Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

Maybe this is all wrong from the rumors and they are simply raising the default quality level?

That would also be welcome
 
I’m highly skeptical of this. If it’s truly a matter of weeks, they would have just announced it at last weeks event.

I also welcome higher quality sound. The other day on one of the songs I was listening to, 256 was noticeable. Signed up for Tidal trial and they had a HiFi version of the song. You could tell a difference. Only in about 10 seconds of the song in total and only at a very loud volume but you could tell.

Probably won’t matter on $150 AirPods, which is how I assume 90% of people listen to Apple Music.
 
Polly Mercocet said:
And yes you can definitely tell the difference if you have good quality equipment to listen through.
Click to expand...
I’m to the point where I cannot tell the difference between 96 or 192 kHz high-resolution audio vs Apple’s AAC - even through decent audio equipment. Too many LOUD concerts, jet engines, gunfire, etc. etc. etc. have killed my ability to differentiate. I’ve taken several of the comparative tests on the web and come pretty close to 50/50 in preference between FLAC (uncompressed) and AAC (compressed). I guess that will save me some money…
 
btrach144 said:
Signed up for Tidal trial and they had a HiFi version of the song. You could tell a difference. Only in about 10 seconds of the song in total and only at a very loud volume but you could tell.
Click to expand...
Tidal uses MQA which is also lossy and basically a DSP. The difference you heard could be related to a few different factors.
 
incoherent_1 said:
Exactly. I’m sure there are some people under insanely controlled conditions and premium equipment who can tell the difference, but the data has proven that — basically — 99%+ of people who claim it’s “night and day” are actually just flexing in some effort of bizarre toxic masculinity.
Click to expand...
So you’re insinuating that only men can be audiophiles?

For someone squawking about “toxic masculinity”, that’s awfully sexist of you.....

Pot, meet kettle.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: canonical
GermanSuplex said:
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.
Click to expand...
To many variables with speakers. Even the HomePod smart speakers many variables. A high fidelity set of headphones the closet to managing the variables and telling the difference. Not many today are that into music. Music has become elevator music today in our house. Therefore, today’s music quality more then exceeds are requirements. The same price a good deal if the data usage not significant, especially on LTE.
 
wouldn’t be surprised if apple uses ALAC which is their version of FLAC but this is something ive been wanting for ages
 
H3LL5P4WN said:
Hopefully this means that all of my iTunes Match and Apple Music music gets auto upgraded, with an option to re-rip CDs at full quality.

Then the question becomes… what Apple hardware can actually output high fidelity? I’d assume the discontinued full-size HomePods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max?
Click to expand...
apple has their own lossless codec which you can rip ur CDs has, its called ALAC or Apple Lossless
 
ThatGuyInLa said:
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.
Click to expand...
Agreed, and maybe it's because I have 20 years of live audio experience, but I think the difference is pretty apparent to anyone listening for dynamics in the upper range. I recently got the Sony XM4's and have enjoyed them a lot, but Apple Music's lack of quality is exposed even further when listening with them. I have a pair of Shure SE-535's as well, and when using a wired connection, the difference between lossless and apple music is very apparent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ThatGuyInLa, hexx, canonical and 1 other person
lars666 said:
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 ...
Click to expand...

I belong to those who can hear a difference is not night and day but with my equipment and ears I hear a difference. It's more pleasing to listen to somehow. But the biggest difference is that I can listen for much longer without fatigue.

Apparently the reason for that is that with lossy compression the brain has to work harder to process the sound compared to audio with every detail still in it. There is a study but I can't remember where to find it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FriendlyMackle, canonical, turbineseaplane and 1 other person
user1234 said:
I belong to those who can hear a difference is not night and day but with my equipment and ears I hear a difference. It's more pleasing to listen to somehow. But the biggest difference is that I can listen for much longer without fatigue.

Apparently the reason for that is that with lossy compression the brain has to work harder to process the sound compared to audio with every detail still in it. There is a study but I can't remember where to find it.
Click to expand...
Yup, if its not instantly discernible your mind has to basically make best guesses as to what it 'should' sound like to fill in the gaps. Eye sight actually functions the same way, as the color pink should not theoretically exist because blue and red are far apart on the spectrum.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FriendlyMackle
vagos said:
Amazing news. I was waiting for this. I hope it'll be FLAC quality.
Click to expand...
ha!
nothing against this quote, or you- flac is a great format,
but there are better software options for music playback than apple and these peaked way back in 2004ish.
 
HappyMBAowner said:
A huge amount of blind tests have been carried over the years. You can find them doing some research. All tests have proven that 99,9% of people cannot tell the difference between an AAC or MP3 file at 256kbps. Even if using very expensive audio systems. People will tell you they hear a difference, but put them into a blind test and they will fail. In any case, through earphones or headphones, I challenge you to find someone who will be able to tell the difference. To really hear the bass sounds as they were created and are intended to be heard, an earphone or headphone has to 'cheat' on frequencies to give you the illusion that you're hearing bass frequencies. Physically, lower waves need space to develop. Test that yourself by walking away from your speakers. As you move away, you hear the bass sounds better. This is normal. People crank up the volume in their cars to hear the bass sounds better, but people outside the cars hear the bass sounds very well, much better than the driver. With a headphone or earphone, there is no space between the earphone and your ear to develop a bass sound, as there is between a speaker and the listener. This is a huge marketing campaign.
Click to expand...
I see. Too bad tech still hasn’t caught up with drugs. Have you listened to music on ecstasy or methamphetamine? It’s an experience unlike any other. It’s the only thing I miss about my partying days, how amazing the music sounded.
 
Apple just got rid of the HomePod which had better audio quality. What is this for then? HomePod Mini? The mini is good, but isn’t the regular better
 
DekuBleep said:
Will Apple Hi-Fi make music sound better in my AirPods Max?
Click to expand...
This would be one way to sell more Max headphones.

I have AirPods Max & I would assume HiFi music will take it to the next level. - Perhaps this was Apple’s plan, to eventually unlock a higher level for Max
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back