Why your DAC shows 48 kHz when Apple Music says Hi-Res Lossless.
A DAC's sample-rate display usually shows the stream it receives from the Mac, which is only one part of the Apple Music playback path.
Your DAC is probably showing macOS output, not the full Apple Music source.
A DAC usually reports the sample rate of the signal it receives from macOS. If macOS output is set to 48.0 kHz, your DAC can keep showing 48 kHz even while Apple Music is playing a track labeled Hi-Res Lossless.
The Apple Music label, the detected playback format, and the macOS output format. A 48 kHz DAC display can be normal for a fixed Mac output route, even when the Apple Music track itself is different.
Four places that can show different numbers.
| Where you look | What it shows | Possible reading |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Music | Track label or availability | Hi-Res Lossless |
| Trace playback readout | Detected current playback | ALAC 24-bit / 96 kHz |
| Audio MIDI Setup | Selected macOS output format | 2ch 24-bit / 48 kHz |
| DAC display | Incoming signal from the Mac | 48 kHz |
What to do before assuming Apple Music is broken.
- Confirm the active output device.Make sure the DAC or interface is actually selected as the Mac output route.
- Check Audio MIDI Setup.Select the device and look at the Format menu. This is often what your DAC display reflects.
- Play a Hi-Res Lossless track.Use a track that clearly shows Hi-Res Lossless in Apple Music.
- Compare playback and output.Use Trace to compare the detected Apple Music playback format with the Mac output sample rate.
When to change Audio MIDI Setup.
If Trace or another playback readout shows a higher sample rate than your Mac output, and your DAC supports that rate, you can try changing the device format manually in Audio MIDI Setup. Trace Pro can also optionally match sample rate for compatible output devices.
Do not change settings blindly. Some tracks are genuinely 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, and some devices or routes do not expose every sample rate to macOS.
Check playback and output on your own Mac.
Audex Trace is a macOS Apple Music companion that shows live playback details, including codec, bit depth, sample rate, Mac output sample rate, and output match status. The free download includes Playback Verification so you can test your own setup before buying Pro.
Verify playback for free.
Play a track in Apple Music, open Trace, and confirm detection on your Mac.
Common questions.
Not necessarily. The DAC may be accurately showing the current macOS output stream, even if Apple Music's track label or detected playback format is different.