What is the DAC chip inside new MacBook series? I can't find any info on iFixit's MacBook Pro M1 teardown. Is anyone got a clue?
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MacBook Pro M1 Series DAC Chip Brand
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Nothing in system info i'm afraid, but i would imagine they use a similar one to the iDevices. Recommend an audioquest dragonfly if you care about these things
I VERY much doubt that to be the case. I have a pro, and my dragonfly red kicks the floor with it in terms of clarity with lossless audio.
I must admit i doubt that the Cirrus Logic CS4208 can beat the Dragonfly series. Those are some fantastic DACs! Music sampling rate does not necessarily mean better sound quality (eventhough the Dragonfly series can also sample 24 bit music). I bet the dragonfly has far superior digital noise reduction as well.
There is a good reason to switch to an external DAC if playing higher resolution files is desire or for that matter, well mastered compressed files. Apple loves to limit in some respect what we can and cannot do. By going digital out to a reasonable DAC, the door is opened. - Consider some DACs that play natively FLAC hi Rez files as an obvious example. The only catch is to of course consider what the DAC is connected to as the final say on quality output. Using an expensive DAC with crap active (powered) speakers will still render crap.
Of recent, I am doing my own research to get an external DAC and may most likely consider a DAC/AMP set up to passive speakers. Plenty of options to be found (and opinion) on Youtube.
If one were to go for Dragonfly, they may want to consider the "red" option as it is significant enough to enhance audio for a reasonably matched headphone (impedance etc.). Given that headphones have their own bias or emphasis or colour, the way that a DAC works may not sound good on some headphones but fantastic on others. As for drivers, you can certainly find DACs not requiring drivers for Mac.
Of recent, I am doing my own research to get an external DAC and may most likely consider a DAC/AMP set up to passive speakers. Plenty of options to be found (and opinion) on Youtube.
If one were to go for Dragonfly, they may want to consider the "red" option as it is significant enough to enhance audio for a reasonably matched headphone (impedance etc.). Given that headphones have their own bias or emphasis or colour, the way that a DAC works may not sound good on some headphones but fantastic on others. As for drivers, you can certainly find DACs not requiring drivers for Mac.
I got the hip-dac from ifi and it is fantastic in combination with my cabled momentum from sennheiser.
I’m quite interested also. Apple never told about DACs in their products, and seem to be their own design. Info is not available at system profile,
BUT there’s important info and settings in “Audio MIDI“ app, in “Utilities”. The name of the app is confusing, as it manages two aspects: midi AND audio. Fiddle in there and you can check resolution capability of internal DAC. Till now, Apple included a quite decent DAC able to decode up to 24bit/96kHz, and you could set res. in that utility.
Perhaps M1 related DAC is better? I can’t find any info in the web.
At least, someone could check that panel in the audio config app‽??! Please.
(I‘m using an Intel iMac)
Apple certainly can do things right but then again, they can also intentionally limit some things users may want to do. I find that bypassing Mac's audio for usb out to a DAC has vastly more advantages. Some options don't have to be overly expensive.
Well, the “limit” in Intel iMacs (last few gen. at least) was 24bit-96kHz, which is no bad (the same as all AudioQuest Dragonflies, e.g.) and tested sound quality is nice.
I also use a couple of external DACs, with higher specs. and added in/out’s.
I don’t have the Apple usb-C to 3.5 jack DAC, but it seems good quality also (albeit limited to 24/48).
See: Apple audio adapter review
I’m asking about M1 DAC “limits”. I would like to know, should be an easy task. Everyone with a M1 mac could just:
- look for “Audio MIDI setup” app in UTILITIES folder, start the app, go to “SOUND” config. and open the menu that offers different resolution levels of internal DAC. Please.
It’s the only way, as that info (and setting) is not in ”system profile”.
(It’s been up to 24/96 since long ago in macs)
DAC chip is a monitoring chip which Apple can monitor everything you do on your computer - call it control.
I doubt that very much... why would the Digital to Analog Converter have the slightest thing to do with monitoring your computer? Why on earth would you post this...trolling?
It goes up to 96kHz 32 bit
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Thaaaaaank you!
(My iMac 2018 dac in attached screenshot).
Well, 24bit depth is "standard" and enough, but DAC in M1 is a tad better (specs at least).
And that makes possible -e.g.- Hi Res (up to 96kHz) streamed by Apple Music, without external DAC. Also makes possible to work in Logic or GarageBand at those resolutions without external DAC.
Thank you again. It seems almost nobody pays attention to this "sound thing"; after lots of searching in web, your screenshot is an unpublished scoop. (I challenge whoever to bring a link with similar data provided by aliea13 . Apple don't specify, and I presume "pro" users surpass internal DAC and "normal" users ignore "Audio MIDI Setup".app).
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It certainly seems possible to stream Apple Music Lossless (not Hi-Res Lossless though) using M1 Air's internal DAC but I would definitely look for an external DAC if doing any serious listening (especially for classical music)Thaaaaaank you!
