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iOS 14.6 Beta 1 Code Hints at Upcoming HiFi Apple Music Support

w5jck said:
I'm old guy, so I had to look up what HiFi supposedly refers to. I initially assumed it was either just another BS gimmicky name for better music quality with the streaming. What I read though is that HiFi is this new thing wherein you buy separate pieces/components of equipment to create your audio system. Really, new? Growing up in the 70s as a teenager we did that. You had a separate amplifier, a separate tuner, a separate record player, a separate tape deck, and later on a separate CD player. It was what we called a modular system made up of the components you wanted, along with separate speakers of course. Some even added separate reel to reel tap players as well. So if this is what young people are calling HiFi, well you are reinventing the darn wheel. With the advent of boomboxes and Walkmans in the 1970s and 1980s, the trend was to scale down to a bookshelf system which was still somewhat modular but much smaller. When the MP3 players became popular in the late 1990s and exploded in popularity after the iPods were introduced, smaller and pocketable became the fashion. Maybe the younger folks are oblivious to the old stereo systems of their grandparents era, but those old systems predate HiFi systems by half a century. So I have to wonder, is HiFi really just a gimmicky, BS term to refer to better audio quality? After all, AirPods hardly fit the description I've read for HiFi.
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Hi-fi means what it says, high-fidelity. Not by any particular technical standard, just basically, "it's good quality." Pretty sure that was a popular marketing term in the 1970s through 2000s.
 
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hot-gril said:
Hi-fi means what it says, high-fidelity. Not by any particular technical standard, just basically, "it's good quality." Pretty sure that was a popular marketing term in the 1970s through 2000s.
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Actually the term hi-fi came out at the beginning of the 1950s ! Mono at that 😉
 
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It's simple: if Apple tries to say only some class of devices can be stream lossless I won't use their service. They will try to justify it by inventing a some proprietary wireless format for streaming from the iPhone to AirPods and claim it's the only way to reliably stream lossless music even though Tidal/Roon can accomplish the same thing without limiting what devices can stream lossless.
 
MauiPa said:
don't get all snickety over a rumor. As the above post points out there are various other alternatives that could easily support HiFi: Airplay2, AppleTV, Mac, HomePods. and while the current streaming is 250 kbit AAC for AirPods and AirPods Pro, the standard supports up to 320 kbit. that is without a different codec being supported (I'm not an expert, but I pretty much think the codec is software which would allow modifications), so that would say that AirPods, AirPods Pro, etc could also be potential targets.

Bottom line, its only a rumor at this point, so relax. Besides, Spotify doesn't pay the artists. If you are going to switch, go with a service that honors the artists at least as well as Apple Music.
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You should look for the best deal for you as a consumer. The vast majority of artists that I listen to are not hurting for money. And even if they are, that’s not my concern.
 
Exclusivity for airpods is supposedly possible if Apple firmware updates airpods to add some weird lossless codec that Apple exclusively has.
 
Spotify is just going to do the same thing. maybe better
The KEY is to make Audio devices THAT ARE HIGH FIDELITY
 
cmaier said:
Why? In every blind test, only highly trained people can hear the difference between 256 AAC and uncompressed, even with reference monitors.
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What blind tests are you specifically referring to? Can you post a few links? Is there a definitive paper to read? Regardless I myself (as well as a good majority of the people I know) can easily hear a difference with 256 compressed versus lossless - even with my old ears at age 62, after years of abuse from my own listening and professional related high intensity audio exposure, and occasional bouts of Tinnitus. Particularly true with classical music or other music with a very dynamic character.

Granted I’m listening with a decent set of wired headphones (Stax or Sennheisers) and a decent DAC and amplifier. In a quiet household with no kids or TV blaring. And yes I can hear a difference on my mediocre speakers and amp as well.

Obviously the difference isn’t as stark as digital vs analog vinyl , however it’s very perceptible and makes listening a pleasure.

I can’t speak for wireless headsets though because I only use them for Zoom and phone calls, and occasionally a movie on the airplane in the past…
 
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verpeiler said:
If you really think you can hear the difference between a good mp3 and lossless, test yourself:

www.npr.org

How Well Can You Hear Audio Quality?

A hi-def test for your ears (and your audio equipment): Listen to these songs and see if you can tell the difference between an MP3 and an uncompressed audio file.
www.npr.org www.npr.org

For 99,9% of the population it is completely pointless... I'd say I have very good hearing (and almost perfect pitch), I managed to guess 4/6 correct (with good headphones) and even then I wasn't sure for the most parts.
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Perfect pitch wouldn't have anything to do with hearing the difference between mp3 and lossless...and you can't have "almost perfect pitch". Either you have perfect pitch or you don't...
 
