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Larryfp
March 23, 2023

Apple Music Lossless

  • March 23, 2023
  • 24 replies
  • 17998 views

Will lossless be avialable using Apple Music/S2 app on March 28th or just Dolby Atmos

 

 

Moderator note: We updated this article in October 2023 with new information below.

Lossless music from Apple Music isn't currently supported on Sonos from the Sonos app or the Apple Music mobile app.

Sonos currently supports streaming hi-res audio from Amazon Music Unlimited (which streams up to 24-bit, 192 kHz). In order to listen to hi-res audio from Amazon Music on Sonos (which Amazon calls “Ultra HD”), you’ll need to sign up for Amazon Music Unlimited. (Note: when streaming on Sonos, the maximum sample rate is 48 kHz.)

You can stream spatial audio from Apple Music to Sonos speakers that support the format.

 

Here are some more information regarding lossless and Atmos music:

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24 replies

Traveller
March 23, 2023

I don’t think they’ve mentioned lossless in the Apple press release, so I think we will all just have to wait and see….

Richard
GuitarSuperstar
Lead Maestro
March 23, 2023

Lossless support on Sonos hasn’t been mentioned by Sonos or Apple, so probably not.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
Obioban
Contributor II
March 26, 2023

This feels like something that should be implemented, and wouldn’t be hard to do.

    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    March 27, 2023

    Curious as to what you’re basing your “wouldn’t be hard to do” on? I’d think Apple would need to stand up new servers for that connection, at the very least, although the code in the Sonos API already exists. But in my personal experience, standing up new servers is not a minor thing. Less so now than it used to be years ago, what with AWS and similar companies, but I’d be willing to bet Apple doesn’t use AWS. 

    Bruce
      GuitarSuperstar
      Lead Maestro
      March 27, 2023

      Curious as to what you’re basing your “wouldn’t be hard to do” on? I’d think Apple would need to stand up new servers for that connection, at the very least, although the code in the Sonos API already exists. But in my personal experience, standing up new servers is not a minor thing. Less so now than it used to be years ago, what with AWS and similar companies, but I’d be willing to bet Apple doesn’t use AWS. 

      Pretty sure Sonos has a switch for lossless support that they can easily turn on and off like a light. They are just too lazy to switch it on. But if they had a smart switch, they could just ask a voice assistant to switch it on for them.

      "Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
        Airgetlam
        Airgetlam
        March 27, 2023

        It depends on what Apple is sending them. Sure, the API can handle lossless, as it does in other streamers cases, but Apple needs to send them that signal. It’s not that Sonos is too lazy, I’m certain of that. The content does not exist on a Sonos server, anywhere. 

        Bruce
          logib
          logib
          Avid Contributor I
          March 28, 2023

          So… interesting one here, tried playing Apple Music via Airplay on my Sonos Move (tbh all my other Sonos speakers too, including Ones, Playbase etc) and it tells me Lossless 24-bit/44.1kHz ALAC (see pic) anyone confirm if this is actually correct?

           

          Traveller
          March 28, 2023

          I’ve heard reports elsewhere this is true - but don’t currently use AM.

          Richard
          yakuzah
          Trending Lyricist I
          March 28, 2023

          So… interesting one here, tried playing Apple Music via Airplay on my Sonos Move (tbh all my other Sonos speakers too, including Ones, Playbase etc) and it tells me Lossless 24-bit/44.1kHz ALAC (see pic) anyone confirm if this is actually correct?

           

          The song may be lossless to your devices, but Airplay will strip back the song quality, as only certain bitrates are supported when playing using Airplay.

            Belly M
            Belly M
            March 28, 2023

            Apple Music via Airplay 2 is not lossless, Apple Music is capable and likewise Airplay 2 of providing lossless just not together. As for hires… that’s another matter and involves using an external DAC. This is as of today, may change in the future.

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