Article: Apple Music Lossless, High Resolution, and Dolby Atmos Announced

[katools]

14 hours ago, firedog said:

The hard core audiophiles will stay with services like Qobuz, Deezer, or Primephonic, who all offer quality hi-res or lossless streaming.

If Apple & Spotify offer a way to stream lossless content to their DACs why would they choose to pay more to access the same content via those services?

[seeteeyou]

17 hours ago, Ran said:

Hopefully Apple will provide an open API so application developers can integrate this service.

 

They already did, though not even remotely useful for audiophiles?

 

https://community.volumio.org/t/apple-music-support/9565/13

Quote

We’re also launching the MusicKit JS library. Makes it really easy to use both of those REST APIs in the browser, and it gives your users the ability to play back full songs from the Apple Music catalog and from the iCloud Music Library right in their browser.

 

https://community.volumio.org/t/apple-music-support/9565/14

Quote

Exactly. This library is meant to work only in the browser. But we need to have playback OUT from browser…

 

Not very / not at all promising then?

 

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/applemusicapi

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/musickitjs

https://developer.apple.com/musickit/

 

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And then AirPlay 2 might seem to be like a joke of some sort?

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2019/10/23/bws-formation-wedge-sounds-awesome-but-needs-some-polish

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Apple’s AirPlay 2 protocol downsamples audio files to 24-bit 44.1 kHz

 

https://www.technologyfocus.net/can-airplay-2-support-hi-res-audio/

Quote

This number is supported by the fact when I stream Amazon Music HD to my Airplay 2 capable speaker, the device capability changes to indeed 24-bit/44.1 kHz.

 

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They do have an app for Android but Chromecast ain't doing much better

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apple.android.music

https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6279377?hl=en

Quote

FLAC with support for high-resolution streams (24-bit / 96 KHz)

 

UAT = lossy Bluetooth

 

https://store.hiby.com/pages/hiby-w5-1

 

ANDROID Audio System Part 5: How to bypass the resampling of multimedia audio tracks

https://titanwolf.org/Network/Articles/Article?AID=9d97a1d6-1c96-46c8-a605-f70caaed5747

 

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Not sure if we're able to stream lossless music via wired connections?

 

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMJU2ZM/A/belkin-ethernet-power-adapter-with-lightning-connector

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HJKF2ZM/A/belkin-usb-c-to-gigabit-ethernet-adapter

 

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No official hardware from Apple could get anywhere close to audiophile quality, do we actually wanna mess with their Camera Connection Kit?

 

In other words, maybe that's pretty much as "good" as Amazon Music HD since both of them should be locking things down tight?

[keeper]

I think for Apple this will be lossless in all but name, I don’t see any hardware support for this and building a streamer PC or having a Mac mini with all the control issues will be a non starter.

 

Plus you real hifi guys will question bit perfect etc, the result will be most of you will stick with Qobuz I assume, Spotify when launched may be different using connect.
 

Apple are just playing a numbers game here.

[jcbenten]

10 hours ago, AudioDoctor said:

 

Why wouldn't I?

 

Vagaries of onlline purchasing...  Amazon and, I think Apple, have pulled back items people purchased.  Note I am pulling from the dark recesses of my mind but I seem to recall stories but I do not recall specifics.

 

If Apple makes the music stay in something like iTunes, they will have access.  

[firedog]

4 hours ago, katools said:

If Apple & Spotify offer a way to stream lossless content to their DACs why would they choose to pay more to access the same content via those services?

