Apple Music Hi-res

[eniriop]

If the Dragonfly DAC is not needed, what intermediate hardware would be needed between the Apple AV-USB cable to get the signal into the Phantom’s optical input?

https://darko.audio/2021/06/the-best-way...ple-music/

As a proof of concept there is this cheap USB to SPDIF converter.

More audio aware (read expensive) is this USB to SPDIF converter.

A step up(?) to a IFi converter.

Not forgetting the DevialetChat favourite the Mutec USB MC3.

Thank you. That is Very helpful.

My old Macbook pro from early 2015 has an optical out headphone jack and can play up to 24/192 directly to the Phantoms I or II optical in jack. I can use Qobuz with audirvana, or roon, or now Apple Music to play hires files (with the streaming audio parameters set to ALAC up to 24/192).
If you can put your hands on one of these old Macbook or Imac/Mac mini (from 2013 to early 2015) you are all set:
https://support.apple.com/en-bw/HT202730
That said, it is hard to notice a difference playing hires files by UPNP or RAAT vs through the optical cable, and beyond  24/96 both methods lead to short gaps in the music in my set up with Macbook pro 2015.
But, since the last phantom update, no more gaps when playing 24/96 from Qobuz/Audirvana or Apple Music