Apple Music Hifi

**Blues** · May 15, 2021, 10:42 AM

According to the latest news, Apple is launching soon its lossless music service but also hires (24/192kHz). The service would be announced in early June. it looks like Lumin will release a new firmware that includes new music services before summer.

Would Apple music be this new music service? My head is spinning

**wklie** · May 16, 2021, 05:41 AM

We are working on Spotify HiFi.

Please use AirPlay to play Apple Music to Lumin.

**Mike** · May 16, 2021, 10:35 AM

Spotify HiFi and Apple HiFi could spell trouble for QoBuz and Tidal.

Just saying...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**KeithR** · May 16, 2021, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Spotify HiFi and Apple HiFi could spell trouble for QoBuz and Tidal.

Just saying...

agreed. why i haven't migrated to QoBuz (well that and their smaller, less diverse library)

**AVphile** · May 16, 2021, 09:11 PM

Apple Music is likely to quickly dwarf the current music streaming services in the same way Disney Plus is already the largest video streaming service with well over 100 million subscribers.

I respectfully suggest that Lumin “back burner” its effort to port Spotify HiFi and commence work focused on Apple Music.

**nicoff** · May 16, 2021, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Spotify HiFi and Apple HiFi could spell trouble for QoBuz and Tidal.

Just saying...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Totally agree. To go one step further, Spotify Hi-Fi can also spell trouble for Roon.
Many Roon users use it for streaming Tidal or Qobuz only. If those users move to Spotify, they will not need Roon anymore.
Of course users could still use Roon to manage and listen to their local library.

**BlueFox** · May 16, 2021, 10:10 PM

Maybe in a few years after online music shakes out and calms down then I might try it.

**nicoff** · May 16, 2021, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by BlueFox

Maybe in a few years after online music shakes out and calms down then I might try it.

Streaming already shook out.
It just left you behind!

**BlueFox** · May 16, 2021, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by nicoff

Streaming already shook out.
It just left you behind!

LOL. It has a LONG way to go before it is viable.

**wklie** · May 17, 2021, 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

Spotify HiFi and Apple HiFi could spell trouble for QoBuz and Tidal.

These threats are huge.

**Bones13** · May 17, 2021, 06:45 AM

That graph is scary, and really points out the danger. Spotify is, at least, a music only business. The other 2 big shots started the music business to drive sales of other things. The Qobuz and Tidal user go in the “others” category, I assume.

I know my wife and children (in their 30s) all use Spotify. I use Qobuz with Roon, and Audivana, so that graph looks worse in my family.

**aKnyght** · May 17, 2021, 07:52 AM

for the audiophile community i think the important thing to watch is what apple does with integration. i can't see apple music hifi being relevant if audiophiles can't use it with the variety of hi-end streamers, transports, networked DACs, servers, computers, etc. in their systems which utilize the various proprietary and subscription software that access and run those components.

if apple creates a closed system then apple music hi-res will be somewhat irrelevant to the hi-end community. OTOH, if they create an API for 3rd party integration which provides for music streaming then that is something for the smaller hi-res services to contend with.

to date, as part of their business strategy an apple device or apple software (app) is needed to stream apple music, unless there is something of which i am unaware.

note: there is currently an apple music API; however, it only accesses information about the media found in the apple music catalog and the user's personal iCloud music library -- i.e. just the meta-data.

**Rnrmf** · May 17, 2021, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by aKnyght

for the audiophile community i think the important thing to watch is what apple does with integration. i can't see apple music hifi being relevant if audiophiles can't use it with the variety of hi-end streamers, transports, networked DACs, servers, computers, etc. in their systems which utilize the various proprietary and subscription software that access and run those components.

if apple creates a closed system then apple music hi-res will be somewhat irrelevant to the hi-end community. OTOH, if they create an API for 3rd party integration which provides for music streaming then that is something for the smaller hi-res services to contend with.

to date, as part of their business strategy an apple device or apple software (app) is needed to stream apple music, unless there is something of which i am unaware.

note: there is currently an apple music API; however, it only accesses information about the media found in the apple music catalog and the user's personal iCloud music library -- i.e. just the meta-data.

