Soon lossless audio, HomePods, Adapters, AirPods will you get?

There is still some time for Apple Music to release lossless broadcasts, but there are still discussions about where to try this quality. The list of Apple devices that might benefit from lossless audio quality is rather modest.

HomePody… tak

Apple announced that lossless audio support will migrate to HomePods with a software update in the future. Both HomePods will play audio format without losing data.

Will we notice the difference? In my opinion, it will not be easy. The “big” HomePods have decent speakers, and this is where the lost taps mix to make a difference. However, nowadays, particularly popular music is treated in such a way that the advanced AAC codecs used in Apple Music do not audibly hurt it. Symphonic and “non-electronic” music and pressure loss will be more pronounced on HomePods. Perhaps you will be able to notice some of the nuances of the HomePod mini even in quietness and focus. Either way, our ego will be squeezed more than the ear.

What about other Apple devices?

Other devices, including Macs, iPhones and iPads, can play lossless audio via the built-in speakers. Will we notice the difference? Maybe on iPad Pro, MacBook Pro 16 or iMacs, the fan ear will pick up a positive thing.

No speakers?

Apple TV 4k can send lossless audio using the HDMI connector. Mac and iPad devices that use the built-in mini-jack output. In addition, the Lightning mini Jack adapter connected to the iPhone allows you to output analog audio without loss to headphones or other audio devices.

And headphones?

Here, Apple leaves no illusions. All Apple headphones and Beats use the Apple AAC Bluetooth transmission format. Even AirPods Max are no exception.

Will the AirPods Max audio cable help?

Something like that, but the sincere “loss” will not provide. The cable transmits analog audio, that is, if we have a headphone output or a Lightning mini Jack adapter, the analog sound from the lossless transmission will reach the headphones. However, it will be converted to a digital format, and it will likely undergo additional processing before it is converted to analog format again and will transfer to headphone amplifiers.

What about Hi-Res?

Unfortunately, he is still talking about a lossless “normal” formation. Apple Music will offer HD quality. It provides normal “not lost” 24-bit sampling at 48 kHz. Until recently, the Digital Style CD was offering 16-bit at 44.1kHz. However, Apple will offer more in Hi-Res Lossless, at 192kHz and 24-bit. This can only be heard using additional DACs.

Apple W. documentation In both formats, it indicates “maximum precision”, which may mean that variable sampling will be used. This, however, is not certain.

We’ll wait for the details until June, when Apple releases iOS and iPadOS 14.6. Out of curiosity, it’s worth noting that Apple TV 4k was ready for lossless sound almost from the start. Enough tvOS 11.4.