Because they aren't going to offer hi-res in the same way, aren't going to offer full integration with Roon, et. al., and aren't going to offer the same ability to control the PC side (endpoints, drivers, etc) that the "audiophile" services do. Note that I did say "hardcore" 

[BrownMagic]

Well I would like to ensure that I am able to get the highest resolution possible with the least boxes but that doesn’t mean we are any less of any audiophile. In fact Roon and HQP don’t matter to me at all. There is a a big demand for something like Spotify connect that can do the highest res possible and I fall into that category. The app developed by an apple or a Spotify Will any day be more robust than what a 3rd party like Roon can make so we prefer. I guess that’s why we have many services for each of us. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

18 minutes ago, BrownMagic said:

Well I would like to ensure that I am able to get the highest resolution possible with the least boxes but that doesn’t mean we are any less of any audiophile. In fact Roon and HQP don’t matter to me at all. There is a a big demand for something like Spotify connect that can do the highest res possible and I fall into that category. The app developed by an apple or a Spotify Will any day be more robust than what a 3rd party like Roon can make so we prefer. I guess that’s why we have many services for each of us. 

 

I would absolutely love a "connect" type feature from all services, that could stream the highest resolutions available. 

[seeteeyou]

Spotify HiFi Icon Spotted in Mobile App Suggests Imminent Launch

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/05/18/spotify-lossless-hifi-option-spotted-app/

 

Most likely Apple won't provide access to their API that could actually enable 3rd party developers to provide any kinda meaningful support for Apple Music, therefore it might seem to be a dead end of some sort?

 

OTOH, Spotify already did a fantastic job and that's gonna be such a winner and a half IMHO.

[new_media]

3 hours ago, jcbenten said:

 

Vagaries of onlline purchasing...  Amazon and, I think Apple, have pulled back items people purchased.  Note I am pulling from the dark recesses of my mind but I seem to recall stories but I do not recall specifics.

 

If Apple makes the music stay in something like iTunes, they will have access.  

I believe that this may have happened with Apple Books due to some issues with publishing rights.

 

But iTunes music purchases don't have DRM like the books do. Once you purchase something from the store, you are welcome to convert it to any format you like, burn it to CD, etc. As long as you make a back up, you effectively own it.

 

It doesn't sound like they are going to be selling lossless/hi-res files anyway, so I guess it's a moot point.

[jcbenten]

37 minutes ago, new_media said:

I believe that this may have happened with Apple Books due to some issues with publishing rights.

 

But iTunes music purchases don't have DRM like the books do. Once you purchase something from the store, you are welcome to convert it to any format you like, burn it to CD, etc. As long as you make a back up, you effectively own it.

 

It doesn't sound like they are going to be selling lossless/hi-res files anyway, so I guess it's a moot point.

I thought movies were also an issue where they disappeared from purchased lists.

 

[KenG]

Where did you find that there might be an additional monthly cost for access to Apple Music Hi-Res audio? The press releases aren't very clear but I was under the impression that all Lossless (Redbook & Hi-Res) would be included in the $10 monthly cost.

[Jud]

Interesting that you can "download" hi-res for offline listening, but not purchase. Wonder what format/encryption will be used to try to prevent play outside of Apple Music.

[Marco Klobas]

Maybe Apple uses FairPlay DRM for streaming. Purchases are DRM free.

[AudioDoctor]

I have been thinking about this and I don't think this service, as it stands right now, is for us. It's for the average Apple user that Apple wants to keep in the Apple ecosystem of services rather than lose them to Spotify. Perhaps in the future it will grow into something to compete with Qobuz for our dollars and match it's integration into the other services we use, like Roon.

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, KenG said:

Where did you find that there might be an additional monthly cost for access to Apple Music Hi-Res audio? The press releases aren't very clear but I was under the impression that all Lossless (Redbook & Hi-Res) would be included in the $10 monthly cost.

 

In the press release Apple is clearly making a distinction between Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless. 

 

 

"Apple Music’s Lossless tier starts at CD quality, which is 16 bit at 44.1 kHz (kilohertz), and goes up to 24 bit at 48 kHz and is playable natively on Apple devices.

 

For the true audiophile, Apple Music also offers Hi-Resolution Lossless all the way up to 24 bit at 192 kHz.

 

 

Availability

Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio will be available to Apple Music subscribers at no additional cost.

