Hi-Res audio from Apple? Ever?

[bigpoppamac31]

I came across the following article and Apple was mentioned briefly. It got me wondering if Apple will ever offer Hi-Res or uncompressed audio. Do you think they ever will?

http://www.digitaltrends.com/music/apple-music-digital-hi-res-streaming-audio-best-friend/

 

[cbautis2]

Uncompressed audio is overrated. You'll be getting 100x more sound improvement by upgrading your audio gear than using uncompressed audio.

 

[JoelTheSuperior]

Uncompressed is definitely unlikely. It's not so much that it doesn't improve quality, but rather that it just doesn't add enough to be worth the effort in most cases.

That and from Apple's perspective, it's not something that 90% of customers care about, and it's not something that's likely to affect their bottom line, which is important when it would massively increase bandwidth usage.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

Uncompressed is definitely unlikely. It's not so much that it doesn't improve quality, but rather that it just doesn't add enough to be worth the effort in most cases.

That and from Apple's perspective, it's not something that 90% of customers care about, and it's not something that's likely to affect their bottom line, which is important when it would massively increase bandwidth usage.

Well maybe not uncompressed. But Apple Lossless would be nice. Yes many people don't care about it but I think lots of people do as well. It would be nice to have the option when you go to download a song you pick which version you want. Either standard 256k or Lossless. And those who want Lossless can upgrade their existing song to that format. It just seems like various companies like Sony are promoting "Hi-Res" audio in their products. Would be nice if Apple did the same. Kinda why I wish Apple brought back the iPod Classic revamped as a Hi-res audio player. Call me old fashioned but I miss the old scroll wheel of the classic iPods.

 

[bbrks]

Even if you get the lossless format, I just don't see how the sound quality will improve on such a tiny device, regardless of how good are your headphones. Losless and hi res audio is for home HI-FI...that's the only gear where you can really hear the difference.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

Even if you get the lossless format, I just don't see how the sound quality will improve on such a tiny device, regardless of how good are your headphones. Losless and hi res audio is for home HI-FI...that's the only gear where you can really hear the difference.

And that's fine. But if one can only get lossless/uncompresses/hi-res audio from sources like CD or Vinyl then that kinda sucks. I don't mind buying CDs. I still do now and then. But it adds up quicker then buying a song here and there on iTunes. Is there places to download hi-res or lossless music?

 

[bbrks]

For example:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/music/best-sites-downloading-hd-music/

http://www.sony.com/electronics/hi-res-audio-music-services

All you need is HDD, preferably MAC and a good DAC connected to an amplifier....

 

[bigpoppamac31]

For example:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/music/best-sites-downloading-hd-music/

http://www.sony.com/electronics/hi-res-audio-music-services

All you need is HDD, preferably MAC and a good DAC connected to an amplifier....

Well I'm using a 13" rMBP. Wouldn't an amp have a DAC in it?

 

[cycledance]

this is just another bs article spreading misinformation.

A more recent German study has shown that young adults raised on digital audio files are capable of distinguishing fewer sounds than their parents. Sure, this may be due to damage from ear buds on high volume. But it may also be that they never learned to hear these sounds because they were never exposed to them. Just compressed, synthetic MP3s.

and it doesn't stop there...

In fact, the supposedly imperceptible 44.1kHz sampling rate was at first so audible to consumers who had been raised on vinyl that higher-end CD player manufacturers quickly added tubes and filters to camouflage the grating saw-tooth wave of poorly parsed and converted samples.

hi res audio is the latest scam from the audio tech industry to rip off audiophiles.

 

[cbautis2]

Agreed. Heck if you do research, you'll find that high res audio sounds worse than CD due to included noise at ultrasonic frequencies while this doesn't exist in 44.1 kHz sample rate.

 

[bbrks]

Well I'm using a 13" rMBP. Wouldn't an amp have a DAC in it?

