scottbrown

Q: 24/192 audio over HDMI from new Mac Mini?

I have been sending 24bit, 192khz audio over hdmi from an Oppo bdp93 to a Classe SSP-800 processor with no issues for months. The SSP-800 says it's getting a 24/192 signal and all is well.

 

I bought a Mac Mini last week (latest model, 2.3 i7), and the Mac's Audio MIDI setup is only showing a max of 96khz over HDMI.

 

When I play 24/192 audio files from an app like Fidelia or Decibel, the Mac Mini will not choose anything higher than 96khz in Audio MIDI Setup.

 

Apple's support site (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4214) says:

 

Which type of audio works with HDMI?

Apple supports 8 channel 24-bit audio at 192kHz, Dolby Surround 5.1 and stereo output.

 

So I was under the impression that the Mac Minis can output 24/192 over HDMI. I know the Classe can accept 24/192 over HDMI from the Oppo, so what's going on with the Mac Mini?  Has anyone actually been able to send 192khz audio from a Mac Mini's HDMI port?

 

 

 


OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Nov 28, 2012 7:43 AM

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Q: 24/192 audio over HDMI from new Mac Mini?

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  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Nov 28, 2012 10:09 PM in response to scottbrown
    Level 10 (123,603 points)
    Nov 28, 2012 10:09 PM in response to scottbrown

    Hi Scott, I vaguely remember that the HW was capable, but the SW/OS wasn't. ?

  • by scottbrown,

    scottbrown scottbrown Nov 29, 2012 2:47 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (65 points)
    Nov 29, 2012 2:47 AM in response to BDAqua

    24/192 works fine from the HDMI out of my Retina Macbook Pro

  • by scottbrown,

    scottbrown scottbrown Nov 29, 2012 5:23 AM in response to scottbrown
    Level 1 (65 points)
    Nov 29, 2012 5:23 AM in response to scottbrown

    I'll add that I tried it from my MacBook Pro for the first time last night.

     

    So it seems to be a Mini-only problem

  • by vierconbruyo,

    vierconbruyo vierconbruyo Jan 10, 2013 6:02 PM in response to scottbrown
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 10, 2013 6:02 PM in response to scottbrown

    i have a similar problem, do anybody know, if itunes can play 24/192 music files? i mean i have my Imac connected to a pioneer receptor and i would like to know if itunes plays that kind of files or there is just a maximun quality which can be reproduced by itunes?

  • by kedar_doshi,

    kedar_doshi kedar_doshi Feb 14, 2013 7:24 AM in response to scottbrown
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 14, 2013 7:24 AM in response to scottbrown

    Is this still a problem after upgrading to 10.8.2?

  • by scottbrown,

    scottbrown scottbrown Feb 14, 2013 7:27 AM in response to kedar_doshi
    Level 1 (65 points)
    Feb 14, 2013 7:27 AM in response to kedar_doshi

    Yes

  • by kedar_doshi,

    kedar_doshi kedar_doshi Feb 14, 2013 8:10 AM in response to scottbrown
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 14, 2013 8:10 AM in response to scottbrown

    Thanks Scott. Thats too bad. Are you using your MBP to stream your music then ?

  • by scottbrown,

    scottbrown scottbrown Feb 14, 2013 8:15 AM in response to kedar_doshi
    Level 1 (65 points)
    Feb 14, 2013 8:15 AM in response to kedar_doshi

    I'm still using the mini.

     

    I guess I'll get a usb > spdif adapter at some point to avoid the downsampling above 96khz

  • by woodmeister50,

    woodmeister50 woodmeister50 Feb 15, 2013 2:48 AM in response to scottbrown
    Level 5 (5,510 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 15, 2013 2:48 AM in response to scottbrown

    FWIW, at least the 2010 Mini that I use for an HTPC

    is hardware capable of delivering 24 bit/192 kHz up

    to 5.1 channel PCM (only have 5.1 system).  I know

    this as a fact that when booting into Windows 7 via

    Bootcamp, the Power DVD app that I use for BluRays

    delivers such audio to my receiver.

     

    I would guess this should still true even on the new Minis.

     

    Why on the OSX side it isn't supported is a very good question?

  • by lilneige,

    lilneige lilneige Mar 1, 2014 11:34 AM in response to scottbrown
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 1, 2014 11:34 AM in response to scottbrown

    Appearently, Apple don't want us to use Mac mini as HTPC for 2CH audio. Unless we are going to using it with Windows. Funny eh?

     

    I don't get it why Apple isn't trying to fix this problem.

     

     

    BTW, Apple advertised that Mac Mini can output 24/192 thru HDMI but that didn't happened in the reality. Can we sue Apple for false advertising? hum..maybe not, since it is working probably under Windows 7.

  • by scottbrown,

    scottbrown scottbrown Sep 8, 2014 4:54 AM in response to scottbrown
    Level 1 (65 points)
    Sep 8, 2014 4:54 AM in response to scottbrown

    Apple just closed my bug report after not responding to it for almost 2 years.

     

    This is their response:

     

    "We plan a kb article written to explain the limitation on the mac mini."

     

    I find this entirely unacceptable. They already have a KB article that says the machine is capable of 192khz over HDMI, and now they are planning one to say it isn't. Well guess what? I bought this machine almost 2 years ago based on the first article.

  • by mjaminian,

    mjaminian mjaminian Aug 7, 2016 5:45 AM in response to scottbrown
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 7, 2016 5:45 AM in response to scottbrown

    Hi Scott,

    I agree this is unacceptable.

    What is the status today - 2 more years later?

     

    On my side I have an El Capitan Mac mini (Late 2014 MGEQ2xx/A) that I just connected to both an LG 4K OLED TV through its Display port and HDMI 2 adapter, and to an HDMI matrix through its HDMI.

    On the DP port, the Mac mini allows me to go up to 96KHz/24bits while on the HDMI I can only go up to 48KHz/24bits.

     

    I'm not familiar with HDMI EDID protocol, could that be the source of the limitation?

    Is my Matrix saying to the mini to limit its max Audio frequency?

     

    Best, MA