DAC That Streams Hi-Res Tidal

Matt, I think you are mixing up sample rate and bit rate. As Mofi indicated, standard ("redbook") CD quality is 16 bits/44.1 kHz. That means each sample for each of the two channels consists of 16 bits, and 44,100 samples are taken each second. 16 bits/sample x 44100 samples/second x 2 channels = 1,411,200 bits per second, as Mofi indicated, and as is indicated at the Tidal site. That is lower quality than 24/96, not higher.

I suspect that your reference to 33 bits/1500 kHz is a loose approximation of the number of bits per sample for both channels combined (16 x 2), and the bit rate rather than the sample rate.

Regards,
-- Al

No need to upgrade the DAC, Matt, assuming it provides an interface that can be connected to the signal source. It would be extremely unusual for a DAC that can handle 24/96 to not also be able to handle 16/44.1, which is a much lower bit rate. I'm not familiar with Deezer, but I don't doubt that Mofi is correct about it being 16/44.1, like Tidal.

Regards,
-- Al

Yes, 16/44.1 was and still is the CD standard, which as was mentioned corresponds to a bit rate of 1411.2 kbps (kilobits per second). Streaming services have traditionally used much lower bit rates than that, coupled with lossy mp3 compression to partially compensate for the lower rate, in part because until fairly recent years most people's internet connections would not have been fast enough to work reliably at 1411.2 kbps.

Enjoy! Regards,
-- Al