Did you expect anything else from Apple?

As always, it‘s foolproof - means it behaves as foolish as possible.
What average Apple user cares about correct samplerate, bitdepth or anything.

Tidal on iOS works here, automatically switches sample rate etc.
No MQA of course.
Does it matter?
Most “HiRes” content is newly “remastered” stuff, means loudness pushed over the top until audible clipping unbearably spoils the sound anyway.
The original CDs release versions usually sound much better.

Sounding bitter?
That’s the “HiRes” reality that takes over more and more the last two years.

I’ve revoked my CD-player just lately, connected it to ADI-2 ‘s optical input.

When 16/44 fails then you can expect volume control is in the path and unequal 0 dB. That might be the original volume setting (you might want to recheck), or a level change within the app (no way to circumvent that).

Yes exactly - volume control is fixed when an iOS device is connected to the RME. When EQ is turned on, the iOS music app returns the following results: all 48KHz and 41.1KHz tests fail. 24/96 and 24/194 pass as 16 bit and 32/96 and 32/192 pass as flashing 16/24 bit.

Would be much easier for others if RME would put the files into streaming services.

Getting music files into the iDevices music app takes quite some effort.

I always wondered why such simple things need to be so complicated inside iDevices.
File handling and file-interoperability is still a pain in the ...

No way to download them on-device and put them where you want to.
Therefore the request above.

From the Mac, Airdrop the bit test files to your iDevice(s) "Files", open the "Files" App, browse the folder you saved the bit test files, press play at each WAV files.

At the MacOS Music app, the WAV import only up to 16/48. Whether the higher sample rate WAV file will be downsampled, I cannot confirm if send to the Music app will be different.

When I stream and shuffle songs or albums from Apple Music, it does automatically switches sampling rate, highest 192, which Apple supports and likely the highest rate at their library.

I understand your concern if the Apple Music app at iDevice can pass bit test or not, as you said, the bit test play at the iOS layer, I guess it is the same at the Music app because last June, I did contacted Apple to discuss this after the Apple Lossless service started, they said the lightning output support much higher than 24/192, you need the CCK and DAC to decode it, but commercial music they have is from 16/44 up to 24/96, rare recordings will up to 24/192.

There is an album, produced in Hongkong, the first song is 24/192, the rest are 24/96. This is one example that I checked if the sampling rate switches automatically and it does. I play same songs at MAC using either USB or Optical and compare with iPhone USB/CCK, I cannot find any difference in sound quality.

It is all I can share with you

P.S. Regarding the iOS layer, iPod Touch even support FLAC. if I have some files from my friend(s) which is higher than 16/48, I will keep it at the "Files" folder and play it direct from there, or convert to Apple Lossless (which is always a myth to us), which I prefer not to do in this way..... BTW, I only use streaming service of Apple Music. Sometimes I still play my old collection of CDs.

I know what you mean, as I said, Apple Music is a myth to most of the Apple users. RME did their best to explain it at the manual, if RME can make it better, sure they will, let's wait and see, be this is not the problem of RME or any other dac manufacturer but APPLE, nothing we can change at the moment.... wish Apple will overhaul the Music app of iOS .....

A lot of Apple users rant, and I did it too, a long story to tell, may be one day I will quit Apple Music too, may be someone will file a court case questioning Apple altering the music contents which damaged the intellectual property....

Yes I agree with you, the this certainly not RME's fault. We are lucky that RME gives us the tools to help verify bit perfect transfer!

No steady display means fail. Note that for proper display you need to insert a pause of 0.5 s between different files, otherwise the refresh of the display will not happen and shows a wrong result that is not from the current file. Some players are so quick in changing from one file to the next that the display has no time to change its content.

Thanks for confirming @MC! Since the files are so short, I played each track on repeat, then stoped and moved to the next track.

Quick Question - what would cause a player to display a 16 bit pass for a 24 bit file? This is what happens with all the 24bit tests when played with iOS Music app.

Apple Music itself does some dithering or watermarking.

Watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGLbXsf5gZE

This explains why Apple Music app fails or behaves strange (flicking between 16b and 24 bit - i had same issue).

And explains why Onkyo app passes 16b and 24b properly from same iOS device - I can reproduce this

So it's not an iOS problem. iOS is definitely capable. it is Apple Music app "quirk". Probably deliberate design thing by Apple.

Did you get Onkyo app on iOS to pass 32bit test? Only shows 24 bits on my ADI-2. Not a problem in practical sense though. I'm happy with 16bit passing.

Urban,

Herein lies the Real Value of the RME Bit Test Utility.   It is simply intolerant of ANY manipulation of the Digital Data in the Path between your source file, and the DAC.   RME users at large, purchase RME to be assured of the most un-fettered reproduction of their Digital Material, and Bit Test is your Best, First Line of Defense to ensure this is possible.   We've seen more than one Player Sftwr, and Device fall short.  Bit-Test simply looks at the data, and without regard to however "fashionable" a device/sftwr may be...Passes Judgement accordingly.

You're not Crazy!

Thanks for running Bit Test, and seeing for yourself.

*Late edit:  I would encourage You, or others to add Bit-Test to your Tool-Kit.   I like this, and routinely use Bit-Test to validate my work after any upstream component FW update, etc just to be sure I haven't corrupted anything.   I LIKE Bit Test!

Best,

Curt

Tx, how are you connected?  Bear in mind that Coax/Opt connections are SPDIF, and only 24bit is supported.

Else?  A tiny amount of dither could cause the 32 bit test to act up.

In reality?  At 32bit?  It won't matter, and you won't hear the slightest difference.

I understand our need to see the selected test to PASS as such (my Rpi passes 32bit all day) but there reaches a point...

Tell us more!  There may be a logical solution. 

*The Apple thing gives me pause...

Best,

Curt

Apple audio stack is 32bit float but dac/pro uses 32bit int. so 24 bits is expected to pass. 32bits are not possible unless you dont use the core audio stack. some software supports integer mode via HAL can do 32bit perfectly. generally it's not useful as dac chip does not preserve > 20bit linearity anyway.