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Capeto said:
I’d be ready to switch from Spotify to  Music if they offer HiFi (lossless) streaming at the same $9.99 price, but if it’s limited to AirPods then I might as well wait for Spotify’s offering, even if pricier - assuming it doesn’t have such a silly restriction.

Apple would be shooting themselves in the foot if they go this route. Bluetooth can’t even play music losslessy!
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I think it’s most likely a limitation of Apples present headphones and buds, none of which are capable of receiving lossless over Bluetooth (they can obviously receive it but not at the bitrate of lossless). Apt-x somewhat overcomes this but again relies on compression. AirPod Max etc do not have Apt-x or the capability to use a 3.5mm cable (unlike other premium headphones).

Call me a cynic but I suspect the next generation of AirPod Max (and Pro) will have Apt-x (but called something different and described as better) and they will announce some high-bit rate or near lossless codec and charge a premium for it and to boot imply everything else that has been just fine until now as inadequate.
 
cmaier said:
Why? In every blind test, only highly trained people can hear the difference between 256 AAC and uncompressed, even with reference monitors.
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Sorry that‘s just marketing; there is a day and night difference between 256K and 1400K (CD quality) if you have the right audio (read decent) equipment. If you‘re listening on the set of buds that came with your phone l agree with your statement. Note, I am not highly trained and have relatively old ears but trust me CD is far better than 256K and you 100% know what you’re listening to.
 
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verpeiler said:
If you really think you can hear the difference between a good mp3 and lossless, test yourself:

www.npr.org

How Well Can You Hear Audio Quality?

A hi-def test for your ears (and your audio equipment): Listen to these songs and see if you can tell the difference between an MP3 and an uncompressed audio file.
www.npr.org www.npr.org

For 99,9% of the population it is completely pointless... I'd say I have very good hearing (and almost perfect pitch), I managed to guess 4/6 correct (with good headphones) and even then I wasn't sure for the most parts.
Click to expand...

I have pretty good hearing, too and using AirPods Pro there's no way for me to tell the difference between 320kbit MP3 and lossless. 128 was fairly easy to make out though...

MauiPa said:
while the current streaming is 250 kbit AAC for AirPods and AirPods Pro
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Is this official information? Because then it would obviously be pretty hard to differentiate lossless from 320kbit MP3 😄
 
What the article means is that no all AirPods will be compatible with the new features. It doesn’t mean all other listening devices in the world are excluded, just that among AirPods only some will be compatible.
 
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Ooh this sparked my interest! Please apple implement some higher bandwidth bluetooth codecs, LDAC would be amazing but I wouldn't be surprised if apple have developed their own hi bitrate codec! I do wonder what tricks they have up their sleeves. Please don't limit lossless music to only apple headphones!
 
Or they could just introduce dynamic equalizer controls..?
Any why is Apple Music maximum volume always so low? 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
I hope they update the iTunes store with lossless ALAC files, with an option to download 256k lossy version. If they keep prices the same, I’ll finally start buying digital music.
 
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I recommend anyone who owns Airpods or Beats to delve into the accessibility options and into Headphone Accommodations.
it’s possible to tune the AirPods specifically for your hearing.
if you do an audiogram using the Mimi app, they tune the audio so that it’s perfect for you. I’m sure this will make more difference than lossless audio.
 
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i hope it's no exclusive to certain hardware. i'm not buying AirPods. i don't have anything against AirPods but i'm not going out to replace my perfectly fine Sony XM3s. maybe when they don't hold a charge anymore yeah I might consider AirPod

also if iTunes is the only way to listen to it on PC then i'm gonna be pissed. Please release a dedicated Windows 10 app for Apple Music!

i just joined Apple Music and plan on getting a Mac but i'm still only on my 3 month trial. if Apple are gonna pull these kinda moves then I'll just go back to Spotify.
 
Attirex said:
Good Lord, really? You’re either not that old and/or never owned audio equipment in the Sixties or Seventies. People used to refer to their stereos as the “Hifi,” as in, “Honey, put some jazz on the hifi while I mix a Tom Collins.” For proof, listen to the sample at the beginning of the Beastie Boys’ track The Blue Nun.
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There were even dozen of magazines called Hi-Fi something.. 🤣
 
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