Beelink Mini S as Plex server bitperfect question

[yewneek]

So, I've built and successfully configured a Plex-based music/media server on a Beelink Mini S, running WIndows 11 with 1TB SSD for media and 16GB DDR4 for the overhead. Much of my audio is FLAC

Plays fine in 4k streaming, all the clients find it, etc.

How do we know when it's streaming bitperfect? I've got Tidal Hifi Plus hooked into Plex too, all settings to MAX.

I can stream to Chromecast Audio, Plex client on Sony Bravia X94J GoogleTV thru a HTG-700 soundbar on eARC, and to Plex on any of my phones or elsewhere.

The potential is there, just when would it be bitperfect?

TIA

Greg

 

[RayDunzl]

The potential is there, just when would it be bitperfect?

Basics:

I would expect the bits to be "perfect" if the playback sample rate is the same as the recorded sample rate, and there is no digital volume control applied, and no EQ applied.

What else may go on in your path is unknown to me.

In my case, as I have a little volume cut (bits changed), things get resampled to 48kHz along the path (bits changed) and resampled to 211kHz in the DAC (bits changed), and then finally "room correction" has its way (bits changed again) with all those once perfect bits.

Do I worry about it?

No.

 

[yewneek]

A good description of your own personal experiences. My gratitude for your valuable contribution in helping me explore in such a concise manner.

 

[BDWoody]

How do we know when it's streaming bitperfect? I've got Tidal Hifi Plus hooked into Plex too, all settings to MAX.

I don't think Plex has an equivalent to the button you can hit in Roon to see what's happening to your signal, but here's an example of how very non bit-perfect this stream is.

From there, it goes into my Denon receiver where it gets further mangled through it's room correction process before finally getting to my speakers, where the analog signal is digitized again!

Even with all that, it manages to sound pretty good.

Short answer, as Ray said...Don't worry about it too much beyond the curiosity level.

 

[fuzzy_logic]

So, I've built and successfully configured a Plex-based music/media server on a Beelink Mini S, running WIndows 11 with 1TB SSD for media and 16GB DDR4 for the overhead. Much of my audio is FLAC

Plays fine in 4k streaming, all the clients find it, etc.

How do we know when it's streaming bitperfect? I've got Tidal Hifi Plus hooked into Plex too, all settings to MAX.

I can stream to Chromecast Audio, Plex client on Sony Bravia X94J GoogleTV thru a HTG-700 soundbar on eARC, and to Plex on any of my phones or elsewhere.

The potential is there, just when would it be bitperfect?

TIA

Greg

The Plex client on windows can do bit-perfect. Plexamp for Windows doesn't have a setting for this - i think it's just IOS, Mac OS and Linux that do. I don't think Tidal played via Plex is bit-perfect though.

 

[yewneek]

The Plex client on windows can do bit-perfect. Plexamp for Windows doesn't have a setting for this - i think it's just IOS, Mac OS and Linux that do. I don't think Tidal played via Plex is bit-perfect though.

Ta! Plexamp on WIndows has bitperfect as a chargeable option. I'm looking into the rest!

 

[Nutul]

Plexamp for Windows doesn't have a setting for this - i think it's just IOS, Mac OS and Linux that do. I don't think Tidal played via Plex is bit-perfect though.

A setting for what?

 

[yewneek]

A setting for what?

Bitperfection. Seamless un-resampling from source to final output DAC.

 

[antcollinet]

Bitperfection. Seamless un-resampling from source to final output DAC.

Bitperfection is seriously overrated. The effect of any resampling, if done correctly, is inaudible.

 

[FrantzM]

Bitperfection is seriously overrated. The effect of any resampling, if done correctly, is inaudible.

Indeed. This is what @RayDunzl tried to convey to the OP in his #2 post ...
Not sure the OP wanted to hear (pun intended) or accept that ...
Out...

Peace.

 

[fuzzy_logic]

A setting for what?

Settings>Audio Output>Sample Rate Matching. For output to an attached DAC. otherwise it plays at a fixed sample rate. Not that it matters really

 

[fuzzy_logic]

Ta! Plexamp on WIndows has bitperfect as a chargeable option. I'm looking into the rest!

I think you are mistaken. There are no chargeable upgrades to Plexamp. You used to have to have Plex Pass, but now it is free for all Plex users.