 

Due to the large file sizes and bandwidth needed for Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless Audio, subscribers will need to opt in to the experience. Hi-Res Lossless also requires external equipment, such as a USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC)."

[KenG]

3 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

In the press release Apple is clearly making a distinction between Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless. 

 

 

"Apple Music’s Lossless tier starts at CD quality, which is 16 bit at 44.1 kHz (kilohertz), and goes up to 24 bit at 48 kHz and is playable natively on Apple devices.

 

For the true audiophile, Apple Music also offers Hi-Resolution Lossless all the way up to 24 bit at 192 kHz.

 

 

Availability

Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio will be available to Apple Music subscribers at no additional cost.

 

Due to the large file sizes and bandwidth needed for Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless Audio, subscribers will need to opt in to the experience. Hi-Res Lossless also requires external equipment, such as a USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC)."

Thanks for the response. I didn't really interpret it the same way but you may be right. It isn't the most clear press release and I guess we'll find out the details very soon.

[new_media]

7 hours ago, Marco Klobas said:

Maybe Apple uses FairPlay DRM for streaming. Purchases are DRM free.

Correct. If you download a streaming track from Apple Music, it is protected by FairPlay Version 2 DRM. Tracks purchased from the iTunes Store or downloaded from iTunes Match do not have DRM. I assume lossless/hi-res streaming will use the same system.

 

 

[loop7]

I sometimes wonder if the streaming industry will eventually run out of enticements for customers.

 

MQA, lossless, High-res, spatial processing.

 

What happens then?

[The Computer Audiophile]

7 minutes ago, loop7 said:

I sometimes wonder if the streaming industry will eventually run out of enticements for customers.

 

MQA, lossless, High-res, spatial processing.

 

What happens then?

Perhaps it's the actual music that gets people to sign up :~)

[AudioDoctor]

37 minutes ago, loop7 said:

I sometimes wonder if the streaming industry will eventually run out of enticements for customers.

 

MQA, lossless, High-res, spatial processing.

 

What happens then?

 

Hopefully they'll start competing with quality of files and user experience/ease of use...

[AudioDoctor]

On 5/18/2021 at 3:27 AM, katools said:

If Apple & Spotify offer a way to stream lossless content to their DACs why would they choose to pay more to access the same content via those services?

 

I can't use Apple Music in Roon to stream over my network to my endpoints and to my DAC. I can't purchase Hi-Res tracks from Apple like I can from Qobuz. Etc...

[BurningEar]

Hi all, new guy here.  When I saw Currawong is a member/commentor knew it was a good site.  Respect!

[Stereo]

On 5/18/2021 at 3:26 PM, AudioDoctor said:

I have been thinking about this and I don't think this service, as it stands right now, is for us. It's for the average Apple user that Apple wants to keep in the Apple ecosystem of services rather than lose them to Spotify. Perhaps in the future it will grow into something to compete with Qobuz for our dollars and match it's integration into the other services we use, like Roon.

Something Apple should of already done years ago in the first place!

[Stereo]

Features is one thing they definitely need to improve. Other than that, sadly the video streaming companies may start to buy them out or start their own services to try and put them out of business don’t quite understand why they haven’t already except that it doesn’t make a lot of profit yet and it would suck because what if their video was good but bad on the music side and vice versa,  but may still be an enticement for those customers that want everything in one place. Although Apple and Amazon are closest to doing that. YouTube (Google) is also a possibility but not as close.

[Stereo]

7 hours ago, loop7 said:

I sometimes wonder if the streaming industry will eventually run out of enticements for customers.

 

MQA, lossless, High-res, spatial processing.

 

What happens then?

Features is one thing they definitely need to improve. Other than that, sadly the video streaming companies may start to buy them out or start their own services to try and put them out of business don’t quite understand why they haven’t already except that it doesn’t make a lot of profit yet and it would suck because what if their video was good but bad on the music side and vice versa,  but may still be an enticement for those customers that want everything in one place. Although Apple and Amazon are closest to doing that. YouTube (Google) is also a possibility but not as close.