Contributor I

Can you play Spatial Audio from Apple Music over AirPlay2

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
March 28, 2023
20 replies
9376 views

I have a set of Spatial Audio (Dolby Atmos) compatible speakers: an Arc, 2 x Era 300s and a Sub.

When I read various articles, I get the sense that the only way to play Spatial Audio from Apple Music is via the Sonos S2 app, and that it won’t be lossless. Is that right?

If one plays from the Apple Music app (iOS or OSX) over AirPlay 2 to these devices, I further get the sense believe that the music won’t be Spatial Audio (or lossless). Is that right?

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C

Chikao

Lyricist II

I’m listening to the Thriller Dolby Atmos mix (probably the album I’m most familiar with) on Apple TV with my Arc/sub/surrounds set up. Sounds great.

However, directly from Apple Music via the Sonos app it doesn’t sound as good. Aren’t they both meant to be Dolby Atmos now?

Im not sure if it’s just a change in volume. Seems that the bass on instruments and vocals is less etc. Also when you check the system settings it doesn’t say Dolby Atmos , just WM:1. Is that right?

im using the latest 15.2 version and it has a spacial

audio setting which I turned on.

melvimbe

@GuitarSuperstar do you you know if a voice request to play Apple music, either via Sonos Voice Control (SVC) or Alexa, will result in atmos music on an Era 300 or Arc?

I would expect it to be the case with SVC, and maybe not via Alexa.

Not sure. I just set up my Era 300s late last night and am planning on testing it out tonight. I don’t think it works using Alexa because it hasn’t worked in the past. I have never tried it using SVC. But I’ll let you know.

Thanks. Mine are sitting on my doorstep delivered today. Not sure how much time I’ll have to play tonight, and I don’t even have Apple music at the moment. Probably take advantage of free trial offer.

Danny

G

GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

I’m listening to the Thriller Dolby Atmos mix (probably the album I’m most familiar with) on Apple TV with my Arc/sub/surrounds set up. Sounds great.

However, directly from Apple Music via the Sonos app it doesn’t sound as good. Aren’t they both meant to be Dolby Atmos now?

Im not sure if it’s just a change in volume. Seems that the bass on instruments and vocals is less etc. Also when you check the system settings it doesn’t say Dolby Atmos , just WM:1. Is that right?

im using the latest 15.2 version and it has a spacial

audio setting which I turned on.

When streaming music directly from the Sonos app or using a mobile music streaming app, the Sonos app will not show what audio format is playing after “Audio In:” under “About My System”. It will only show the audio format after “Audio In:” when playing TV audio.

The best way to check if you are getting Dolby Atmos audio when streaming directly from the Sonos app is on the Now Playing screen. You will clearly see the Dolby Atmos logo if the song you are playing is in Dolby Atmos.

Yes, there is a difference in audio quality between listening to Dolby Atmos music from the Apple TV 4K compared to the Sonos app. I prefer the Apple TV for the same reasons you listed above. But, rest assured, you are playing Dolby Atmos audio from both devices as long as you see the Dolby Atmos logo displayed in the Sonos app.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

L

Livache

Lyricist II

I’m listening to the Thriller Dolby Atmos mix (probably the album I’m most familiar with) on Apple TV with my Arc/sub/surrounds set up. Sounds great.

However, directly from Apple Music via the Sonos app it doesn’t sound as good. Aren’t they both meant to be Dolby Atmos now?

Im not sure if it’s just a change in volume. Seems that the bass on instruments and vocals is less etc. Also when you check the system settings it doesn’t say Dolby Atmos , just WM:1. Is that right?

im using the latest 15.2 version and it has a spacial

audio setting which I turned on.

When streaming music directly from the Sonos app or using a mobile music streaming app, the Sonos app will not show what audio format is playing after “Audio In:” under “About My System”. It will only show the audio format after “Audio In:” when playing TV audio.

The best way to check if you are getting Dolby Atmos audio when streaming directly from the Sonos app is on the Now Playing screen. You will clearly see the Dolby Atmos logo if the song you are playing is in Dolby Atmos.

