Yeh 12 months ago it came out at fixed rate PCM192kHz, no matter the source rate
I haven’t seen anything on the web that this has changed
I guess I should retest in case something changed in 12 months and nobody else noticed
Best for Amazon Music is using one of the WiiM devices which support proper bit perfect casting - I think upcoming WiiM will have USB output
Hey - finally all working straight from my MacBook Pro M1. Thanks for the amazing tips here in this forum. However, there is one last point it seems like I am not getting DSD256 or DSD512 (DAC supports it). Any idea why? Input is Apple Music and Qobuz (Blackhole, Lossless switcher all installed also the script)
UPDATE: Played with all the settings, max. I can get is DOP256. I have T+A DAC200 so it should support DSP256. On DSP512, nothing happens when I click on URI (audio:default/44100/2).
Using your DAC with a Mac necessitates the use of DoP (macOS does not support ‘native’ DSD), effectively doubling the data rate (and halving the rate you can use for DSD) – so 256 is all you get.
You can work around this by either attaching the DAC to a small Linux-based streamer (like a Raspberry Pi) running NAA, allowing you to make use of your DAC’s full capabilities – or by running a small virtual Linux machine on your Mac (I use Parallels running Debian with NAA installed) and routing the USB-connection to the DAC to it.
It would have been to perfect. I really thought I was close.
On this:
or by running a small virtual Linux machine on your Mac (I use Parallels running Debian with NAA installed) and routing the USB-connection to the DAC to it.
Can you pls explain how you do this. I know how to install parallels but for the a short step by step would be appreciated. Assuming this is running side by side with osx ?
Last question. What Mac machine are you using ?
Sigh.
Nothing too complicated, really:
When up and running, you can set the VM to automatically load in the background, so you won’t have to deal with any Parallels window chrome at all.
[Edit to include your last question] I’m running a Mac mini M1.
Thx a lot. Will try it out these days. One additional question - debating if I should get a MacBook Air M3 with 16 GB. U think this will work on DSD512?
I don’t see any issues on the VM/NAA side. Upsampling to DSD512 is dependant on your choices for filters and modulators – there’s ample threads about that, here, there and everywhere.
In your case, I would build a proof of concept with your current MacBook, using light filters in HQP to go to test 512. Once running fine, an M3 will probably help with heavier filters – but since my DAC runs out of steam at 256, I can’t really advise you on that.
Fair enough - I might get a MacBook Air from apple for testing purpose. I am using my MacBook Pro from work so can’t install parallels.
Very last one for now. On my settings screenshots I posted everything looks good? At least I want to close this chapter before open the next box.
Your HQ Player transport is set to fixed audio:default/44100/2. While this is fine for redbook content, you may want to change this to audio:default/0/2 (also in the list).
That way, Qobuz and Apple Music (via Lossless Switcher) can change bitrates on the fly so highres sources enter HQ Player untouched.
Very good, thanks a lot! Let me set this up within the next couple of days.
Just want to add on this for everyone - the MacBook Pro has a good temperature after 20-30 mins running HQPlayer. Not sure if a fanless MacBook Air will survive over a long period of time of listening - might be better to get a MacBook Pro which at least has a fan build in - just sharing.
Tried to install NAA in Debian 12 but getting this error message above. Updated with sudo apt-get -y install libasound2 but no choices. Am I missing anything here?
EDIT: Do I need to start the daemon manually or does it load automatically?
EDIT2: All services are running, what a journey! The services are starting automatically. I also assigned parallels to DAC200 - see below:
However, I am not getting any output - settings:
Shouldn’t the output show me Debian now? Would really appreciate some guidance, I am close. Thanks in advance.
NAA would show up under “Network Audio Adapter” backend, not under “CoreAudio”.
It doesn’t show up:
I can see it is connected in Debian:
If anyone has an idea what else do to please chip in.
It is probably issue with networking between your host and VM. I assume you are using bridged network, so that the VM gets it’s own IP within your regular home subnet?
I personally wouldn’t have particularly high hopes for running a NAA under VM, because everything must go through lot of hardware and software virtualization.
WORKING. - Bridged it was. @jussi_laako
Minor drop outs in the beginning of the song, rest smooth.
EDIT1: DSD512 doesn’t play well. Now moving into fine-tuning phase.
@RBM How did u manage the hiccups during the start of each song ? Not sure if this is because I installed Debian 12 with gui but each song on Apple Music has a short hiccup, the microphone in the taskbar is going away for a second or so and then everything is running smooth until the next song starts. Btw, no issues with Spotify but partially here and there with Qobuz high res.
I gave 2 processors and 2GB ram to the VM.
Appreciate
While I prefer a more lightweight VM (I run minimal Debian with a handful of server tasks and no GUI), if fixed upsampling (Spotify) is working as expected, your VM is not the bottleneck.
Apple Music with Lossless Switcher is a bit hacky and known to be a bit troublesome when starting tracks/switching rates – regardless of HQ Player. I seem to remember that Qobuz worked quite nicely with rate switching and HQP – but I’ll have to revisit that (I rarely use Qobuz outside of Roon).
Qobuz application knows how to use exclusive mode and do rate switching. So no Lossless Switcher or similar needed. Just plain Blackhole looback driver is enough for Desktop input.
Tidal application seems to have exclusive mode broken on both Windows and macOS, at least about a month ago it was still broken.
