Mac Mini streaming Qobuz, optical output..anyone else using this setup ?

[oleg87]

IF one is buying 24/96 vs 16/44 and it was mastered in 24/96 originally the 16/44 cannot record nor reproduce the original sounds accurately and will have distortion in many different ways. I am not saying the X steps cause the distortion LOL, you are oversimplifying and trying to pull things out of context.

So I did a bit of research and there are MANY microphones that have higher dynamic range. You are oversimplifying by saying "microphones...only have 80dB of SNR"
Recording engineers will use 32bit recorders, multiple microphones- some with the highest dynamic range over 100dB and some with high SPL capability up to 147dB.
They don't just use one microphone LOL. And SNR of a microphone is not the same as it's dynamic range.

24/96 is superior to 16/44 recordings Full Stop, Mathematical Facts and Physics Facts and these differences are audible
IF one knows or cares to hear it, and IF the recording was done properly and IF ones equipment is up to snuff

It is also a fact which I already stated, most people will be happy with 16/44 due to ignorant bliss or incapable equipment or any number of other factors

(edited for accuracy)

How many recordings do you have where you can hear a dithered 16bit quantization noise floor at a volume you can stand listening to?

 

[HalSF]

Is it headless, I.e., controlled remotely via iPad or iPhone?

Eventually I’ll have to move to a later Mac & will likely use either HDMI to a suitable DAC or (horror) just the 3.5mm RCA out.

When I'm using the Apple Music app on the Mac as the source (which is most of the time when I'm not playing vinyl) for my main system across the listening room, I can use iPhone/iPad to control what I'm playing. But most of the time I don't bother and just use the Mac to start/stop/change things, heading back and forth from my sweet-spot chair.

 

[jmdesignz2]

How many recordings do you have where you can hear a dithered 16bit quantization noise floor at a volume you can stand listening to?

You are trying to ask a different question
the main point is 16/44 is inferior to 24/96 and has easily discernable from the other IF one knows what to listen for AND if the source material AND equipment is up to it
It is indisputable -

a recording that clips past 96dB is discernable vs one that clips past 144dB

 

[antcollinet]

a recording that clips past 96dB is discernable vs one that clips past 144dB

Jesus - I know I said I'd leave it - but that needs addressing- Redbook doesn't clip any more than high res does. The fact that you have such a poor understanding of the impact of resolution - really should give you pause for thought. The only difference is level of the noise floor, and bandwidth, and the redbook noise floor is already inaudible, and has higher bandwidth than the human ear.

 

[caught gesture]

You are trying to ask a different question
the main point is 16/44 is inferior to 24/96 and has easily discernable from the other IF one knows what to listen for AND if the source material AND equipment is up to it
It is indisputable -

a recording that clips past 96dB is discernable vs one that clips past 144dB

Have you tried a controlled comparison on yourself for the Dunning–Kruger effect?

 

[jmdesignz2]

Have you tried a controlled comparison on yourself for the Dunning–Kruger effect?

feel free to argue the difference between 96dB and 144dB is "inaudible"

extremely puzzled why so many on this thread are trying all kinds of whataboutisms, appeal to authority and straw man fallacies when it is clear that a recording made in 24/96 is audibly superior to a 16/44 IF the end user has adequate equipment AND even cares.

 

[caught gesture]

it is clear that a recording made in 24/96 is audibly superior to a 16/44 IF the end user has adequate equipment AND even cares.

If it is clear to you, under controlled ABX testing conditions, then good for you. If it isn’t for many of us with excellent equipment and who did care enough to test in a scientific way to remove bias, then we are obviously going to disagree with you. As there is no way to know what your controls are when testing whilst knowing that I have used scientifically recognised protocols, you will find me in the “there is no audible difference” camp.

 

[antcollinet]

feel free to argue the difference between 96dB and 144dB is "inaudible"

extremely puzzled why so many on this thread are trying all kinds of whataboutisms, appeal to authority and straw man fallacies when it is clear that a recording made in 24/96 is audibly superior to a 16/44 IF the end user has adequate equipment AND even cares.

