![]() ![]() You may not realize it, but if you’ve ever listened to digital audio from a phone, tablet, or PC, you’ve been using a digital-to-analog converter, better known as a DAC.ĭACs convert a bunch of ones and zeroes into an electrical signal that speakers can reproduce as audible sound. So, how exactly are you supposed to hear Apple Music’s lossless audio?įor now, Apple recommends that you use a wired set of headphones or earbuds, something that isn’t so easy now that Apple, Google, and Samsung have eliminated the headphone jack on their phones.ĭon’t worry - you’re not going to be left out of the lossless party, but you will need an accessory or two, the most important of which is an external DAC. Unfortunately, Apple’s own devices and wireless headphones don’t support these codecs, so even if you own a set of AirPods Max headphones, most of that lossless quality will be compromised. Even the best Bluetooth codecs still strip out some audio info as they pass the signal along to the headphones. When paired with a phone that also supports these codecs, you’ll get to hear more of Apple’s lossless quality, but even then, it won’t be perfect. Some wireless headphones (like Sony’s WH-1000XM4) support very high-quality Bluetooth codecs like LDAC or aptX HD. This isn’t necessarily a black-and-white issue. Bluetooth (the technology all wireless headphones use) doesn’t have enough bandwidth to support streaming lossless audio. Regardless of the tier you choose, most wireless headphones and earbuds won’t let you hear that extra quality. Not everyone agrees that they can hear the subtle improvements these tiers offer, but since other streaming services have started to offer them, Apple has decided to follow suit. The next two tiers are considered better-than-CD quality. What’s the difference? Well, the first tier (16-bit/44.1kHz) is considered CD-quality, which means you shouldn’t be able to tell the difference between listening to these tracks and listening to an actual CD. Listening to lossless via headphones Dan Baker/Digital TrendsĪpple Music’s lossless audio comes in three tiers: 16-bit/44.1kHz, 24-bit/48kHz, and 24-bit/192kHz. Let’s break it down so you can see if your current gear will work or if you’ll need to make some additional investments. But just because your phone or computer can work with ALAC doesn’t mean you’ll be able to actually hear the extra quality ALAC offers through your normal speakers or headphones. Most devices that can run the Apple Music app - including all current Apple iPhones, iPads, and Macs running the latest software - will support lossless ALAC audio. But ALAC is a different beast and has some special requirements. The Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) codec that Apple Music uses for its standard (lossy) audio quality, enjoys wide compatibility among wireless headphones, speakers, and streaming devices. $2,199 Hed Unity Wi-Fi headphones are the first to offer lossless hi-res audioĪLAC, or Apple Lossless Audio Codec, is the file format Apple Music will use to stream lossless audio tracks. Nakamichi’s wild Dragon 11.4.6 Dolby Atmos soundbar goes up for preorder this week What is HDR TV? High dynamic range and why you need it
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