Not necessarily, stand alone DAC is always a better option, but of course, we are talking serious money here

 

[bigpoppamac31]

Not necessarily, stand alone DAC is always a better option, but of course, we are talking serious money here

Well there is this one. Not sure if it has a DAC in it but it would work for my purpose in connecting my headphones (Sony MDR-10RBT) and the speakers I'm getting (Polk RTi4). Hopefully it would be enough power for the speakers. Pretty reasonable price.

http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-N22-Desktop-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B0049OI08W

 

[cycledance]

Well there is this one. Not sure if it has a DAC in it but it would work for my purpose in connecting my headphones (Sony MDR-10RBT) and the speakers I'm getting (Polk RTi4). Hopefully it would be enough power for the speakers. Pretty reasonable price.

http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-N22-Desktop-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B0049OI08W

i wouldn't buy that for these speakers. not enough watts and probably a noisy amp.
get a regular usb dac (simple...nothing expensive)
and a good stereo amp with plenty watts. (those polk can handle up to 125w)

 

[bbrks]

Agreed, BTW the one above doesn't have an integrated DAC.

 

[cycledance]

Agreed, BTW the one above doesn't have an integrated DAC.

it does.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

i wouldn't buy that for these speakers. not enough watts and probably a noisy amp.
get a regular usb dac (simple...nothing expensive)
and a good stereo amp with plenty watts. (those polk can handle up to 125w)

Would this be a good DAC? http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-D...F8&qid=1453291147&sr=8-4&keywords=audioengine

I'v been looking at an actual stereo receiver (or surround) like Yamaha. I know they're good with music.

 

[cycledance]

Would this be a good DAC? http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-D...F8&qid=1453291147&sr=8-4&keywords=audioengine

I'v been looking at an actual stereo receiver (or surround) like Yamaha. I know they're good with music.

yea it will do just fine like most other dacs.

i'd get a stereo amp (possibly used because they are way too overpriced new) over a surround receiver unless you really want surround.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

yea it will do just fine like most other dacs.

i'd get a stereo amp (possibly used because they are way too overpriced new) over a surround receiver unless you really want surround.

Yeah. I was looking at a surround receiver so I could use the speakers with my TV. I think I'd want the option of expanding to surround later if I wanted to.

 

[bwhli]

Even if you get the lossless format, I just don't see how the sound quality will improve on such a tiny device, regardless of how good are your headphones. Losless and hi res audio is for home HI-FI...that's the only gear where you can really hear the difference.

That's simply not true. There's definitely a noticeable difference between 256K AAC and ALAC through high end IEMs.

 

[cycledance]

That's simply not true. There's definitely a noticeable difference between 256K AAC and ALAC through high end IEMs.

i don't think so.

 

[bbrks]

That's simply not true. There's definitely a noticeable difference between 256K AAC and ALAC through high end IEMs.

Well, OK, there might be some tiny difference, I also use Shure headphones with my phone, but that difference is so far away from what I can hear on my home HI-FI.

 

[wolfman1357]

Uncompressed audio is overrated. You'll be getting 100x more sound improvement by upgrading your audio gear than using uncompressed audio.

I agree that first step is get a computer with a high quality sound card or update computers current sound card. The second step is to get high quality headphones, I recommend
Bose SoundTrue In-Ear Headphones they are better other headphones that I have paid 2 or 3 times more for. The last step is to get at lowest 320 MP3 and Highest FLAC,APE or ALAC music files. If you follow these steps you have great sounding music.
[doublepost=1459897435][/doublepost]

Even if you get the lossless format, I just don't see how the sound quality will improve on such a tiny device, regardless of how good are your headphones. Losless and hi res audio is for home HI-FI...that's the only gear where you can really hear the difference.

There is the SONY Walkman NW-A25 16G High-resolution sound or
FiiO X5 High Resolution Music Player (2nd Generation) they both can play up to 24/192. That as good as any Home system. You can use as many
SanDisk Ultra 200GB Micro SD (SDSDQUAN-200G-G4A) as you want pay for, to take your music with you.
[doublepost=1459898288][/doublepost]

And that's fine. But if one can only get lossless/uncompresses/hi-res audio from sources like CD or Vinyl then that kinda sucks. I don't mind buying CDs. I still do now and then. But it adds up quicker then buying a song here and there on iTunes. Is there places to download hi-res or lossless music?

These 3 are the biggest online retailer HDtracks,
Super HiRez and
ProStudioMasters, There many others