24/192 via HDMI with a 2012 (Late) Mac Mini

[Rebel17]

Good evening, everyone.

 

For several years, I've been using a 2012 (Late) Mac Mini running Audirvana Plus 1.5 in iTunes integrated mode. I have the Mac Mini connected via HDMI cable to my receiver.

 

Recently, I upgraded my receiver to a Marantz SR5008 and was excited that I would be able to listen to some 24/192 albums I had purchased over the years. Unfortunately, Audirvana shows that the receiver is not capable of going above 24/96.

 

 

I've opened a ticket with Marantz support, and they've told me that the receiver is capable of decoding 24/192 over HDMI, so I'm now wondering if the issue is with something else in my chain. Is my Mac Mini limited to 24/96 over HDMI?

[Kal Rubinson]

Good evening, everyone.

 

For several years, I've been using a 2012 (Late) Mac Mini running Audirvana Plus 1.5 in iTunes integrated mode. I have the Mac Mini connected via HDMI cable to my receiver.

 

Recently, I upgraded my receiver to a Marantz SR5008 and was excited that I would be able to listen to some 24/192 albums I had purchased over the years. Unfortunately, Audirvana shows that the receiver is not capable of going above 24/96.

 

I've opened a ticket with Marantz support, and they've told me that the receiver is capable of decoding 24/192 over HDMI, so I'm now wondering if the issue is with something else in my chain. Is my Mac Mini limited to 24/96 over HDMI?

Yes. Unfortunately, it is a Mac OS problem. I spent many hours with Mac tech support over two month before they admitted defeat. It is not a Marantz problem.

[jhwalker]

Yes. Unfortunately, it is a Mac OS problem. I spent many hours with Mac tech support over two month before they admitted defeat. It is not a Marantz problem.

 

Not a Mac OS problem (or, at least, not ubiquitous):

 

 

No problem outputting 24/192 to my Pioneer SC-81 via HDMI.

[Rebel17]

Thanks for the replies. it almost seems like a driver issue.

[Kal Rubinson]

Not a Mac OS problem (or, at least, not ubiquitous):

Right: Not ubiquitous. Apple was not able to get my MacMini to do more than 24/96kHz in multichannel although the hardware spec clearly says it is possible. I tried several apps (jRiver, Audirvana+, decibel, etc.). Gave up and went to BootCamp/Win7 with success. So it ain't the hardware and, since jRiverWin was OK, it wasn' the app.

[gmgraves]

Thanks for the replies. it almost seems like a driver issue.

 

 

Macs don't use unique audio drivers for digital audio. They use a system-level protocol that obviates the need for audio drivers when used with different DACs. That Mac "driver" would be ubiquitous and if 24/192 didn't work for one Mac, it wouldn't work for any of them. I'd look elsewhere; your nirvana software perhaps or the Marantz's DAC or perhaps the combination of the two of them together. Are you using the Mac to do multichannel? I'm pretty sure Kal is. If that's 24/192 that you can't get to work, I dunno. I don't do surround, myself, so it's possible that Macs just won't do 24/192 surround. If that's the case, Apple had best fix it and fix it quick. A new OS release is due around November. Perhaps they'll get it right at long last.

[jhwalker]

Macs don't use unique audio drivers for digital audio. They use a system-level protocol that obviates the need for audio drivers when used with different DACs. That Mac "driver" would be ubiquitous and if 24/192 didn't work for one Mac, it wouldn't work for any of them. I'd look elsewhere; your nirvana software perhaps or the Marantz's DAC or perhaps the combination of the two of them together. Are you using the Mac to do multichannel? I'm pretty sure Kal is. If that's 24/192 that you can't get to work, I dunno. I don't do surround, myself, so it's possible that Macs just won't do 24/192 surround. If that's the case, Apple had best fix it and fix it quick. A new OS release is due around November. Perhaps they'll get it right at long last.

 

No, that works too - listening to the Berlin Philharmonic via HDMI at multichannel 24/192 right now

[Kal Rubinson]

No, that works too - listening to the Berlin Philharmonic via HDMI at multichannel 24/192 right now

I know and I get pissed off at Apple every time I hear you. What's the secret?

[jhwalker]

I know and I get pissed off at Apple every time I hear you. What's the secret?

 

I just hooked up my HDMI cable from my Mac Mini to my AVR (I originally had an Onkyo, now a Pioneer), and it all worked.

 

Maybe too obvious, but you should make sure is that HDMI is set up (in Audio MIDI) to output to 8 channels, not 2:

 

 

 

If it's set in Audio MIDI to 2 channels, that's what the player (e.g., Audirvana, JRiver, etc.) will see, as well, and not give you multichannel as an option.

[Rebel17]

Thanks for confirming what I'm trying to do is possible, John. I feel your frustration, Kal.

 

Just for grins, I connected my Windows laptop to my Marantz, and I had no problem selecting and playing back 24/192 files at their native resolution. There's got to be something at the OS level that is says that my receiver isn't capable of anything higher than 24/96, so it's not offering the option. I don't know that it's worth the money to open a support case with Apple (especially based on Kal's experience). Maybe I just cut bait and try not to let it bother me.

[Kal Rubinson]

I just hooked up my HDMI cable from my Mac Mini to my AVR (I originally had an Onkyo, now a Pioneer), and it all worked.

 

Maybe too obvious, but you should make sure is that HDMI is set up (in Audio MIDI) to output to 8 channels, not 2:

 

If it's set in Audio MIDI to 2 channels, that's what the player (e.g., Audirvana, JRiver, etc.) will see, as well, and not give you multichannel as an option.

Thanks but, yes, it is set (and works) for 8channel output. The problem is that it is restricted to 24/96.

[gmgraves]

No, that works too - listening to the Berlin Philharmonic via HDMI at multichannel 24/192 right now

 

 

OK. Like I said. I have little to no interest in surround sound, especially 5.X with right, left, and center up-front either multi-miked or three spaced omni-directional mikes. So, I was merely speculating about what could be the problem. Obviously I was wrong. Not the first time; and certainly not the last....