Anyone here using Apple Music as main source for Streaming?
- Thread starter nicoff
- Start date
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
I have both.
Up to 6 months ago Apple Music sounded quite inferior. Seems lately they have upped their game in terms of SQ. They also have some songs Qobuz doesn't have.
But Qobuz is much better at helping you browse and discover new music.
Up to 6 months ago Apple Music sounded quite inferior. Seems lately they have upped their game in terms of SQ. They also have some songs Qobuz doesn't have.
But Qobuz is much better at helping you browse and discover new music.
GSOphile
Active member
For classical fans a key enhancement Wednesday 3/28:
Apple Music Classical released today: an app designed specifically for exploring classical music | Gramophone
Apple Music Classical released today: an app designed specifically for exploring classical music | Gramophone
crwilli
Active member
As far as I know, Amazon Music and Apple Music do not integrate into ROON so they are non-starters for me. Clearly things could change that equation if they truly get serious about offering higher quality music streams. They could both write code to match or improve upon ROON.
- Thread Author
- #5
Thanks! Apple Music can now stream high-def content, so that could be the reason for the SQ change that you mentioned.
Apple Music just bought a music streaming company (PrimePhonic) that specializes in classical music with the goal of improving metadata search for classical music which IMO is much needed. That is one reason why I am now considering a switch from Qobuz to Apple Music.
With Qobuz and Tidal I have noticed that from time to time a track on a playlist can become unavailable (much less so with Spotify IME). How does Apple Music compare in terms of tracks becoming unavailable?
- Thread Author
- #6
Good point about Roon/Apple Music integration. From what I have read in the Roon community forums, the major music streaming services (Spotify, Apple, Amazon) are not willing to play ball with Roon. As a lifetime Roon subscriber that is an issue that jeopardizes Roon's future (IMO). I had hoped that one of the major players buys Roon (similar to what Apple did with PrimePhonic) but who knows.
When I was using my own ripped CDs, I changed/tailored the metadata in a way that made it very easy to search my music library with Roon. Unfortunately, as I have added more and more albums from Qobuz, I am forced to use Qobuz/Roon metadata for classical albums which is not great. That is where the new Apple Music Classical enters the equation.
Michaels HiFi
Well-known member
I don't use Apple as much so I can't speak to that. Apple does though show songs that you are unable to stream though which is really weird. I think they are trying to force you to straight up buy them.
Tidal was HORRIBLE with that - it was all the time. Qobuz seems to be much less frequently.
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
The songs not being available is strange, it can change from day to day on playlists. Sometimes it's just a change in the link for albums and you can search it and find it again. Occasionally it can not be found, probably due to a royalty issue or copyright. Speaking just to Tidal as that's what I'm currently using.
- Thread Author
- #9
I just signed up for a 3 month free trial with Apple Music and started playing around with Apple Music Classical.
I am impressed with what Apple has done with the Classical App. It is very easy to find compositions and recordings. Lots hi def lossless recordings. More to come.
I am impressed with what Apple has done with the Classical App. It is very easy to find compositions and recordings. Lots hi def lossless recordings. More to come.
W9TR
Active member
Is there any way to cast lossless to an endpoint like Room does?
- Thread Author
- #11
Yes, you can cast lossless (44.1 CD Quality) to an endpoint using Airplay. AFAIK, you cannot do higher than CD-quality via Airplay.
- Thread Author
- #12
An update: When you "cast" with Roon, the Roon Core manages and controls the music. So if you tell Roon to play XYZ album to a Roon end-point and then turn off your phone/tablet, the music will continue playing on that endpoint until the album is finished.
When you "cast" in Roon, you are sending a set of instructions to the computer that is running Roon core. Roon Core then takes care of the rest and you can turn off your phone/tablet and the music will keep playing.
However, casting with Airplay/Bluetooh is different. When you cast with your phone/tablet using Airplay/Blurtooth, your phone/tablet IS the computer. Therefore if you switch apps or use wifi/Bluetooth on your phone/tablet, you will likely lose the connection and the music stops.
