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Shame the app crashes every five minutes. No point in having great sound quality if your software is garbage.
Huh? Apple Music has never crashed on me. Might be time for you to reinstall your app or computer if you have issues.

That’s not to say that Apple Music couldn’t be improved. It has usability issues that should be addressed.
 
So updating to the 18.4 RC should do this tonight?

And no update of the firmware on the AirPods Max is necessary?

Lastly, will this "improvement" will also be enjoyed by the Lightning port AirPods Max?
No, a firmware update will be needed, and no - only for the USB-C model.
 
Anything lowering Mac audio latency is quite welcome. That’s the main feature here, not lossless.
Macs dont have an audio latency problem. Wireless headphones do. Try any wired headphone set, even ones from the thrift store for a dollar. Plug it into the headphone jack on your mac and enjoy high quality latency free audio.
 
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I think the headline feature should have been latency vs. quality.

Like many folks - now that I am past my 'audiophile' phase and now that I'm older I've accepted that I can't really tell anymore. Heck a well encoded MP3 or AAC sounds like CD-quality to my ears and even then, I doubt that AirPods Max would the audiophile grade device to help distinguish between them.

Low-latency on the other hand would be a game changer. Going wireless with Logic Pro would be a dream. Then again, I only have the lightning version of AirPods Max. 😭
The low-latency only applies when connected with a cable, according to Apple
 
I disagree with the premise of this article, because lossless is *by definition* the "ultimate upgrade" that can be given to any particular audio file: an audio file either includes all of the source material (lossless) or some material is thrown away for compression purposes (lossy, which includes MP3s and AACs). The fact that a high-quality compressed file may be "virtually indistinguishable" from a lossless file is beside the point: lossless files are a guarantee that you are hearing the best file possible.

A more useful point would be this: Lossless isn't for everyone, and in terms of sound quality, it's a small upgrade rather than a big one. That doesn't mean it isn't "ultimate"; it simply means that: (1) most people cannot perceive minor differences in audio quality and/or do not have the proper equipment and listening environment to do so, and (2) improvements in audio are subject to diminishing returns. With a decent pair of headphones, including the AirPods Max, audio quality is already very high, so the improvement from using lossless files is relatively minor for most purposes.

That said, many of us begged for lossless audio because it is actually a huge deal to start from an audio file that did not discard sound information for compression purposes. And the sound quality is indeed better with lossless, even if most people don't hear the difference. Importantly, most people *can* hear at least some differences with training. Here's a common example: listen to the decay of a note played by a clarinet, or the decay of cymbals (especially if you can find an example where the decay happens over seconds). When material like that is isolated and the equipment/environment is right, the difference is audible. And plenty of people have unusually good hearing or are unusually critical listeners, for various reasons.

It would be better if the author of this piece had started from the premise that something does not have to be useful to everyone -- or even most people -- to be extremely valuable to some of us. There is plenty of mumbo-jumbo in the "audiophile" world, but lossless vs. lossy isn't that. Trying to wordsmith Apple's press releases for a "gotcha" inconsistency isn't particularly helpful, especially since both of the quoted passages happen to be correct. MacRumors' explainers are typically excellent, but this one was . . . lossy.
 
I disagree with the premise of this article, because lossless is *by definition* the "ultimate upgrade" that can be given to any particular audio file: an audio file either includes all of the source material (lossless) or some material is thrown away for compression purposes (lossy, which includes MP3s and AACs). The fact that a high-quality compressed file may be "virtually indistinguishable" from a lossless file is beside the point: lossless files are a guarantee that you are hearing the best file possible.

A more useful point would be this: Lossless isn't for everyone, and in terms of sound quality, it's a small upgrade rather than a big one. That doesn't mean it isn't "ultimate"; it simply means that: (1) most people cannot perceive minor differences in audio quality and/or do not have the proper equipment and listening environment to do so, and (2) improvements in audio are subject to diminishing returns. With a decent pair of headphones, including the AirPods Max, audio quality is already very high, so the improvement from using lossless files is relatively minor for most purposes.

That said, many of us begged for lossless audio because it is actually a huge deal to start from an audio file that did not discard sound information for compression purposes. And the sound quality is indeed better with lossless, even if most people don't hear the difference. Importantly, most people *can* hear at least some differences with training. Here's a common example: listen to the decay of a note played by a clarinet, or the decay of cymbals (especially if you can find an example where the decay happens over seconds). When material like that is isolated and the equipment/environment is right, the difference is audible. And plenty of people have unusually good hearing or are unusually critical listeners, for various reasons.

It would be better if the author of this piece had started from the premise that something does not have to be useful to everyone -- or even most people -- to be extremely valuable to some of us. There is plenty of mumbo-jumbo in the "audiophile" world, but lossless vs. lossy isn't that. Trying to wordsmith Apple's press releases for a "gotcha" inconsistency isn't particularly helpful, especially since both of the quoted passages happen to be correct. MacRumors' explainers are typically excellent, but this one was . . . lossy.
Great well thought out and executed comment. Most folks just listen for the thump of the bass and the sizzle of the treble and miss out on transients and imaging.
 
Huh? Apple Music has never crashed on me. Might be time for you to reinstall your app or computer if you have issues.

That’s not to say that Apple Music couldn’t be improved. It has usability issues that should be addressed.

Done it. Using the latest version of iOS on 15 Pro kicks me back to the homescreen multiple times a day.

A known problem for some it seems. Quite a few threads on reddit, like this one
 
That guy doesn’t look too far off of Joswiak’s “advanced age”, so I wouldn’t be throwing shade if I were him.