In the same way Apple TV is available on other brand's televisions, it's only a matter of time before the Apple Music app is native on streaming devices. I was actually under the impression it already was, but I guess it might only be Airplay compatibility which leaves out hi-res, for now.

**pdxaudio** · May 17, 2021, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by wklie

These threats are huge.

And now Amazon drops the price of its HD tier, down to only $79 a year for Prime members.

**nicoff** · May 17, 2021, 03:49 PM

Apple made it official this morning. Apple will provide lossless audio (including Dolby Atmos) at no extra cost. Today, Amazon followed up announcing a price drop for their lossless tier. Now the pressure will be on Spotify to deliver on lossless audio and not raise their prices.
Both Tidal and Qobuz will be under the gun to lower their prices. Getting more interesting by the minute!

**rbbert** · May 17, 2021, 04:52 PM

My prediction is that TIDAL will soon be history. QoBuz might survive with most of its revenue coming from downloads.

A silver lining? All the controversy about MQA may also disappear along with TIDAL.

**KeithR** · May 17, 2021, 04:57 PM

Apple Music has always been terrible. Even my non-audiophile friends all use Spotify.

**Rnrmf** · May 17, 2021, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by KeithR

Apple Music has always been terrible. Even my non-audiophile friends all use Spotify.

How so?
The apps are almost identical on my phone; Ease of use is the same to me.
I think Spotify had a somewhat deeper catalog of music at one point and has Spotify Connect on some streamers though until they offer hi res and lossless, I'll continue to use Qobuz.

**nicoff** · May 17, 2021, 06:28 PM

Interestingly enough, none of the most popular streaming services (Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify) work well with local files (the music that folks have in their computer/NAS/hard-drive). Incidentally, neither do Tidal or Qobuz!

That is where software like Roon comes into play. Roon does an excellent job of managing and integrating BOTH your local library AND the library/playlists from a streaming service.

I would not be surprised if one of the big boys in its quest to offer a differentiator, end up acquiring Roon in the process.

**rbbert** · May 17, 2021, 08:18 PM

The Apple Music app is terrible, the catalog not so much, though

**Dizzie** · May 18, 2021, 11:51 AM

I do not stream (yet). Please tell me how "Spatial Audio" compares with current offerings from other companies. Hoping for further gains in my Apple stock holdings.

Apple Music announces Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos; will bring Lossless Audio to entire catalog
The next generation of sound on Apple Music is coming to subscribers June 2021 at no additional cost

Apple Music displayed on iPhone 12.
Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio are coming to Apple Music subscribers beginning June 2021.

Cupertino, California Apple today announced Apple Music is bringing industry-leading sound quality to subscribers with the addition of Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos. Spatial Audio gives artists the opportunity to create immersive audio experiences for their fans with true multidimensional sound and clarity. Apple Music subscribers will also be able to listen to more than 75 million songs in Lossless Audio — the way the artists created them in the studio. These new features will be available for Apple Music subscribers starting next month at no additional cost.

“Apple Music is making its biggest advancement ever in sound quality,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats. “Listening to a song in Dolby Atmos is like magic. The music comes from all around you and sounds incredible. Now we are bringing this truly innovative and immersive experience to our listeners with music from their favorite artists like J Balvin, Gustavo Dudamel, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, Kacey Musgraves, The Weeknd, and so many more. Subscribers will also be able to listen to their music in the highest audio quality with Lossless Audio. Apple Music as we know it is about to change forever.”

Spatial Audio with Support for Dolby Atmos
Apple is bringing Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos to Apple Music. Dolby Atmos is a revolutionary, immersive audio experience that enables artists to mix music so the sound comes from all around and from above. By default, Apple Music will automatically play Dolby Atmos tracks on all AirPods and Beats headphones with an H1 or W1 chip, as well as the built-in speakers in the latest versions of iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple Music will be adding new Dolby Atmos tracks constantly and will be curating a special set of Dolby Atmos playlists to help listeners find the music they love. In addition, albums that are available in Dolby Atmos will have a badge on the detail page for easy discovery.