Bring your scientific evidence for your claims of audibility.

You saying “I can hear it” is not that.

 

[jmdesignz2]

Bring your scientific evidence for your claims of audibility.

You saying “I can hear it” is not that.

96dB vs 144dB - you cannot refute that difference LOL

 

[caught gesture]

96dB vs 144dB - you cannot refute that difference LOL

Knowing what you are talking about vs not - you cannot refute that difference LOL

 

[jmdesignz2]

Knowing what you are talking about vs not - you cannot refute that difference LOL

“Still, these are superb numbers. At 5 watts I like to see an amp clear the 16 bit dynamic range of CD which many amps fail. This amplifier despite being so powerful, is extremely quiet producing 102 dB of SNR. With 3 volts of input which is likely well over 1000 watts, it shot up to 21+ bits of dynamic range! Fantastic!”

Someone seems to think exceeding the 16 bit dynamic range is important. We’re done here lol

 

[HalSF]

To my febrile mind, 16/44 and 24/96 playback are like Betty and Veronica: two smoking hot embodiments of alluring pulchritude, one blonde and girl-next-door gorgeous, the other brunette and a bit haughty with high-end antecedents. More than happy to spend quality time with either, both are stunning.

 

[jmdesignz2]

Individuals with normal hearing can process sounds over a range of 120 dB.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016558761830260X#:~:text=Introduction,10%5D%2C%20%5B11%5D%5D.

 

[jmdesignz2]

Each time a sound’s decibel level increases by 10, its intensity multiplies by 10. However, the decibel scale is logarithmic, not linear. Therefore, a 10 dB sound is 10 times more intense than a 0 dB sound, a 20 dB sound is 100 times more intense, and a 30 dB sound is 1,000 times more intense.

Decibel Chart of Common Sounds | dB Comparing Decibel Levels

The human ear is very sensitive and perceives even the smallest differences in sound intensity. However, we may not always be aware of just how loud some sounds can be.

decibelpro.app

 

[CFP]

It’s fair to state this thread has wandered off into the ditch…. It has been good to hear from other users of this little silver marvel however.

 

[sam_adams]

It’s fair to state this thread has wandered off into the ditch . . .

More like:

It has been good to hear from other users of this little silver marvel however.

It was a good device for its time. It still has some life left in it if you want to experiment with the Open Core Legacy Patcher. The model that you have is essentially the desktop version of the Mid-2012 MacBook Pro 9,2. With 16 GB of RAM and an SSD to replace the rotating drive, that model Mini will easily run Ventura v13.7.8 using OCLP.

Open Core Legacy Patcher (OCLP) on github.

Supported Mac models.

Installer build instructions.

Cheap PNY SSD at Amazon. Works great. I have these in various sizes in all my Wintel and Mac devices.

 

[CFP]

More like:
View attachment 484329




It was a good device for its time. It still has some life left in it if you want to experiment with the Open Core Legacy Patcher. The model that you have is essentially the desktop version of the Mid-2012 MacBook Pro 9,2. With 16 GB of RAM and an SSD to replace the rotating drive, that model Mini will easily run Ventura v13.7.8 using OCLP.

Open Core Legacy Patcher (OCLP) on github.

Supported Mac models.

Installer build instructions.

Cheap PNY SSD at Amazon. Works great. I have these in various sizes in all my Wintel and Mac devices.

Can confirm 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD…

It runs OSX 10.15 natively…

 

[sam_adams]

Can confirm 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD…

It runs OSX 10.15 natively…

Those model Macs (Late-2012 Macmini6,1, and Mid-2012 MacBookPro9,2) are essentially the same device in a different form factor, except for the audio ports. The MacBook Pro has the one headphone/combo port with optical out only and the Mini has the separate in/out ports with optical in and out.

macOS Ventura v13.7.8, runs handily on these devices using OCLP: