Article: Apple Music's Lossless and Hi-Res Mess

[AudioDoctor]

Auto Sample Rate switching was the very first thing I tested last night when I got it to work with High Res...  Exclusive Access to the DAC, for the Music app in macOS, is another.

[AudioDoctor]

8 minutes ago, KenG said:

 

 

Correct. And as far as the iTunes Match issue that prevents lossless streaming, Apple seems to not give a **ck.  Here is the response I got when I sent them the issue.  

 

Hi Ken, Thanks for contacting us. I understand that Apple Music Lossless audio doesn’t work. I am happy to help you with this. About lossless audio in Apple Music, see below mentioned article: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT212183 If you have more questions about this issue, please reply to this email to let me know. I’m happy to help. Thanks, P****** Apple

 

 

 

Wow, you got a response? I sent a detailed explanation of why auto sample rate switching and exclusive access are required to fully realize the advantages of Hi Res and didn't hear a thing back.

[AudioDoctor]

@The Computer Audiophile could the off and on light be due to the lack of exclusive access causing the OS to intermittently sample the file when the system needs to make another sound? This thought just hit me when an email beep came through my speakers.

[AudioDoctor]

Has anyone seen this yet?

Apple Music boss says 98 percent of people can't identify lossless audio, but he thinks spatial audio is a "game changer"  Have to say, I disagree. Maybe he's using airpods...

 

https://audiomediainternational.com/apple-music-boss-says-98-percent-of-people-cant-identify-lossless-audio/

[AudioDoctor]

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I saw that. 
 

He may be right, but he is also speaking as a representative of Apple who wants to make money from its products. Pushing Spatial Audio is expected because it’s easy to hear and it’s a differentiator. Pushing lossless doesn’t make sense because others have it and Apple doesn’t charge a premium for it. 

 

I actually don't think he is right at all. I have a friend who was over at my house once and he asked me why I bother spending the money on audio equipment when an MP3 at 320 kbps sounds to him unidentifiable from any other. So I found an album that I actually have locally in both 320kbps MP3, lossless, and in Qobuz as high res and I played them in order. The look on his face when the lossless file played after just listening to the 320kbps file was enough reason to end the experiment. I will acknowledge that most people don't listen on anything other than regular consumer level ear buds, a Bluetooth speaker, computer speakers, and cars, and I m sure it's impossible to tell the difference on any of those items. But when shown the difference on a real stereo, the difference is immediate and obvious. I bet it's also those use cases where spatial audio has the most impact. I don't want it, and why I am positive this Apple Lossless isn't for us here.

[AudioDoctor]

17 minutes ago, Marco Klobas said:

True.

 

Apple should at least offer an option to activate it – even hidden somewhere, you know, for those who are interested in it.

 

I also agree. I simply don't understand why that's not an option when it is so easy with other apps to send system sounds through, for example, my monitor speakers, and use the USB DAC specifically for one app.

[AudioDoctor]

2 minutes ago, new_media said:

 

It should be fairly straightforward to implement. When I use Roon in exclusive mode, music goes to the DAC and all other audio goes to my Mac's built in speakers. As soon as Roon playback stops, system sounds are routed through the DAC again.

 

I am positive Apple can, its that they don't want to.