As announced earlier this year, Apple has rolled out support for Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio to Apple Music subscribers. The Cupertino Giants are starting things with over 20 million lossless trucks with the ambition to feature a library of 75 million lossless trucks by the end of 2021. Go beyond your existing Apple Music subscription. Therefore, if you want to experience fidelity audio on Apple devices, here’s how to play lossless audio on Apple Music on iPhone and iPad.
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How to Stream Lossless Audio on Apple Music (2021)
Lossless audio for beginners is a file format that compresses the original song without compromising quality. ALAC (with the help of advanced compression algorithmsApple Lossless Audio Codec) It retains all attributes such as depth and texture so that the originality of the music is not compromised. In other words, you can listen to the music as the artist intended. Let’s dive out of the way!
What do I need to stream high resolution lossless audio from Apple Music?
It’s a good idea to review the basic requirements before jumping directly into the step-by-step process.
First of all, make sure your device is compatible with lossless audio streaming. Apple Lossless Audio requires iOS 14.6, iPadOS 14.6, macOS 11.4, and tvOS 14.6 or later. Android users must be running Apple Music version 3.6.0 to enjoy the lossless audio experience.
Apple offers two layers of lossless audio: standard CD quality and high resolution lossless audio. Standard CD quality lossless audio is 16bit / 44.1kHz, which is best at 24bit / 48kHz, while the Hi-Res lossless layer reaches up to 24bit / 192kHz.
The iPhone has a built-in DAC that supports 24-bit / 48kHz and can use Lightning headphones. In addition, the Mac’s 3.5mm headphone jack also supports 24-bit / 48kHz audio. It’s worth pointing out that Apple’s 3.5mm Lightning headphone adapter comes with its own DAC that supports 24-bit / 48kHz.
As a result, Apple’s popular 3.5mm Lightning headphone adapter works with high-end wired headphones. Please note that Apple’s Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable for AirPods Max does not support lossless streaming. Wired headphones or speakers are required for Apple Lossless Audio streaming. Check out the linked articles to find the best audiophile headphones for your Hi-Fi listening experience.
Please note that you will also need additional hardware such as a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). To stream high-resolution lossless audio on Apple Music, you need to be able to handle 24-bit audio up to 192kHz.
AirPods and HomePods don’t support Apple Lossless Audio
Ironically, none of Apple’s headphones / earphones, including AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, support lossless audio. The story is no different between the HomePod and the HomePod mini. Bluetooth, analog-to-digital conversion, and Apple Lossless Audio Codec limitations have hampered Apple headphones. The HomePod uses AirPlay to connect to the device, but it doesn’t take advantage of Apple Music’s higher bitrates.
Unfortunately, it’s not clear when Apple will add ALAC support to headphones. Bluetooth 5.0 supports higher bitrates, so it’s not a big deal for Cupertino giants to make their popular headphones compatible with lossless audio.
Enable Apple Music High-Resolution Audio on iPhone and iPad
To start high-resolution audio streaming, you must first enable high-resolution audio streaming on a compatible iPhone or iPad. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Then scroll down and say “musics” Setting.
2. Here, select “Sound quality” and Enable “Lossless Audio” toggle At the top.
3. Then you will be given the option to choose between lossless and high resolution lossless for Wi-Fi and mobile data streaming. Now select Hi-Res Lossless to listen to high quality music (up to 24-bit / 192kHz ALAC).
4. That’s it. Then go to the Apple Music app. You’ll see the “Lossless” and “Apple Digital Master” tags under many albums and tracks. Tap Play to enjoy a high resolution lossless audio experience on Apple Music.
In addition, for Apple TV and Mac[設定]You can also go to to customize the lossless audio listening experience on each device.
Digital-to-analog converter (DAC) ideal for Apple Music lossless audio
As mentioned above, listening to lossless audio on Apple Music on iPhone or iPad requires a competent digital-to-analog converter (DAC). If you’re looking for one, check out these notable picks.
1. Code Mojo
If you’re looking for an all-in-one digital-to-analog converter for streaming lossless audio on Apple Music, Chord Mojo is for you. This DAC features a lightweight and compact design. Therefore, you can carry it comfortably even in a small pocket.
Code Mojo Designed to work on iPhone, Android, PC and Mac This allows you to stream music without addressing incompatibility issues. Headphone amplifiers support a number of audio file formats and are well known for providing clear audio. It has a built-in battery that can operate for up to 8-10 hours on a single charge. Chord Mojo is very expensive at $ 700, but it has all the features to keep up with the high price.
Purchased from Amazon: $ 699
2. AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt
With a decent form factor, the AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt is a capable digital-to-analog converter. Dragonfly Cobalt includes ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip, from MP3 High resolution audio (up to 24-bit / 96kHz).. In addition, it can be used on both iPhone and Android devices. When it comes to sound quality, it meets the norm thanks to the minimum phase slow roll-off filter that makes it possible to provide a crystal clear audio.
Overall, Dragonfly Cobalt is one of the best digital-to-analog converters you can buy to stream lossless audio on your iPhone’s Apple Music.
Purchased from Amazon: $ 299
3. XtremPro
If you want a relatively cheap and efficient USB DAC for streaming Hi-Fi audio (up to 24-bit / 96kHz) on your iPhone, Xtrempro is for you. In addition to being affordable compared to most digital to analog converters, it supports all types of music files. In terms of sound quality, competition with expensive ones will be fierce.
Purchased from Amazon: $ 32.99
Caution: Also note that you will need an efficient USB adapter that can be used with digital-to-analog converters. If you want to get a reliable one, we recommend you to check Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter to play lossless audio on Apple Music.
Buy Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter: $ 24
Is Apple Music the only service that supports lossless audio?
No. There are several other streaming services that support lossless audio, such as AmazonMusicHD, Tidal, and Qoboz. Spotify is also teasing the platform’s Hi-Fi streaming earlier this year, but hasn’t yet rolled out lossless audio support to all users. So if you’re not a fan of Apple Music, you can try other music streaming services for a lossless audio experience.
However, keep in mind that unlike other music streaming services, Apple does not charge any additional fees for streaming lossless or high-resolution audio. Immediately afterwards, Amazon Music followed in the footsteps of Apple, making its “HD” lossless layer available to existing subscribers at no additional charge.
Stream lossless audio on iPhone and iPad using Apple Music
That’s almost it! Here’s how to play lossless audio on Apple Music on iPhone or iPad. While the advent of lossless audio works well for Apple Music, the lack of support for AirPods and HomePods has diminished the excitement of many. Hopefully, the Cupertino giant will launch an audio product that supports lossless audio streaming sooner rather than later. Anyway, what do you think about lossless audio? Do you think Apple Music is more competitive than rivals like Spotify and YouTube Music? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
