geofstro

Thanks so much. I will definitely give the webremote option a try. I like the idea of browsing, since I also want to be able to read pdf files that come with some downloads on HDTracks or Linn records while I listen to the music and this seems like a good way of doing it. Cheers, Geoff

Hi Ralph, With the help of this thread I managed to get PlugPlayer working with JRMT 15; but can only play one track at a time. Did you manage to get it to play continuously through an album? Thanks geoff

Hi Jeff,<br /> <br /> Sometimes I use Front Row on my MacBook Pro's. Usually though I want to work on something at the same time as playing music, so AppleTV is still a good solution for me apart from the limited sample rate support.<br /> <br /> I don't know for sure the limits of the other Macs; but I imagine their digital out is probably limited to 96khz 24bit as with the MacBook Pro. For higher sample rates you either need a sound card or a USB DAC that can support them, such as the upgraded Bel Canto.<br /> <br /> geoff

I've just started using an AppleTV as a music server and I agree the interface is cool. Well after all, Apple literally wrote the book on human interfaces. I do believe the digital output is limited, probably to 48 khz 16bit. I could be wrong as this is difficult for me to determine. I have an Altmann Attraction DAC and when I tried to playback 96khz 24bit files, the DAC would not lock onto that signal. On this DAC you need to flip a few switches to set the incoming sample rate. It locked onto either 48khz or 44.1khz, I can't remember which; but it certainly wasn't 96khz.<br /> <br /> The Altmann DAC is limited to a 16 bit word length; but can handle sample rates up to 192khz.<br /> <br /> If you try to sync Hi-Res files to the AppleTV at anything above 96khz, iTunes will simply tell you the AppleTV cannot handle that file, so it can't be synced.<br /> <br /> The AppleTV will accept 96khz, 24bit files; but I believe it down-samples them on playback to 44.1 or 48khz, so you're not hearing them at full resolution.<br /> <br /> I would like to see an article that compares various devices like this from Apple including the Airport Express and the Mac's themselves, so we could get a grasp on what their respective limitations are regarding digital output.<br /> <br /> The Mac's come with an Application named 'Audio MIDI Setup'. Before playing files back directly from your Mac, this should be used to set the sample rate and word length. The settings available within Audio Midi Setup for sample rate will depend on the output device selected in the System Preferences for sound output and within the Audio Midi Setup application. For example my Macbook Pro's built in output is limited to 96khz 24bit. You will need to set this within Audio Midi Setup before attempting to playback 96khz 24bit files form iTunes or other player software.<br /> <br /> For Higher Resolution files, such as 176.4 or 192, you would need a sound card which supports those bit rates to play back the files at full resolution. You would then probably want to send the digital output of that sound card to a high-end DAC.<br /> <br /> EAC is probably the ultimate ripper, if you're prepared to use it to the full. In most cases though, I feel iTunes, with the "Use error correction when reading audio CD's" preference set to 'on' is probably just fine.<br /> <br /> The format you rip your music from CD to, depends on how you plan to play it back and, of course, that may well change in the future. If you continue to use various Apple Devices you're better off sticking with Apple Lossless, at least for the moment. You can always cross convert between different lossless or uncompressed formats, when necessary using software such as Max. Admittedly, though it does involve a bit of effort.<br /> <br /> For those HRX recordings then; based on my observations, depending on which Mac or PC you have, the built in Sound Card may be able to play them back at full resolution or you may need an external sound card. My Macbook Pro's built-in audio out can handle 96khz 24bit; but nothing above, so I use an RME Fireface 400 external Firewire sound card for higher resolution files.<br /> <br /> Hope it helps,<br /> <br /> geoff<br /> <br /> <br />