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Apple music lossless via airplay vs native integration

  • January 20, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 1537 views

Hi everyone! Just a question: does Apple Music stream in lossless only when using the Sonos app, or does it also support lossless when streaming via AirPlay from the Apple Music app on iOS?

 

thanks in advance!

Best answer by Sotiris C.

Hello ​@Esculapio, welcome to the Sonos Community!

does Apple Music stream in lossless only when using the Sonos app, or does it also support lossless when streaming via AirPlay from the Apple Music app on iOS?

While it is possible to listen in lossless while using Apple Music via the Sonos App, AirPlay doesn’t support lossless on Sonos.

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2 replies

Sotiris C.
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  • Sonos Staff
  • Answer
  • January 21, 2025

Hello ​@Esculapio, welcome to the Sonos Community!

does Apple Music stream in lossless only when using the Sonos app, or does it also support lossless when streaming via AirPlay from the Apple Music app on iOS?

While it is possible to listen in lossless while using Apple Music via the Sonos App, AirPlay doesn’t support lossless on Sonos.


MoPac
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  • Headliner II
  • January 21, 2025

Apple AirPlay is capable of a sample rate of 24/48 which is the same as the sample rate limit of Sonos.  What I don’t know is whether Sonos is accepting 24/48 when using AirPlay.  If you can hear the difference between 44.1/16 and 24/48 you have very young ears.  Sonos speakers would not be capable of demonstrating the difference even if there was one.