I’m not sure why the author seems so upset that Apple’s head of marketing is….marketing their product.

Would you rather they not add the feature?
 
I disagree with the premise of this article, because lossless is *by definition* the "ultimate upgrade" that can be given to any particular audio file: an audio file either includes all of the source material (lossless) or some material is thrown away for compression purposes (lossy, which includes MP3s and AACs). The fact that a high-quality compressed file may be "virtually indistinguishable" from a lossless file is beside the point: lossless files are a guarantee that you are hearing the best file possible.

A more useful point would be this: Lossless isn't for everyone, and in terms of sound quality, it's a small upgrade rather than a big one. That doesn't mean it isn't "ultimate"; it simply means that: (1) most people cannot perceive minor differences in audio quality and/or do not have the proper equipment and listening environment to do so, and (2) improvements in audio are subject to diminishing returns. With a decent pair of headphones, including the AirPods Max, audio quality is already very high, so the improvement from using lossless files is relatively minor for most purposes.

That said, many of us begged for lossless audio because it is actually a huge deal to start from an audio file that did not discard sound information for compression purposes. And the sound quality is indeed better with lossless, even if most people don't hear the difference. Importantly, most people *can* hear at least some differences with training. Here's a common example: listen to the decay of a note played by a clarinet, or the decay of cymbals (especially if you can find an example where the decay happens over seconds). When material like that is isolated and the equipment/environment is right, the difference is audible. And plenty of people have unusually good hearing or are unusually critical listeners, for various reasons.

It would be better if the author of this piece had started from the premise that something does not have to be useful to everyone -- or even most people -- to be extremely valuable to some of us. There is plenty of mumbo-jumbo in the "audiophile" world, but lossless vs. lossy isn't that. Trying to wordsmith Apple's press releases for a "gotcha" inconsistency isn't particularly helpful, especially since both of the quoted passages happen to be correct. MacRumors' explainers are typically excellent, but this one was . . . lossy.
Show me a study where anyone can tell the difference.
 
I think the headline feature should have been latency vs. quality.

Like many folks - now that I am past my 'audiophile' phase and now that I'm older I've accepted that I can't really tell anymore. Heck a well encoded MP3 or AAC sounds like CD-quality to my ears and even then, I doubt that AirPods Max would the audiophile grade device to help distinguish between them.

Low-latency on the other hand would be a game changer. Going wireless with Logic Pro would be a dream. Then again, I only have the lightning version of AirPods Max. 😭
You couldn’t actually tell the difference when you were in your audiophile phase. You just convinced yourself you could to justify the money you spent and to fit in with the other “audiophiles.”
 
I just don't get this PARTICULAR critique - for unlocking a feature we didn't even know about and that some people DO appreciate. Feels like clickbait.
I think the critique is don’t go out and buy these if you have the Lightning version because this feature isn’t going to be that great. Is that critique valid? I don’t know, but I thought it was funny how at least in the headline they’re straight up trash talking Apple. Maybe it’s click bait, but it was entertaining for a little bit.
 
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That guy doesn’t look too far off of Joswiak’s “advanced age”, so I wouldn’t be throwing shade if I were him.

I’m not sure why the author seems so upset that Apple’s head of marketing is….marketing their product.

Would you rather they not add the feature?

The people in charge of the editorial direction of the site have decided that ragebait articles to draw more comments are the wave of the future.
 
I think the critique is don’t go out and buy these if you have the Lightning version because this feature isn’t going to be that great. Is that critique valid? I don’t know, but I thought it was funny how at least in the headline they’re straight up trash talking Apple. Maybe it’s click bait, but it was entertaining for a little bit.
One of the site writers recently commented on a different post about the increase in clickbait titles, admitting that those posts get the most traction.
 
You could be right. But maybe wait until you listen to it? I can tell the difference between lossy and lossless easily.
I think there is hype here - but the other way - that AAC is 256 is a good as a lossless file.
AAC works well for most people and for many use cases indistinguishable. But it's like RAW versus JPG - it's vastly superior for some people.
The primary advantage of a RAW file is that you have more flexibility when editing it. Who "edits" music before listening to it, beyond a simple EQ adjustment? Maybe if you listen to something at half speed, or you increase the volume super high so you can listen to a very quiet section (but better hope you don't accidentally listen to a louder section and blow your eardrums out), it will make a barely perceivable difference. Maybe lossless will help if you are looking for images hidden in a spectrogram.
 
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The primary advantage of a RAW file is that you have more flexibility when editing it. Who "edits" music before listening to it, beyond a simple EQ adjustment? Maybe if you listen to something at half speed, or you increase the volume super high so you can listen to a very quiet section (bet better hope you don't accidentally listen to a louder section and blow your eardrums out), it will make a barely perceivable difference. Maybe lossless will help if you are looking for images hidden in a spectrogram.
I wasn't making an exact analogy.
And no, lossless is easy for me to hear, as well as many other people.
Not sure why all the hate for this.
I don't understand the hype around Promotion. My brain just CAN'T see the different. People report jelly motion with iPad minis for instance...I'm blind to it. But I don't discount people that do.
Accept that some people really want this feature and can hear the difference.
 
This is such a bizarre story. So, you’re calling out the incompatibility of the 2 overhyped statements? Sure. Lossless is still better than lossy formats for audiophiles. Whether one can hear the difference or think it is worth paying for is sort of personal.
 
Apple Music has never crashed on me.
It has on me, but it's really rare. It's running for weeks at a time on the stereo cabinet mini, where running also means sleeping when I let the mini go to sleep. The mini has been rebooted once since the last Monterey update came out.

But I only run on-disk files, no streaming. That might be it.
 
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