Frequently asked questions
Nyquist, answered.
Concise answers about files, outputs, platforms, and privacy. The technical guides go deeper where one answer needs more context.
Is Nyquist a streaming service?
No. It plays files you own from local disks, external drives, and NAS shares. There is no catalog, subscription, recommendation feed, or streaming account.
Can I play FLAC and ALAC on Mac?
Yes. Nyquist plays FLAC and ALAC on Apple Silicon Macs and shows codec, sample rate, bit depth, channels, metadata, and available analysis. See all supported formats.
Can Nyquist play directly from a NAS?
Yes. Add an SMB share directly or choose one through Files. Nyquist browses by folder, begins remote playback while caching locally, and does not require a full-library import.
What is gapless playback?
It is a transition without inserted silence. Nyquist pre-schedules consecutive same-format tracks on a shared node. Format changes use a normal hand-off, and network receivers must support gapless queueing themselves.
Does Nyquist support 24-bit/192 kHz?
Yes, when the file can be decoded and the selected output path accepts it. Those numbers describe the file and route; they do not by themselves establish a better recording.
Does Nyquist resample audio?
On macOS, Nyquist tries to match a selected device to the file rate or a clean same-family multiple and reports whether CoreAudio resampling is detected. Other Apple platforms give the operating system more control over the final route.
Can Nyquist use a USB DAC?
Yes. On Mac, select a CoreAudio device, enable rate matching, and optionally use exclusive mode. Compatible iPhone and iPad hardware can use wired audio, but the system owns the route.
Does Nyquist guarantee bit-perfect PCM?
No blanket guarantee. It can report rate matching and no detected resampling, but the PCM engine's 32-bit float mixer prevents proof of bit-identical output end to end. See the bit-perfect guide.
How does DSD work?
On macOS, a compatible USB DAC can receive DSF or DFF audio through DSD over PCM. Compatible UPnP/DLNA receivers can receive the original file. Local DSD playback is unavailable on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
Is Bluetooth bit-perfect?
Nyquist does not label it that way. Bluetooth commonly encodes audio for transport, with codec choice and later processing controlled by the system and receiving device.
Does AirPlay preserve the source rate?
Not in every setup. Handling depends on the sender, active protocol, and receiver, so Nyquist does not promise unchanged source-rate delivery over AirPlay.
Can Nyquist use a Denon, HEOS, or other UPnP receiver?
Yes. It sends the original file without transcoding to compatible UPnP/DLNA receivers. The receiver determines format support, later processing, and gapless behavior.
Does Nyquist require an account or collect my library?
No. Files, metadata, playlists, and the search index stay on your devices or in folders you choose. The app has no account, analytics, advertising, or listening profile.
Which devices are supported?
Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 14.6 or later, iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 17.6 or later, and Apple TV with tvOS 17.0 or later.