What is the maximum resolution music files that I can add to iPhone ?

[gelie]

I have some music files that are in AIFF 96k/24bit resolution. While I know the iPhone won't play them in HiRez, I can't seem to add them to the iPhone. I see them on the play list, but just won't transfer. On a side not I use a old iPhone (3 or 4?) as a iPod . The files DO transfer over. Is the something on the 6 or new IO9 that is preventing this ? I tried converting the sample rate down to 44k and it did transfer, I just don't want to create multiple files.

 

[Vundu]

Bit rate you mean?

 

[Genkakuzai]

ALAC (Apple Lossless) supports 384k/32bit resolution as far as I'm aware. However it would be a huge waste of space unless you have a dedicated DAC for it, since the built-in DAC in the iPhone (or any other smartphone really) doesn't have anywhere near the muscle to do that kind of high res audio justice.

 

[Jimmy James]

Depends on the software you're using.

 

[gelie]

Do u mean IO? IO 9.1.

 

[iMacDragon]

iphone will only accept apple lossless and aac codec music natively, aiff needs to be converted to alac first.

 

[Wondercow]

iphone will only accept apple lossless and aac codec music natively, aiff needs to be converted to alac first.

This is simply untrue:

Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV​

 

[rgarjr]

Use 3rd party apps to play in FLAC

 

[phrehdd]

Last I recall, the best that could be played was 44.1/16. This is CD quality. Unless you use another app on your iPhone you wont be able to play higher "rez" music and even with these apps, they bring it back down to 44.1/16 during playback. Again, this is just what I recall from a long while back. Happy if someone can correct me and if not, you may have your answer. Incidentally, the bitrate is an entirely different beast. I have 44.1/16 files with bitrates well into the 700's and appear as "Apple Lossless AAC files" after conversion from external source (CDs, 96/24 Flac etc.).

 

[Bart Kela]

Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV​

The iPhone will natively play supported audio file formats up to 48kHz/24-bit. You cannot natively play 88.2kHz, 96kHz or anything higher nor can you natively play back 32-bit files on iDevices. That is likely a hardware limitation of the onboard DAC, a commodity part designed for mass-market consumer electronics.

There are ways of playing back 96/24 files, but they require external portable DACs and special player software. FLACs can be played using special player software as well, but the 48kHz/24-bit limit applies for using the native hardware. Many of these third-party DAC/software combos will still down-convert the source high-res audio, so you don't get much than just ripping to 48/24 or 44.1/16.

While tedious, I end up transcoding high-res files down to 48/24 or 44.1/16 ALACs to load on my old iPod classic. Plus, I'll transcode an AAC version as well so I might have three different files (original high-resolution, lossy but still high-quality ALAC, and lossy 256Kbps or 320Kbps AAC.

These days, I don't even bother with 320Kbps AAC. I just rip to 256Kbps AAC, load into iTunes, then hope that iTunes Match identifies those tracks. I delete my files and download the same tracks knowing that the files that the iTunes Store engineers transcode are better than the ones that I can rip using iTunes.

 

[DblHelix]

Like above mentioned I believe the highest natively out the headphone jack is 16/44.1 or 16/48. You can do up to 24/384 (DXD) or up to octa DSD to an external DAC using the lightening to camera kit and the Onky HF player with HD ad on