Thank you for sharing this valuable info.
I am in the same situation having a WXC-50 and an external DAC (Ares II).
I usually listen files stored on external HDD using the Yamaha USB input and Apple Music via AirPlay which as far as I've read, luckily will receive 16/44.1 . I also have in consideration Spotify Hi-fi when will be available via Spotify connect or AirPlay 1 (16/44.1).
Today, reading your posts, I've found that WXC, actually will not output 24/192 via Optical/Coax in Preamp mode, down-sampling to 48 kHz.
In any case, in the end It looks like the DAC will receive 16/48 in this setup no matter what source I'll use.
Your solution using the Sky song bridge is great, congrats!
In my case, I have to recognize that I hate wires
I know that having a
Lightning to usb 3 camera adaptor I am able to send 24/192 from Apple Music using the iPad, directly to the Ares II DAC, by-passing the Yamaha streamer but I won't be able to use the iPad freely, it will be stuck near the other devices.
The question is,
- It matters if I fed the external DAC with 16/44.1-48 or 24/192, the difference could be noticeable better?
I am asking because, in OS mode (which I use), according to Ares II manual,
the PCM 44.1kHz or 48kHz based audio data are up-sampled to the maximum rate of PCM1411.2 or PCM1536.