Sonos also works similarly to Roon. You tell Sonos to play something to a Sonos end-point and the music will keep playing even if you turn the phone/tablet off.
Casting via Airplay/Bluetooth is not as sophisticated as what Roon/Sonos can do.
W9TR
Active member
Yep, Roon has a distributed client/server architecture which is actually really powerful. I’m looking for a way to replace it, for a variety or reasons, which is why I asked the question.
- Thread Author
- #14
I am not sure what are the reasons why you are looking to replace Roon, but in my case, since I am no longer using Roon to manage my own ripped CDs library and Roon does not work with the major music services, Roon is no longer as attractive to me as it used to be. I paid for lifetime subscription early on so it makes no difference to me from the price standpoint.
One alternative to Roon is Logitech Media Server (LMS) which is free. Logitech created it years ago but it no longer supports it. I used to use it but gave it up for Roon years ago. LMS is less user friendly than Roon and more prone to computer gremlins.
If you only stream music from music services and do not care for resolution higher than 24/48, you might want to consider Sonos. Sonos is pretty much plug and play and it is very reliable. I just started using it and find myself listening to and enjoying more music than before. BTW, Sonos works with all the major music streaming services.
- Thread Author
- #15
Here is an update.
I am now able to listen to High-Def music from Apple Music at 192khz on my main system.
I am using the following equipment:
1. An old iPad with USB C port.
2. This Apple AV Adapter: USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - Apple
3. A generic USB "printer" cable with male Type A and male Type B ends that connects the AV adapter to the DAC.
4. A DAC with a USB port.
Note: In the Music App, you must also set the audio quality settings to "Hi-Res Lossless".
I am now able to listen to High-Def music from Apple Music at 192khz on my main system.
I am using the following equipment:
1. An old iPad with USB C port.
2. This Apple AV Adapter: USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter - Apple
3. A generic USB "printer" cable with male Type A and male Type B ends that connects the AV adapter to the DAC.
4. A DAC with a USB port.
Note: In the Music App, you must also set the audio quality settings to "Hi-Res Lossless".
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Anything offered by Apple wants to control your entire existence. I imagine that it will not integrate with other audio products such as Roon. I would be rather shocked if it works with anything but an Apple product (iMac, iPad, etc.).
Also, anything I have ever experienced related to Apple is quite inferior. When I convinced my buddy that I stayed with for a few months before I could join Cheryal at our new home (finishing work to retirement) to stop using his Apple computer as a server. What a difference... he was blown away.
I guess I would want to know what major streaming services you need that are not supported by Roon? I do not stream so I am not familiar with many of them, but I do know that Tidal and Qobuz work perfect and if you like an album, it is easily added to your library and is always there and available for you. I think other may have been added.
- Thread Author
- #17
Thanks for the reply Randy!
I have been using Qobuz with Roon for several years. By the time that I started using Roon, I had already ripped/digitized my entire CD and Cassette collection and I used Roon to manage it.
Later, I subscribed to streaming music services (first Tidal, then Qobuz) and soon realized that they both offered Hi-Res/remastered versions of most music that I had in my own music library. I found myself rarely listening to my own library in favor of streaming from music services.
I also have Sonos throughout the house and that means that I am able to play music in different zones (similarly to Roon).
So I no longer need Roon to manage my own library or to be able to listen to music in different zones.
None of the major streaming music services want to play ball with Roon. And it is not for lack of Roon trying.
So to me it comes down to 1) availability of music (Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon seem to have a larger library than Qobuz); 2) ease of use (Roon needs a computer to run and regular updates and computer gremlins show up from time to time); 3) familiarity with interface (everyone seems to know how to use Spotify and Apple Music; Roon/Qobuz not so much); and 4) Hi-Res music and here Roon/HQP have a clear advantage over the others.
Apple just came out with Apple Music Classical and the interface, ease of use and search functions for classical music far surpass Roon. And that is why I am exploring Apple Music now.