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rct_guy
Enthusiast I
May 17, 2021

Sonos support for Apple Music's Lossless Audio

  • May 17, 2021
  • 153 replies
  • 92048 views

Announcement: https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2021/05/apple-music-announces-spatial-audio-and-lossless-audio/

 

Now that Apple Music has joined the “lossless club”, can we please hear from Sonos as to whether this will be supported, and, if it will be, approximately when that may occur?

 

Thanks.

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    153 replies

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    DarwinOSX
    May 28, 2021

    also being used in a handoff mode (data flows direct from 3rd party “internet” source to audio/video output target, source device app retains control for pause/play and progress feedback)

     

    From what I have read here, this is possible only via Apple hardware like Apple TV. 

    When using voice with HomePods music is also streamed from the internet not your device.

    DarwinOSX
    May 28, 2021

    Looks like apple are opening up Airplay 2 to be able to stream up to 24/192 as long as your end point has a DAC that can recieve that. 

    They are not doing that.  That is such significant change there would need to be an Airplay 3.  Apple actually documents Airplay 2 extremely well.

    https://developer.apple.com/airplay/

    DarwinOSX
    May 28, 2021

    But I rarely use Apple Music because the native app still does not work with Sonos even after all these years.

     

    It absolutely does and has for a long time.

      Belly M
      Belly M
      May 28, 2021

      @DarwinOSX 

      i think you mean  16/44 is not hires

       

      CD is lossless and… 

      2 channels of LPCMaudio, each signed 16-bit values sampled at 44100 Hz
        jay house
        Avid Contributor III
        May 29, 2021

        Yep, it’s called lossless because it’s compared to cd quality which is considered the base standard. Anything above this level is considered hi res and specialist, opening up the debate of whether there is any point in the presence of frequencies the human ear can’t hear being in the recording. 

        TTT15
        Enthusiast I
        May 29, 2021

        The argument for hires is not that it enables high frequencies to be played. No one disputes that these frequencies can’t be heard. Therefore. it is a spurious defence against hires as it isn’t the argument for hires. 
         

        The argument for hires capability is not enabling higher frequencies - but firstly allowing higher quality original recordings to be played which can’t be played at all on Sonos ie zero sound quality on sonos and secondly higher sampling rates which allows for transient sounds to be captured which can be Heard  

         

        The difference certainly won’t be heard on Sonos speakers as they are not Hi-Fi. Sonos is an excellent life style product for background music but the sound quality of my Hi-Fi amp dac and speakers and reference headphone and amp is in a completely different league to Sonos speakers. In the same way that  adding an external dac and quality earbuds to my iPhone completely transforms the listening experience. 
         

        I’d agree hires on Sonos speakers is superfluous but it would be good if Sonos introduced a market competitive connect/port that enabled higher quality original recording to be played on Hi-Fi as most other streamers on the market do.  let us hope for Apple lossless on Sonos first. But at some point Sonos will have to admit that bandwidths and technology has moved on since Sonos was created or risk no longer being competitive. The technology department may be against hires but ultimately it’s marketing that wins. 

          jack_c85
          jack_c85
          Avid Contributor I
          June 8, 2021

          Hoping now lossless on Apple Music has launched we will soon see this arriving on Sonos… happy to participate in any beta testing for this service. 

            sim0nall3n
            Lyricist I
            June 8, 2021

            Likewise, really happy to beta test this functionality. Presumably, given the development with Qobuz, that implementation of higher res ALAC files to doable, if Apple give Sonos the nod.

            wilwong829
            Enthusiast II
            June 8, 2021

            I have the latest APPLE TV 4K connected to my LG TV and getting Dolby Atmos from the APPLE TV+, iTunes Movies, Netflix and Tidal contents. So just wonder if this means I can enjoy the Spatial Audio from Apple Music as well? 

            GuitarSuperstar
            Lead Maestro
            June 8, 2021

            I have the latest APPLE TV 4K connected to my LG TV and getting Dolby Atmos from the APPLE TV+, iTunes Movies, Netflix and Tidal contents. So just wonder if this means I can enjoy the Spatial Audio from Apple Music as well? 

            Yes. See my post:

             

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