(My iMac 2018 dac in attached screenshot).
Well, 24bit depth is "standard" and enough, but DAC in M1 is a tad better (specs at least).
And that makes possible -e.g.- Hi Res (up to 96kHz) streamed by Apple Music, without external DAC. Also makes possible to work in Logic or GarageBand at those resolutions without external DAC.
Thank you again. It seems almost nobody pays attention to this "sound thing"; after lots of searching in web, your screenshot is an unpublished scoop. (I challenge whoever to bring a link with similar data provided by aliea13 . Apple don't specify, and I presume "pro" users surpass internal DAC and "normal" users ignore "Audio MIDI Setup".app).
For comparison - my M1 Mac mini:
My 2018 MBP 13-inch:
Finally, my iMac Pro:
So no observed difference between the 2017 iMac (Intel Xeon), 2018 MBP (Intel Core) and 2020 Mac mini (AS M1). I guess that makes sense as all use Apple Silicon (ARM) for the audio.
My 2018 MBP 13-inch:
Finally, my iMac Pro:
So no observed difference between the 2017 iMac (Intel Xeon), 2018 MBP (Intel Core) and 2020 Mac mini (AS M1). I guess that makes sense as all use Apple Silicon (ARM) for the audio.
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Of course. I do prefer an external DAC.
BUT, consider how Logic (e.g.) adjusts max. resolution creation depending on available DAC. Having an internal 96kHz ceiling is NICE.
...Well... My believe is that audio is managed by T2 chip (Apple silicon) in macs with T2. But if CPU is Intel and NO T2, there must be a dedicated DAC chip (as system profile reports).
All my macs till present reached 24bit depth... but perhaps it depends on Mac OS used (I'm in Mojave). Note also how my mac reports 24bit "integer" and yours say 32bit "floating".
I'm not a tech or sound savvy... Can anybody explain something more about this? (Please).
(I repeat: info in Internet is scarce or inexistent).
Integer vs floating point matters little. The fixed scaling factor used in integer DACs is/was arguably easier on processing and used extensively in older DACs. Floating point only became more commonplace at 32-bit as at these rates the resolution is so high it is not limiting in any way.
The conversion in either direction is trivial for modern silicon and a number of newer DACs use 32-bit floating point as the native format. Again, none of this matters and at the same rate there is no difference so one isn't 'better' than another and all modern silicon can convert from one to another with consummate ease.
No reason Apple shouldn't be able to handle 24/96 out the door but - Apple likes to tell us what we like and what we need. Thus, we have 256 AAC which they say is good enough. They also say we shouldn't play Flac files with their own apps. The issues is not what the hardware can or cannot do but how Apple forces and blocks certain activities.Thaaaaaank you!
(My iMac 2018 dac in attached screenshot).
Well, 24bit depth is "standard" and enough, but DAC in M1 is a tad better (specs at least).
And that makes possible -e.g.- Hi Res (up to 96kHz) streamed by Apple Music, without external DAC. Also makes possible to work in Logic or GarageBand at those resolutions without external DAC.
Thank you again. It seems almost nobody pays attention to this "sound thing"; after lots of searching in web, your screenshot is an unpublished scoop. (I challenge whoever to bring a link with similar data provided by aliea13 . Apple don't specify, and I presume "pro" users surpass internal DAC and "normal" users ignore "Audio MIDI Setup".app).
DOSMix external DAC delivers 32bit @ 192Khz which is silly, that's a dynamic range to go from a pin drop to a bomb drop and a high end that only instruments can measure but, yeah, would love to hear someones take on audio quality at $22.
DOSMIX USB C DAC - Portable 32 Bit/384kHz Dosmix Headphone Amplifier, HiFi Converter, Qualcomm chipset, Impedance 600Ω, SNR123dB, Premium Sound Enhancer for Android/Windows Smartphone Laptop
DOSMIX USB C DAC - Portable 32 Bit/384kHz Dosmix Headphone Amplifier, HiFi Converter, Qualcomm chipset, Impedance 600Ω, SNR123dB, Premium Sound Enhancer for Android/Windows Smartphone Laptop
www.amazon.com
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DAC quality is not just resolution capabilities; this is well known, and I (in my experience) agree. Accompanying circuitry is crucial. I have some external DAC dongles, and Audioquest Red Dragonfly sounds superb (and it just reaches 24bit/96kHz as Apple internal implementation). The worst I own is an iBasso dongle (up to 32/384) which pops and crackles every now and then.
Of course, there are very cheap HighResolution DACs… and decoder chip used is too little information. This quality differences are not subjective, as power, noise, distortion and general behavior is measurable.
Apple’s sound implementation is known because of surprisingly good quality since first iPods and all along mac generations. Even humble 10$ Apple dongle is well designed:
Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter - Reviews
www.head-fi.org