Apple Music Now Rolling Out Support for Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio

Hi-res lossless on iOS 15.
tempImageKC6GW5.jpg
 
andrmu said:
It doesn't, I'm afraid.

I have switched on the Lossless tick box in Apple Music Preferences on my Mac, and selected High Resolution Lossless from the option drop down. Many albums now show the "Lossless" or "Hi-Res Lossless" logos. However, they do not trigger my SMSL M500 USB Dac's display, which stays stuck on whichever resolution was previously showing from the song most recently played via my Roon player (which has Tidal and Qobuz sources).

To be clear, on Roon, I can play:
- Yello, Stella, from Qobuz (FLAC 44.1kHz, 16 bit) -> My SMSL DAC display shows the "Green USB" 44.1kHz logo), then play
- Maroon 5, Songs about Jane, from Qobuz (FLAC 96kHz, 24bit) -> My SMSL DAC display shows HiRes Audio logo with 96kHz
- I can flick between these songs and the SMSL DAC display correctly updates to show the expected bitrate source material

On Apple Music, though:
- Yello, Stella, from (Apple Music "Lossless") -> My SMSL DAC display stays stuck on whatever it was from the most recent song from Roon
- Marroon 5, Songs about Jane, (Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless) -> My SMSL DAC display stays stuck on whatever it was from the most recent song from Roon
- I can flick between these songs and the SMSL DAC display doesn't budge at all (it stays stuck on Hi-Res Audio 96kHz logo, if I previously played such a song from Roon, or stays stuck on the "Green USB" 44kHz logo, if the previous Roon song was a 44kHz or 48kHz FLAC song).

Apple Music is doing something weird - and it isn't sending changing bitrates through to the USB DAC. Apple Music Lossless should be sending music at 44.1kHz or 48kHz, and Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless should be sending music at 88.2kHz or higher. It simply isn't.
Click to expand...

On iOS it does change sample rates but macOs it hasn't for years, even local hi-res in iTunes

I expect this will come via a macOS update later

Remember we haven't needed to update macOS or iOS for lossless to start working

I expect a future macOS will make this work properly
 
theNatest said:
For those playing with music settings and loosing it over and over again (me)… it’s not so much toggeling cellular data, it’s the automatic download that re-enables the settings to magically appear.

I’m not doing anything crazy as to in house testing yet - just trying to accomplish reliability through wireless lossless… can’t wait for real testing amongst my audiofiles to give us a true Thor hammer of knowledge. But oh my the possibilities!!!!

I might finally get my brother to convert! (After I steal back that HomePod I gifted him for Christmas because I need that space gray beauty for that awkward 7th room… first offer is the stupid Amazon thing I got with my Iota security system….last offer is my first born son)
Click to expand...
LOL damn it worked!!!! Thanks 🙏🏾 👌🏾
 
I’ve figured it out on the release of the Dolby Atmos / lossless audio / Spatial Audio. I have an iPhone 7 (iOS 14.6 and jailbroken) and 12 Pro Max (iOS beta 14.7), my 7 has it but my 12 doesn’t so my guess is it’s due to either versions or the phone itself, if anyone has it on their 12 please let me know. And for people wondering what it sounds like, it’s not like the video/tv/movie experience it’s all around you. It’s the best thing my ears have ever heard, might be a little over exaggeration but it sounds amazing. It feels like you can hear everything; there isn’t one sound I’ve missed so far. And not only does it sound good but with the system wide eq I have it makes the experience so much better with more bass and great mids with highs also being boosted a little.
 
I am a little confused on this part, some albums automatically show up as Atmos/Lossless automatically like Ariana Grande's albums but then this happens:

So, for instance, I have most all the Johnny Cash albums from Apple Music, however, when this update showed up with lossless/atmos, when I went into my library, albums like "American V" and "American IV" did not show up as "Lossless" but when I checked them in Apple Music they are in fact "Lossless" albums so I just deleted those albums and re-added them to get the "Lossless" version.

Is this what we are supposed to do? Surely Apple Music should automatically get the new versions? I have had to do it with several other albums like Nine Inch Nails, and Metallica. It is both when an albums is either Atmos/Lossless/Digital Master, or just Lossless.

