Mu-so best set up. bits bytes and kHz explained (hopefully)

Posted by: sim.cam on 01 January 2015

Hi guys. New here. Sorry in advance if the info I'm after is posted elsewhere, but I am looking for current advice on best set up for muso.
Kitchen set up. Sounds great but so far best w Lin radio and naim radio.
Router in living room. Bt infinity to AirPort Extreme. Airport express in kitchen near unit. So far so good ..  BUT..
Is it best to connect muso to A XPRES VIA Ethernet , optical digital or AirPlay?
Sure I'm dumb but if I plug iPad into usb.. Then my I pad is bringing wifi signal to pad then transferring signal to muso. ? Tried out tidal and sounds ok but still not a patch on linn and naim radio channels.
This unit is obviously capable of producing great sound but I think I seriously need help to get the best out of my purchase.
Bit bamboozled by "48khz limit on wifi... 24 /96kbs on optical.. Spotify streams at 320kbs... ARGHHHH . Please can u clarify chaps?
Posted on: 01 January 2015 by sim.cam
Also would like to understand why the linn and naim radio channels sound so great even compared to tidal.
Posted on: 01 January 2015 by LeeTom

KHz = resolution. (44.1 = CD quality. Higher is better.)

Bits = dynamic range. (16 is CD quality. 24 is better.)

Kbps = how much data per second a specific audio file or stream will be.

 

An uncompressed CD is 1,411Kbps. (44.1KHz, 16-bits, uncompressed)

Spotify premium is is 320kbps. (44.1KHz, 16-bits, compressed to 320kbps)

96KHz/24-bit uncompressed is 4,608 Kbps. (96KHz, 24-bits, uncompressed)

Posted on: 01 January 2015 by LeeTom

If Tidal is not sounding as good as Internet Radio, you may want to check your Tidal settings and make sure it is streaming lossless, and not compressed.

Posted on: 01 January 2015 by LeeTom

Since the mu-so already has Airplay, there is no need to connect an Airport Express to it. It should just join your wireless network on its own.

However, if you'd like to play high resolution files (songs bought from HD Tracks or the Naim store), then you could plug the Airport Express into the mu-so with an Ethernet cable and play high resolution files.

When you plug the iPad into the mu-so via USB, the mu-so is still accessing The Internet through its own WiFi or Ethernet. The iPad is connecting to The Internet via WiFi also, and is merely sending audio to the mu-so.