Guides &
comparisons.

How to get bit-perfect audio on a Macwhy macOS isn’t bit-perfect by default and the four things that fix it. How to enable exclusive mode on macOStake exclusive control of your DAC, step by step. The best DSD player for MacDSD files, optional DoP and device requirements. Gapless playback on Macwhat causes gaps between tracks and how to fix them. Audiophile glossarybit-perfect, DSD, DoP, integer mode and more, defined. How to play DSD on a MacDoP vs DSD→PCM, what your DAC needs, set up step by step. The hi-res audio player for Mac24-bit/192 kHz and DSD, played without resampling. Integer mode on macOSwhat it does, when a DAC actually gives it to you, and why it takes the DSP chain out of the path. Play to two DACs at once on a Macseveral outputs without hand-building an aggregate device. Room correction on a Macmeasure with REW, export an impulse response, convolve in real time. Headphone EQ on a Macmeasured correction by model, and how it relates to AutoEQ. Is Apple Music Lossless bit-perfect on Mac?the macOS rate-switching catch, and how to get a true bit-perfect path.

FLAC vs DSD vs ALAChow the three audiophile formats differ and which sounds better. DSD vs PCMthe two encodings compared, and when to convert. DoP vs DSD playbackwhat actually reaches your DAC, and why macOS has no raw DSD transport. Lossless vs hi-res audiowhat each term really means and whether the difference is audible. MQA on Macwhat it is, why it’s controversial, and whether you still need it.

The best music player for Macthe right pick by use case. The Audirvana alternative for macOSsame audiophile job, one price instead of a Studio tier, and a straight answer on upsampling. A Roon alternative without the subscriptionthe five-year arithmetic, and what you genuinely give up by leaving. The JRiver alternative for Maca media centre and a music player are not competing for the same purpose. The Swinsian alternative for audiophileslibrary management, DAC output and the features included in each licence. The foobar2000 alternative for Macfor people who arrived from Windows and want the same control. The VOX alternative for Maca free player with a paid cloud, against a paid player with no cloud. An HQPlayer alternative for Macupsampling as the whole product, versus a chain that ships switched off. Full comparison: BitMuse vs Roon, Audirvana, JRiver, Swinsianevery row, side by side.