Yes, there is a difference in audio quality between listening to Dolby Atmos music from the Apple TV 4K compared to the Sonos app. I prefer the Apple TV for the same reasons you listed above. But, rest assured, you are playing Dolby Atmos audio from both devices as long as you see the Dolby Atmos logo displayed in the Sonos app.

Hmm... Honestly, I don't understand anything anymore! Are there different kinds of Dolby Atmos?? How is it possible to hear it differently depending on the way the song is played, through the sono application or through apple tv? Since it's Dolby Atmos shouldn't it sound the same? It means that if it is played through the application, it is no longer Dolby Atmos.

C

Chikao

Lyricist II

I’m listening to the Thriller Dolby Atmos mix (probably the album I’m most familiar with) on Apple TV with my Arc/sub/surrounds set up. Sounds great.

However, directly from Apple Music via the Sonos app it doesn’t sound as good. Aren’t they both meant to be Dolby Atmos now?

Im not sure if it’s just a change in volume. Seems that the bass on instruments and vocals is less etc. Also when you check the system settings it doesn’t say Dolby Atmos , just WM:1. Is that right?

im using the latest 15.2 version and it has a spacial

audio setting which I turned on.

When streaming music directly from the Sonos app or using a mobile music streaming app, the Sonos app will not show what audio format is playing after “Audio In:” under “About My System”. It will only show the audio format after “Audio In:” when playing TV audio.

The best way to check if you are getting Dolby Atmos audio when streaming directly from the Sonos app is on the Now Playing screen. You will clearly see the Dolby Atmos logo if the song you are playing is in Dolby Atmos.

Yes, there is a difference in audio quality between listening to Dolby Atmos music from the Apple TV 4K compared to the Sonos app. I prefer the Apple TV for the same reasons you listed above. But, rest assured, you are playing Dolby Atmos audio from both devices as long as you see the Dolby Atmos logo displayed in the Sonos app.

Thanks for the reply. I’m actually not seeing the Dolby Atmos logo when I’m playing the album via the Sonos app. So maybe that’s what the issue is?

not sure why it’s not working for me. Any ideas?

Do I have to update something other than the app?

L

Livache

Lyricist II

I’m listening to the Thriller Dolby Atmos mix (probably the album I’m most familiar with) on Apple TV with my Arc/sub/surrounds set up. Sounds great.

However, directly from Apple Music via the Sonos app it doesn’t sound as good. Aren’t they both meant to be Dolby Atmos now?

Im not sure if it’s just a change in volume. Seems that the bass on instruments and vocals is less etc. Also when you check the system settings it doesn’t say Dolby Atmos , just WM:1. Is that right?

im using the latest 15.2 version and it has a spacial

audio setting which I turned on.

When streaming music directly from the Sonos app or using a mobile music streaming app, the Sonos app will not show what audio format is playing after “Audio In:” under “About My System”. It will only show the audio format after “Audio In:” when playing TV audio.

The best way to check if you are getting Dolby Atmos audio when streaming directly from the Sonos app is on the Now Playing screen. You will clearly see the Dolby Atmos logo if the song you are playing is in Dolby Atmos.

Yes, there is a difference in audio quality between listening to Dolby Atmos music from the Apple TV 4K compared to the Sonos app. I prefer the Apple TV for the same reasons you listed above. But, rest assured, you are playing Dolby Atmos audio from both devices as long as you see the Dolby Atmos logo displayed in the Sonos app.

Thanks for the reply. I’m actually not seeing the Dolby Atmos logo when I’m playing the album via the Sonos app. So maybe that’s what the issue is?

not sure why it’s not working for me. Any ideas?

Do I have to update something other than the app?

I’m listening to the Thriller Dolby Atmos mix (probably the album I’m most familiar with) on Apple TV with my Arc/sub/surrounds set up. Sounds great.

However, directly from Apple Music via the Sonos app it doesn’t sound as good. Aren’t they both meant to be Dolby Atmos now?

Im not sure if it’s just a change in volume. Seems that the bass on instruments and vocals is less etc. Also when you check the system settings it doesn’t say Dolby Atmos , just WM:1. Is that right?

im using the latest 15.2 version and it has a spacial

audio setting which I turned on.

