directly connected to the Marantz via HDMI, would I get better SQ using the Apple TV as my music server, which will then get the files over WiFi? Wouldn't that be the same as a SqueezeBox? The one problem I can see is ATV doesn't support FLAC, but I could convert to ALAC. Most of my lossless stuff is ALAC anyway. Only newer HDTracks files would be FLAC. Thanks!

I just purchased a Marantz SR6005. If I want to play high def music tracks from HDTracks via my MacPro (8-Core from 2008) via the optical output, do I need anything else besides a optical cable to connect the MacPro to the Marantz? Am I getting the best quality going direct from the MacPro to the Marantz? Thanks!