Best possible audio output quality from Mac mini

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Best possible audio output quality from Mac mini

An audio question about Mac mini (2018) using OS Big Sur 11.0.1

The settings for Output in the Audio Midi App allow to send 96Khz/32-bit signal on the headphone line out. A USB to DAC connection over one of the USB-C ports seems to be limited to 48Khz/24-bit.

The Airplay settings limit further to 44Khz.

What is the best possible audio digital output a Mac mini can deliver and over which channel. Hoping that 192Khz/24-bit would be possible over USB-C. I am trying to send signal to Nubert active speakers that can handle input at 192Khz.

Thank you

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Nov 29, 2020 1:31 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 29, 2020 4:44 AM in response to hblnk

What model do you have exactly? I found an nuPro A-200 and it's in the specification USB - 16 bit / 48 kHz

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Answer 2

hblnk Author

Level 1

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Nov 29, 2020 3:36 AM in response to MichaMart

Thank you for your reply.

The DAC in the active speakers - Nubert A series - can handle 192Khz/24-bit.

But the Audio MIDI setup app gives the choice between 44Khz and 48Khz only for a USB link.

The same app gives the option to set the headphones out to 96Khz, but this confuses me.

The content I am streaming is mostly Idagio, a classical music provider, that sends FLAC Lossless. So I am trying to get as much of that bandwidth and information out to the speakers DAC. That is why I am trying to avoid Airplay too.

What else could I try?

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