Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

A quick discovery regarding Watch music syncing

Shirasaki

Shirasaki

macrumors P6
Original poster
May 16, 2015
16,377
11,861
hello everyone.

Just a while ago, I upgraded several of my existing albums to 96kHz/24bit cause iOS 11.3.1 finally allows me to sync such hires songs to my iPhone without the need to downrate to 48kHz. Since those albums are also in my watch, watch songs are updated as well. Then this happens.

1B979145-3213-43ED-BF4A-E42167830C98.png

8A6A1750-782E-4BE6-BE74-D243CE1F6FB0.jpeg

And all songs marked with red exclamation mark can be played normally.

So, here are a few takes from this sync.
1. Apple Watch can actually load more than 8GB of music. It holds 8.6GB in this case, with 2.7GB left.
2. Apple Watch itself CAN decode 96kHz/24bit or 96kHz/32bit Apple lossless Music file. S3 is that powerful.
3. I think Apple should remove that 8GB music sync limit to 16GB watch. It does not make much sense.
 
matrix07 said:
Is this a hint that Apple Music will have hi-res files?
Click to expand...
It could be, but I don't hold my breath for that. Plus the data usage would be absolutely insane (160 songs, 8.6GB, not to mention each time the same song will be streamed again).
 
Shirasaki said:
It could be, but I don't hold my breath for that. Plus the data usage would be absolutely insane (160 songs, 8.6GB, not to mention each time the same song will be streamed again).
Click to expand...

It could work for HomePod though, and on Apple Watch on WiFi.
 
The Apple Watch is BT ACC audio only (as well as the iPhone). Apple doesn't support AptX in iOS. So it probably just converts them in the iPhone to ACC before syncing to the Apple Watch.
 
Last edited:
Julien said:
The Apple Watch is BT ACC audio only (as well as the iPhone). Apple doesn't support AptX in iOS. So it probably just converts them in the iPhone to ACC before syncing to the Apple Watch.
Click to expand...
It does not do any conversion. It just uploads to the watch, otherwise my phone will become hot when syncing, which is not the case.
Also, AptX seems to not have good support on hires music either.
 
Shirasaki said:
It does not do any conversion. It just uploads to the watch, otherwise my phone will become hot when syncing, which is not the case.
Also, AptX seems to not have good support on hires music either.
Click to expand...
What is the point with NO WAY to listen to them? The Apple Watch only plays BT (which is lossy AAC) audio and there is no headphone jack for lossless audio.
 
  • Like
Reactions: larzy
Julien said:
What is the point with NO WAY to listen to them? The Apple Watch only plays BT (which is lossy AAC) audio and there is no headphone jack for lossless audio.
Click to expand...

Makes sense.
Maybe BT5 will solve this?

If what OP said is true (that the Watch can store and play 96/24 music) there must be some purpose for it?
 
Last edited:
Julien said:
What is the point with NO WAY to listen to them? The Apple Watch only plays BT (which is lossy AAC) audio and there is no headphone jack for lossless audio.
Click to expand...
The point? Testing? Curiosity? Obsession? Either way, it is interesting to see Apple Watch allowing me to sync such hires music.
 
I can confirm this. All the music on my iPhone is lossless AIFF and I sync a few albums to the watch. I then play them on BT headphones, so must be converting to AAC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back