Apple Music is a great and affordable ressource of musics in HiRes (24bit >48kz) but how well can we go HiRes from the player to the speaker ?
Simple remote control such as track backward and forward is doable using accessibility tools from an other iDevice or Siri but that is a pain in the neck for browsing tracks.
Airplay
Examples:- Apple airplay on player device + Airplay renderer (such as Moodeaudio) + DAC
- Apple TV + AV Amplifier
Pros
- Can be controlled remotely from any apple device
Cons
- Limited to 48kHz/24bits PCM
macOS device + DAC
Pros
- Can be controlled remotely from any apple device with remote app
- Compatible to DAC at least up to 192kHz/24bits PCM
Cons
- Monopolised an expensive hardware (at least a mac mini) near the HiFi system
- Limited to a sample rate fixed once in the macOS audio configuration, i.e. can not change dynamically the audio resolution, not bit perfect
iOS device + DAC
Pros
- Rather cheap hardware near the HiFi system (a second hand iPhone is enough)
- Changes dynamically the audio resolution (bit perfect)
- Compatible to DAC at least up to 192kHz/24bits PCM
Cons
- Can not be controlled remotely from an other iOs/macOS device: you need to stand up from your chair to change tracks
And you ?
On my side, I'm using the later configuration but still mad and not being able to do remote control.Simple remote control such as track backward and forward is doable using accessibility tools from an other iDevice or Siri but that is a pain in the neck for browsing tracks.