At launch, subscribers can enjoy thousands of songs in Spatial Audio from some of the world’s biggest artists and music across all genres, including hip-hop, country, Latin, pop, and classical. Apple Music is working with artists and labels to add new releases and the best catalog tracks, as more artists begin to create music specifically for the Spatial Audio experience. Together, Apple Music and Dolby are making it easy for musicians, producers, and mix engineers to create songs in Dolby Atmos. Initiatives include doubling the number of Dolby-enabled studios in major markets, offering educational programs, and providing resources to independent artists.

“Today marks the introduction of Dolby Atmos on Apple Music — a new music experience that is transforming how music is created by artists and enjoyed by their fans,” said Kevin Yeaman, Dolby Laboratories’ president and CEO. “We are working with Apple Music to make Dolby Atmos widely available to all musicians and anyone who loves music.”
J Balvin said: “I’m really excited to be part of this project with Apple Music because I always want to be a step ahead and I think this is one of those steps. With Lossless, everything in the music is going to sound bigger and stronger but more importantly, it will be better quality. Hearing myself and my music in Dolby Atmos for the first time, it was just crazy, it blew my mind, it’s indescribable. I think fans will really love this new experience.”

Gustavo Dudamel said: “There are no words to describe the immersive, overpowering experience of being a conductor, leading a performance of Mahler’s towering ‘Symphony of a Thousand.’ But now, technology is advancing to bring that experience closer to our ears, our minds, and our souls. Share with me this monumental, live performance with my beloved Los Angeles Philharmonic, remastered in Dolby Atmos audio technology for the first time on Apple Music alongside my collection of Deutsche Grammophon recordings with the LA Phil, in rich, remarkable 3D sound.”

Grammy Award-winning producer, songwriter, and composer Giles Martin said: “Since recording began, artists, producers, and engineers have tried to paint pictures with sound, transporting listeners to worlds they never knew existed, even when the sound came from a single speaker. Now with the dawn of immersive audio, we can take the music lover inside the music. From the feeling of hearing your favorite artist in the same room as you, to the experience of sitting directly in the middle of a symphony orchestra, the listening experience is transformative and the possibilities for the creator are endless. This is a quantum leap in technology – I have so far had the pleasure of mixing some of the greatest artists in history in Dolby Atmos. With this work I have found myself falling into albums I love. There is a unique experience of being able to fully immerse myself in music that, although is familiar, suddenly sounds new, fresh, and immediate. As a creator, it is beyond exciting that we can now share this incredible experience through Apple Music.”

Grammy Award-winning mixing engineer Manny Marroquin said: “Spatial Audio gives music a new identity. Every time I mix in Atmos it gives me goosebumps. The future has arrived.”
Lossless Audio

Apple Music will also make its catalog of more than 75 million songs available in Lossless Audio. Apple uses ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) to preserve every single bit of the original audio file. This means Apple Music subscribers will be able to hear the exact same thing that the artists created in the studio.
To start listening to Lossless Audio, subscribers using the latest version of Apple Music can turn it on in Settings > Music > Audio Quality. Here, they can choose different resolutions for different connections such as cellular, Wi-Fi, or for download. Apple Music’s Lossless tier starts at CD quality, which is 16 bit at 44.1 kHz (kilohertz), and goes up to 24 bit at 48 kHz and is playable natively on Apple devices. For the true audiophile, Apple Music also offers Hi-Resolution Lossless all the way up to 24 bit at 192 kHz.1

Mastering Engineer Piper Payne said: “The soul and life of the mix is sitting in the extra bits of data that are stored in the lossless file. As a mastering engineer, having the ability to convey the music to the listener at its highest quality is the end goal of what I work for every day.”
Availability

Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio will be available to Apple Music subscribers at no additional cost.

Thousands of tracks will be available in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos at launch, with more added regularly.

Apple Music’s catalog of more than 75 million songs will be available in Lossless Audio.

More information, including a comprehensive list of compatible devices, is available at apple.com/apple-music.

**BlueFox** · May 18, 2021, 01:07 PM

What is 'Spatial Audio'?

**nicoff** · May 18, 2021, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by BlueFox

What is 'Spatial Audio'?

