From wiki.
The streams are transcoded using the Apple Lossless codec with 44100 Hz and 2 channels ....
Does anyone know the answer ?
Interestingly, Home Sharing does allow 24bit playback, so the technology definitely isn't the limiting factor in Apple's decision to limit AirPlay bit depth and sample rate.
usb connection or digital audio etc ?
Does anyone know the answer ?
home sharing sends the raw file, airplay* sends an audio stream.
it makes the airplay receivers easier/cheaper to build as they only have to deal with 1 predetermined file type.
*audio works this way
*video airplay sends the raw stream.
*airplay mirroring is closer to audio as it has to encode the screen on the fly.
Makes perfect sense. Do you know what Home Sharing does with the audio track of a movie? Say I have a high-bit AAC audio track on a 1080p movie. Does Home Sharing transcode the audio at all, or is it pass-through as well?