How to get the Mac Mini Digital Audio output at 192kHz?

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Level 1

6 points

How to get the Mac Mini Digital Audio output at 192kHz?

I have a mid 2011 Mac Mini (and love it). According to http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4806, "The headphone / line output port accommodates digital optical audio output, analog audio output with a 24-bit, 44.1-192 kHz D/A converter, digital audio output up to 24-bit stereo and 44.1-192 kHz sampling rate and supporting encoded digital audio output (AC3 and DTS)."

So there is digital audio output to 192 kHz but how do you configure it to work? Using the Audio Midi Setup Utility, I can set the sample rate to 96000 Hz -- but it won't go higher to 192kHz. Anyone know how to do this?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.2), Outputting to an external DAC that

Posted on Dec 13, 2011 7:23 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

woodmeister50

Level 6

19,681 points

Dec 14, 2011 3:24 AM in response to drhoderick

That is in some ways confusing. For the analog output, the

internal DAC can support 24 bit/192Khz audio data. It does

require an application that has the capability of playing back

such material.

The TOSLINK optical standard does not support this data rate.

It has nothing to do with the Mini, it is the standard itself. The

TOSLINK optical spec is 96 kHz, 24 bit stereo (uncompressed).

The mini will however support multichannel, 24 bit, 192 kHz

(uncompressed) via the HDMI interface. Also, again,

the playback software needs to support it.

Just as a final note, unless the source material has the

higher sample rate format, there is no benifit to outputing

at the higher sample rate, especially if the source some

lossy comporessed format (mp3, aac, Dollby and DTS

non-HD formats).

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Answer 2

drhoderick Author

Level 1

6 points

Dec 15, 2011 7:12 PM in response to woodmeister50

Thanks very much, woodmeister50.

FYI I am looking to buy, convert (using XLD) and play Linn 192KHz FLAC STUDIO MASTERS, Gimell Stereo Studio Master Downloads at 176.4kHz and 192kHz, and also some DVD-Audios that are at 192 KHZ/24-bit.

How would one listen to these formats on a Mac Mini? Specifically what additional hardware, connectors, hardware converters, software conversions (FLAC to ALAC?) and playback software would be required?

Many thanks in advance

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Answer 3

Dec 16, 2011 4:26 AM in response to drhoderick

Here's a good place to start:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/

For the most part, the only limitation is your wallet.

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Answer 4

forkings

Level 1

9 points

Apr 26, 2016 10:30 AM in response to woodmeister50

According to Apple (see Play high sample rate digital audio on Mac computers - Apple Support ) it is possible to output 192 kHz audio data via the Toslink output of some Macs. Is this claim wrong?

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