USB

[kreacherx]

Whilst enquiring today I find that unless you pay loads USB will only transfer 16 bit!! & seeing my "Air" has only usb I'm stuck with that I rang Pro-Ject the DAC I was sent & they said its capable of 24bit but it only does 16 but wouldnt explain any Ideas?

[Alan Sircom]

Whilst enquiring today I find that unless you pay loads USB will only transfer 16 bit!! & seeing my "Air" has only usb I'm stuck with that I rang Pro-Ject the DAC I was sent & they said its capable of 24bit but it only does 16 but wouldnt explain any Ideas?

Your MacBook Air is cable of Class 1 Audio (24-bit data precision, 96kHz sampling rate) as standard and Class 2 Audio (24/192) at a pinch, in both cases with the appropriate converters.

Your Pro-Ject USB Box uses a 16-bit, 44.1kHz converter chip. It cannot be forced or cajoled into any form of higher bit or sampling rate than that.

So, while your Mac can do 24/96, your USB box cannot. It's that simple, I'm afraid. The HRT Streamer II is the cheapest DAC that supports 24/96, I believe, and that's £160.

[roob]

The Cambridge Dacmagic 100 or MF V Link2 will do up to 24/192 via USB, both are £199.

[technobear]

The HRT Streamer II is pipped to the cheapest post by the Arcam rPAC at £150 :-)

[Rambaud]

My FiiO E10 will do 24/96kHz.

It does not require mains power, has a headphone amplifier and uses USB.

It costs ~ £65.00.

Whilst not the highest of Fi, it is excellent for the money, IMHO.