When streaming music directly from the Sonos app or using a mobile music streaming app, the Sonos app will not show what audio format is playing after “Audio In:” under “About My System”. It will only show the audio format after “Audio In:” when playing TV audio.

The best way to check if you are getting Dolby Atmos audio when streaming directly from the Sonos app is on the Now Playing screen. You will clearly see the Dolby Atmos logo if the song you are playing is in Dolby Atmos.

Yes, there is a difference in audio quality between listening to Dolby Atmos music from the Apple TV 4K compared to the Sonos app. I prefer the Apple TV for the same reasons you listed above. But, rest assured, you are playing Dolby Atmos audio from both devices as long as you see the Dolby Atmos logo displayed in the Sonos app.

Thanks for the reply. I’m actually not seeing the Dolby Atmos logo when I’m playing the album via the Sonos app. So maybe that’s what the issue is?

not sure why it’s not working for me. Any ideas?

Do I have to update something other than the app?

you have to play through the Apple Music application but from the sonos app

G

GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

Hmm... Honestly, I don't understand anything anymore! Are there different kinds of Dolby Atmos?? How is it possible to hear it differently depending on the way the song is played, through the sono application or through apple tv? Since it's Dolby Atmos shouldn't it sound the same? It means that if it is played through the application, it is no longer Dolby Atmos.

There are actually three flavors of Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos via Dolby TrueHD, via Dolby Digital Plus, and via Dolby MAT. I know the Apple TV uses Dolby MAT to play Atmos. I don’t know exactly how it is played through the Sonos app. This GUIDE is helpful to understand the types of Dolby Atmos and where they are used.

But I think the difference you are hearing is less about the type of Dolby Atmos audio and more about other factors like the way tvOS renders Dolby Atmos on the Apple TV, or the way Sonos outputs TV audio differently than music audio. Sonos may even set a different EQ for each. I honestly don’t know. Maybe @Corry P can chime in.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

G

GuitarSuperstar

Lead Maestro

Thanks for the reply. I’m actually not seeing the Dolby Atmos logo when I’m playing the album via the Sonos app. So maybe that’s what the issue is?

not sure why it’s not working for me. Any ideas?

Do I have to update something other than the app?

Make sure the speakers have been updated too. Go to the Settings tab, tap System > System Updates > Check for Updates.

Also be sure to enable the Spatial Audio setting in the Sonos app.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi

C

Chikao

Lyricist II

Ok, I’ve fixed it. I had to update the Sonos devices as well. Had to go into to settings etc

my opinion:

Apple TV sounds a lot better!

I think it’s the difference you hear with blu ray uncompressed vs compressed Dolby. The surround separation is there in the Sonos Dolby (the brass section particularly stands out, probably too much). But the fullness of the individual sounds is lacking compared to what’s coming out of the Apple TV Atmos mix.

Also the separation of the vocals and main instruments coming directly from the arc isn’t as good from the Sonos app vs Apple TV. MJ’s vocals are fuller and stand out better. It’s just all around a “weightier” and more balance mix.

I probably wouldn’t have noticed all this if I didn’t have Apple TV, but the new 40th anniversary Atmos mixes of thriller are big deal really, and it’s interesting to hear an album I know so well in different contexts.

the thing I’m getting from this is that it’s probably just lossless vs compressed that makes hearing. Apple TV is lossless Dolby going directly to the arc. It may even be Hires as well?

the problem for Sonos is that this is all fairly high quality equipment with arc, Sonos sub etc. and people will notice the difference if they have equipment that can expose the detail like that.

Sonos probably need to get lossless in the mix pretty soon. Especially with the new speakers like the era 300. People will start to notice the difference a bit…

A

Alberto San

Lyricist I

I just noticed something really annoying. Playing a Dolby Atmos song via the Sonos app, it takes a few seconds (>10sec) for the Spatial Audio to kick-in and the Dolby Atmos tag to appear in the song display.
There’s also a noticeable disruption (<1sec) in the music reproduction, which doesn’t sound nice at all.

That never happened when playing Dolby Atmos records directly from the Apple TV.

Before anyone asks, I have solid WiFi signal.

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