Computer Audio Asylum

RE: What Bit-Rate does an IMac put out on USB?

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This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

In Reply to: RE: What Bit-Rate does an IMac put out on USB? posted by oldmkvi on September 16, 2017 at 08:46:31

If I undestand your question correctly you are basically asking how you identify the bit depth and sample rate that your Audioquest Dragonfly is receiving. I hope I am right.

Internet radio is normally 16/44.1 or 16/48. Even if it is a lossy service e.g MP3 or AAC etc, to the DAC it is still 16/44.1 or 16/48. I have never come across a 24 bit internet radio station although streaming services ( usually the paid for variety) can be at this bit depth. Other inmates may have further advice.

The Dragonfly logo on the DAC changes colour according to the sample rate it receives. It cannot be set to a different rate, it selects automatically.

So for internet radio you will be getting 16 bits. If the sample rate is 44.1KS/s the logo will light as green, 48 blue, 88.2 amber and 96 magenta. with MQA files and the latest Dragonfly software the logo lights up in a purple shade. I am led to believe the latter having no access to MQA myself.

If you have bought a new Dragonfly it comes with a "flight manual" that documents all of the logo colour information although I guess you should also find it on the Audioquest website.

NB: if the logo is red this means that the DAC is on standby.

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