Skip to main content
Answered

Why play Apple Music through rthe Sonos app?

  • June 17, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 547 views

Forum|alt.badge.img+3

Is there any benefit at all in accessing Apple Music via the Sonos app, when I can stream directly to my Sonos Speaker from Apple Music?

Best answer by early rejecter

If you use the Sonos app, your speaker is pulling the audio stream directly from Apple’s servers (assuming you’re using Apple’s streaming service, not your local library). If you Airplay from Apple Music, your computer/phone/tablet is pulling the stream, and then streaming it to your speaker(s), meaning that the audio is dependent on whatever device you’re using being available and within range. If it’s a mobile device it’ll be draining the battery.

Especially now that Apple has updated its interface within the Sonos app, I always prefer to play from there. If we could get Apple Music’s Infinite Play option in the app I doubt I’d ever use Airplay again.

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

3 replies

Forum|alt.badge.img+3
  • Collaborator II
  • 84 replies
  • Answer
  • June 17, 2022

If you use the Sonos app, your speaker is pulling the audio stream directly from Apple’s servers (assuming you’re using Apple’s streaming service, not your local library). If you Airplay from Apple Music, your computer/phone/tablet is pulling the stream, and then streaming it to your speaker(s), meaning that the audio is dependent on whatever device you’re using being available and within range. If it’s a mobile device it’ll be draining the battery.

Especially now that Apple has updated its interface within the Sonos app, I always prefer to play from there. If we could get Apple Music’s Infinite Play option in the app I doubt I’d ever use Airplay again.


Forum|alt.badge.img+3
  • Author
  • Avid Contributor II
  • 25 replies
  • June 17, 2022

That’s a great answer, it makes sense ‘cutting out the middleman’. Aside from the battery issues you describe though, am I right in saying the quality in the streamed audio ( assuming Apple servers in each case) is the same, ie lossless, spatial audio where available?


Mr. T
  • 2098 replies
  • June 17, 2022

That’s a great answer, it makes sense ‘cutting out the middleman’. Aside from the battery issues you describe though, am I right in saying the quality in the streamed audio ( assuming Apple servers in each case) is the same, ie lossless, spatial audio where available?


Using the Sonos app:
What is the streaming rate and streaming format for Apple Music on Sonos?
64kbps HE-AAC, 128kbps AAC, 256kbps AAC

Whereas Airplay can do lossless. Dolby Atmos from Apple Music is possible using Apple TV 4K