Spatial Audio uses two speakers to simulate the sensation of having surround or immersive sound.

**NekoAudio** · May 18, 2021, 01:54 PM

I heard a demo of Dolby Atmos from a laptop's built-in speakers, switching back and forth with the film's 2-channel mix. Atmos can definitely add something to the soundstage even with this limited setup. I'm pretty sure the Atmos driver needed to know something about the physical placement of the laptop speakers.

**aKnyght** · May 18, 2021, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by nicoff

Spatial Audio uses two speakers to simulate the sensation of having surround or immersive sound.

is the secret sauce completely within a spatial audio file such that any two-channel system can realize the immersive effect ...or, do the spatial audio files require specialized hardware to process them in order to achieve the effect?

**nicoff** · May 18, 2021, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by aKnyght

is the secret sauce completely within a spatial audio file such that any two-channel system can realize the immersive effect ...or, do the spatial audio files require specialized hardware to process them in order to achieve the effect?

It requieres special software and hardware.

**BlueFox** · May 18, 2021, 02:32 PM

This line from the release makes it appear the music needs to be recorded with Spatial Audio.

'Spatial Audio gives artists the opportunity to create immersive audio experiences for their fans with true multidimensional sound and clarity.'

**nicoff** · May 18, 2021, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by BlueFox

This line from the release makes it appear the music needs to be recorded with Spatial Audio.

'Spatial Audio gives artists the opportunity to create immersive audio experiences for their fans with true multidimensional sound and clarity.'

There are many classics that were recorded in analog and have been remastered for Atmos (Abbey Road for example).

**wklie** · May 19, 2021, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by nicoff

Spatial Audio uses two speakers to simulate the sensation of having surround or immersive sound.

My understanding is that when you use an Atmos AV receiver with multiple speakers, including ceiling speakers, they will be used as necessary.

The basic way to do this is to connect the HDMI output of Apple TV 4K to the AV receiver.

Without an AV receiver, it probably works best with headphones connected to ATMOS supported hardware and app.

**wklie** · May 19, 2021, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by aKnyght

is the secret sauce completely within a spatial audio file such that any two-channel system can realize the immersive effect ...or, do the spatial audio files require specialized hardware to process them in order to achieve the effect?

It is encoded in the music file, and needs to be decoded by appropriate hardware and software.

**wklie** · June 15, 2021, 10:48 PM

You get lossless 16/44.1 if you stream from Apple Music to Lumin via AirPlay1.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, at this time Apple Music sends lossless ALAC to Lumin AirPlay1, but lossy AAC to other AirPlay2 streamers from other brands. (This is subject to change by Apple.)

**wklie** · June 24, 2021, 11:20 PM

AudiophileStyle has published Part 2 of his testing of Apple Music: Apple Music Lossless Mess Part 2: AirPlay - Bits and Bytes - Audiophile Style

Whereas Part 1 uses USB output from Apple devices, Part 2 focuses on AirPlay delivery of 16/44.1 music.

To summarize, Part 2 reconfirms the followings:

- iOS - AirPlay 1 is bit perfect at 16/44.1 - To my knowledge, I first published this finding using Fairtyales MQA CD on Apple Music with Lumin USB output (at max digital volume, no resampling) to a third party Full MQA decoder DAC (whereas the article uses a HDCD methodology instead of MQA CD authentication)
- iOS - AirPlay 2 delivery is not bit perfect due to the use of AAC, as first discovered by Naim
- macOS can send bit perfect AirPlay 2 if and only if the system-wide AirPlay is used instead of the Apple Music in-app AirPlay, as @Marco_Klobas first discovered

Note 1:
For stereo speakers I recommend disabling Sound Check, EQ, and Dolby Atmos. Enable (Hi-Res) Lossless and Do Not Disturb. Set AirPlay Volume to Max if your setup has a preamp such that AirPlay is not totally controlling the final volume. On Mac, the output sample rate needs to be set manually.

Note 2:
On AirPlay1 shairport-sync open source implementation, it may change the bit stream by default due to synchronization, which can optionally be configured to be disabled but the audio may lose sync in a prolonged playback. If the stream is captured to stdout it does not perform synchronization.

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