Any answer on this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Quick Edit: I did try the remove download and re-download again but that did not work.

:apple:
 
Still stuck with Spotify - and unless Denon HEOS fully supports Apple Music/Airplay2, or shairport is Airplay2 capable (so I could just plug-in a raspi), this will stay that way
 
My torture test for mp3 and AAC has always been the main title from The Abyss. The chorus but most importantly, drums and cymbals have sounded like watery garbage for decades. Play it now. Even on your phone. (iPhone12 Max in my case)
 
TravesT said:
I’ve figured it out on the release of the Dolby Atmos / lossless audio / Spatial Audio. I have an iPhone 7 (iOS 14.6 and jailbroken) and 12 Pro Max (iOS beta 14.7), my 7 has it but my 12 doesn’t so my guess is it’s due to either versions or the phone itself, if anyone has it on their 12 please let me know. And for people wondering what it sounds like, it’s not like the video/tv/movie experience it’s all around you. It’s the best thing my ears have ever heard, might be a little over exaggeration but it sounds amazing. It feels like you can hear everything; there isn’t one sound I’ve missed so far. And not only does it sound good but with the system wide eq I have it makes the experience so much better with more bass and great mids with highs also being boosted a little.
Click to expand...
I have the iPhone 7 and I'm becoming restless because I still don't have it :mad:
 
netsped said:
Tom Sawyer by Rush sounds pretty cool in Dolby Atmos, some other songs sound awful.

I like it. It’s a shame we can’t listen lossless on AirPods.

So, what setting should I use if I only listen via AirPods? No lossless at all?
Click to expand...

If you don’t plan using wired or a dac then leave lossless toggled off. On speakers like HomePod turn it on.

I only use AirPods Pro and another headphone bt only. Don’t care about lossless.

AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats wireless headphones use Apple AAC Bluetooth Codec to ensure excellent audio quality. However, Bluetooth connections aren't lossless.
 
BenjipNZ said:
Hmmmmmnnnnn, is Dolby Atmos on AirPods Max meant to be a lot quieter than non-Dolby Atmos?

I've got my volume on 100% listening to Blinding Lights and it feels like the same volume as 60% volume without Dolby Atmos.
Click to expand...

I said the same thing, as did many others.

Some tracks sound fine, but the majority sound much lower. If that is how it is going to be, I would rather take whatever better quality I get from "Lossless" on my AirPods Pro and just go with Stereo vs. Dolby Atmos.

So far I am iffy on this, but it is literally rolling out as we type and it might be something technical, so I will hold off complete judgement until it is confirmed this it how "Spatial Audio" is going to be.

:apple:
 
Just picked it up on my MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018), running Schitt Audio stack(Asgard/Modi) + Sennheiser HD 600, and all sounds great. Really enjoying being able to have loseless for my Apple Music library.

Also made sure to check all my settings, and so far have had most songs be at 44hz/92hz.

If you are newer to loseless audio with Apple devices, make sure you have the right hardware setup, and then check your macOS audio output in "Audio MIDI Setup"(found in Utilities folder, or search Spotlight) to ensure you are outputting the right quality you want from Apple Music.
 

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Last edited:
This is hands down one of the most impressive thing I have ever seen (heard?) from Apple in such a long time. Airpods Pros, Atmos/spatial, lossless and noise cancellation.

Tilting my head around and hearing different instruments and vocals shifting makes it sound like they are performing in the same room that I’m sitting in.

Mind blowing. Almost convinced to switch from Spotify to Apple music….

Edit: Acoustic EQ setting makes it sound even better?!
 
Interesting that my AirPods 2 show lossless playing on my iPhone X but when AirPlay to HomePod mini it's not showing lossless on my phone 😳. I guess it should be the opposite but it's not.
 
cardfan said:
If you don’t plan using wired or a dac then leave lossless toggled off. On speakers like HomePod turn it on.

I only use AirPods Pro and another headphone bt only. Don’t care about lossless.

AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats wireless headphones use Apple AAC Bluetooth Codec to ensure excellent audio quality. However, Bluetooth connections aren't lossless.
Click to expand...

I am no expert in audio stuff at all, but many people who claim they are have said that though AirPods/AirPods Pro etc...cannot play complete "Lossless" that you will still hear some improvement from it.

I have zero clue if that is true, but that is what I have read from several people on this forum. I would love to know the actual truth about this.

Also, whoever said Tom Sawyer by Rush sounded great in "Spatial Audio" was completely correct!

:apple:
 
It’s kinda odd the low volume in Atmos, I mean it sound better hearing to the music videos in the app with Spatial Audio on.
 
andrmu said:
It doesn't, I'm afraid.

I have switched on the Lossless tick box in Apple Music Preferences on my Mac, and selected High Resolution Lossless from the option drop down. Many albums now show the "Lossless" or "Hi-Res Lossless" logos. However, they do not trigger my SMSL M500 USB Dac's display, which stays stuck on whichever resolution was previously showing from the song most recently played via my Roon player (which has Tidal and Qobuz sources).

To be clear, on Roon, I can play:
- Yello, Stella, from Qobuz (FLAC 44.1kHz, 16 bit) -> My SMSL DAC display shows the "Green USB" 44.1kHz logo), then play
- Maroon 5, Songs about Jane, from Qobuz (FLAC 96kHz, 24bit) -> My SMSL DAC display shows HiRes Audio logo with 96kHz
- I can flick between these songs and the SMSL DAC display correctly updates to show the expected bitrate source material

On Apple Music, though:
- Yello, Stella, from (Apple Music "Lossless") -> My SMSL DAC display stays stuck on whatever it was from the most recent song from Roon
- Marroon 5, Songs about Jane, (Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless) -> My SMSL DAC display stays stuck on whatever it was from the most recent song from Roon
- I can flick between these songs and the SMSL DAC display doesn't budge at all (it stays stuck on Hi-Res Audio 96kHz logo, if I previously played such a song from Roon, or stays stuck on the "Green USB" 44kHz logo, if the previous Roon song was a 44kHz or 48kHz FLAC song).

Apple Music is doing something weird - and it isn't sending changing bitrates through to the USB DAC. Apple Music Lossless should be sending music at 44.1kHz or 48kHz, and Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless should be sending music at 88.2kHz or higher. It simply isn't.
Click to expand...
Check your device's output settings in the Audio MIDI Setup, that may be limiting what is being sent as "output" for the Mac.
 
It's definitely... different. Listening to the "made for spatial audio" playlist, Blinding Lights sounds really cool, but then Rain On Me sounds... kinda trash. Just sounds like she's singing in an arena. Feels kinda empty. Then Thank U, Next sounds pretty regular. So it seems pretty hit or miss.

Edit: Cardigan sounds cool too. So again, hit or miss.
 
SRLMJ23 said:
I am a little confused on this part, some albums automatically show up as Atmos/Lossless automatically like Ariana Grande's albums but then this happens:

So, for instance, I have most all the Johnny Cash albums from Apple Music, however, when this update showed up with lossless/atmos, when I went into my library, albums like "American V" and "American IV" did not show up as "Lossless" but when I checked them in Apple Music they are in fact "Lossless" albums so I just deleted those albums and re-added them to get the "Lossless" version.

Is this what we are supposed to do? Surely Apple Music should automatically get the new versions? I have had to do it with several other albums like Nine Inch Nails, and Metallica. It is both when an albums is either Atmos/Lossless/Digital Master, or just Lossless.

Any answer on this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Quick Edit: I did try the remove download and re-download again but that did not work.

:apple:
Click to expand...
i guess is is simply not available in lossless or atmos. Depends on the studio which mixed it.
 
Wildhope said:
Does anyone else find the spatial audio hides the vocals behind the music? I have to the. The volume way higher than usual. Is that normal?
Click to expand...
Well, making spatial means panning the voice sound to left and right channels which may make the voice sound a bit distant. Turning it off makes voice becomes purely stereo and close. So you can make your choice
 
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