Rumor: Apple to Announce Third-Generation AirPods and HiFi Apple Music Tier in 'Coming Weeks'

[Polly Mercocet]

If they're not going to put it behind a paywall but include it in the base 9.99 subscription then they're beating Spotify either way imo

Beating Tidal too, I'm paying £20 a month for Tidal HiFi. Can't justify that if Apple Music offers the same thing for £10.

 

[lars666]

I have a VERY good amp / speaker home equipment and still a hard time to believe that the normal human ear is able to tell the difference between 256 AAC and lossless - as so many blind tests have proven ...

 

[GermanSuplex]

I have a VERY good amp / speaker home equipment and still a hard time to believe that the normal human ear is able to tell the difference between 256 AAC and lossless - as so many blind tests have proven ...

Studies have proven you right time and again. Anyone can say they “can tell” a difference, but the testing shows most people can’t. It takes the right equipment in the right settings, with the right listener, and even then the numbers of people who can tell a difference are low.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If the HiFi is going to be at $9.99, I will subscribe to Apple Music (again).

 

[Bandaman]

I'm glad Apple is finally doing this. The sound quality isn't all that noticeable between services until I'm blasting audio at high volumes and the sounds become lossy and distorted. Been enjoying a 90 day trial of Amazon Music HD recently and being able to blast my music at whatever volume with no loss in clarity has been really enjoyable.

 

[jamcgahey]

See my post under the Spotify article on this page about Spotify charging less for podcasts. My comment was that the perfect response to that would be to offer Hi Fi music for free/no additional cost added to the subscription...sorry I just had to mention that I called this earlier this week haha

 

[Feyl]

That's great news if it's true! I just bought Sony headphones with hi-res audio support.

 

[contacos]

Interesting that they're keeping the "HiFi" subscription the same price. Why would anyone then choose lower quality audio when subscribing? Apple should just make HiFi their default across all subscriptions.

i used to be on the highest quality settings on Spotify but switched to the lowest to save space and honestly … I haven’t heard a difference (only use AirPod Pro)

 

[jamcgahey]

Interesting that they're keeping the "HiFi" subscription the same price. Why would anyone then choose lower quality audio when subscribing? Apple should just make HiFi their default across all subscriptions.

It won't be default because not everyone will want to use up so much storage on their phone for music. Especially if they do not have the equipment to make it sound any different vs. the standard/lower storage option. It'll be like Spotify where you can go to settings and choose what you want to have downloaded.

 

[twinlight]

Go ahead and upgrade our streaming. I hope they upgrade some AirPods models to ALAC via firmware updates also.

 

[kb923689]

Finally. I'm tired of maintaining a lossless library on my computer just so I can enjoy my pro headphones. I don't mind AAC on the go but I definitely want lossless streaming at home. I hope they include FLAC support in the Music app.

 

[jmgregory1]

It’s nice to have the option for higher quality audio, but I think this is much like the high refresh rate screens where it’s only a small number of people who notice, or think they notice, a difference in sound quality. I’m no audiophile, but I know tons of people are accepting of what I consider to be terrible sound quality, such as what you get from SiriusXM in cars that offer it.

I think that there is a more interesting future for audio, using spatial positioning to create a more immersive experience.

 

[RedTheReader]

That's great news if it's true! I just bought Sony headphones with hi-res audio support.

Well, in order for you to be able to take advantage of high-resolution wireless audio, Apple will have to adopt LDAC on the iPhone. I hope to see them do so. If it’s wired then this doesn’t apply, of course.

 

[foobarbaz]

It won't be default because not everyone will want to use up so much storage on their phone for music. Especially if they do not have the equipment to make it sound any different vs. the standard/lower storage option. It'll be like Spotify where you can go to settings and choose what you want to have downloaded.

Apple Music already has such an option. (I think it currently toggles between 128k and 256k bitrates)
I wouldn't be surprised if they'd add a lossless option just to force Spotify to do the same – eliminating their planned additional income and increasing their overall bandwidth costs at the same time.

But it's strange that the report talks about a "tier" then. That makes it sound like you need to chose it ahead of time instead of per-device.

 

[swm]

oh yes. after the monster cable we’ll have monster ip packets to carry “audiophile quality” streams

 

[krspkbl]

i just ditched Spotify (after ~11 years) for Apple Music. seems like good timing. not quite sure i'll be able to tell the difference as i don't have high quality speakers but if it's a free upgrade then i'll take it. only a few days into my 3 month trial

 

[Black Belt]

I wonder how it will sound on my awesome obsolete Home Pods!

 

[powerbook911]

Depends on your equipment

I can hear it pretty easy with AirPods Pro believe it or not. I think because with AirPods Pro it’s going through compression again on the way to airpods, so an original lossless file holds up better when converted to aac to be sent to your ears.

 

[krspkbl]

i'm also kinda hoping they announce a dedicated Apple Music app for Windows 10. i plan on getting a Mac to replace my PC whenever we get a new MacBook Air or 27" iMac but in the mean time i need to use the web player which I doubt will stream HiFi quality. i refuse to use iTunes.

 

[NOATAK]

Great news! Can't see myself going back to Apple Music anytime soon though before Apple fixes that hideous desktop app.

 

[LeadingHeat]

I'd love to buy another set of AirPods but not until we can swap the battery out. My last pair starting dying about 3 months after the warranty expired. I'm not spending that much on an item that gets disposed of in such a short period. My Macbook is still running after 7 years as will my iPhone.

Get AppleCare+ coverage next time. It’s $29 bucks and it’ll cover battery replacements

 

[johnediii]

If they don't want AirPods to lose sales, maybe they should make them cheaper. Seriously, there are so many alternatives on the market for so much less money now including in their own Beats line. Maybe they should just drop the AirPods and only make the Beats line.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

Studies have proven you right time and again. Anyone can say they “can tell” a difference, but the testing shows most people can’t. It takes the right equipment in the right settings, with the right listener, and even then the numbers of people who can tell a difference are low.

This is mostly the case for myself. However the dead give away, even with Apple’s lovely AAC, cymbal crashes, and when the dynamic range, crescendo effect in a section of music with multiple things going on, peaks. That’s where compressed audio falls apart. Sounds like you’re listening to those bits behind a water fall.

 

[LeadingHeat]

This just got me even more excited for WWDC. Fingers crossed this rumor is right and they actually do keep it the same price and include it with your subscription you have now!

(Being able to turn it off if on LTE for instance, but on for 5G or wifi. Or if it happens automatically..?)

 

[Lemon Olive]

The upgrade to lossless should be free and automatic. Charging more for it would be obscene.