Contributor I

Question

Does Apple Music Lossless play through the Sonos Port?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 19, 2025
59 replies
2909 views

I read with great interest that Sonos now supports Apple Music Lossless.

But I’m unable to find a list of supported devices.

I want to add a streamer to an existing stereo. I’d considered Bluesound, but would definitely get the Sonos Port instead if I was certain that Apple Music Lossless worked. Can anyone provide an answer?

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C

craigski

Local Superstar

Don’t assume ChatGPT will give you correct response, it is reading lots of incorrect information posted in public forums (including this one) to compute its responses.

C

craigski

Local Superstar

.

I have tried variable, fixed, and pass-through line-out from the Port. All result in the same issue (16/44.1).

Schlumpf

Virtuoso

While Sonos does play 24/48 (play, as in decode it to analogue) I’m not sure it also will pass it through to the digital out. Might that be the problem?

Yes, seems Sonos Port doesn’t do a bit perfect passthrough, but renders to its own digital output format.

…

https://support.sonos.com/en-gb/services/apple-music

There they are just talking about „lossless“. No further information of any details about the format.

.

I have tried variable, fixed, and pass-through line-out from the Port. All result in the same issue (16/44.1).

Thank you… that imo underlines the suspicion Sonos Port does output its own digital format.

Ralf

Corry P

Sonos Staff

Hi @Schlumpf

@Corry P

Can you please submit this as an user request?

Not without a dedicated thread being made for it, no. Please feel free to do so, however - making it clearer what the actual request is, please.

And do you have any idea, why Sonos Port might just put out a 16/44 signal? Would this be visible in some diagnostic data (coming in and going out quality)?

My documentation says that Port will output 24bit @ 44.1Khz on the coaxial digital output. So, my response to your question has to be “user error”. The output parameters should match the inputted stream.

I hope this helps.

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein

Schlumpf

Virtuoso

Thank you @Corry P

I‘m going to create an own thread for my user request. 👍🏻

So Ports digital spdif output format is max. 24/44 or less as for example 16/44 is coming in, port just puts out 16/44!?

That helps! 😎

Ralf

G

gnahra01

Lyricist III

As a follow up, the bots seem to have been redeemed.

I spoke with Sonos directly and Apple Music does NOT output 24 bit quality via a 3rd party app like Sonos.

So the limitation is from Apple’s side, not Sonos’ side (as other have said the Port can output 24 bit quality, which I’m sure is true, but that’s not the issue in this case).

I was told only Amazon Music will send a 24 bit signal through the Sonos app.

While I’m disappointed, I hope this helps clarify.

R

rastallp

Collaborator I

As a follow up, the bots seem to have been redeemed.

I spoke with Sonos directly and Apple Music does NOT output 24 bit quality via a 3rd party app like Sonos.

So the limitation is from Apple’s side, not Sonos’ side (as other have said the Port can output 24 bit quality, which I’m sure is true, but that’s not the issue in this case).

I was told only Amazon Music will send a 24 bit signal through the Sonos app.

While I’m disappointed, I hope this helps clarify.

Through the port?

G

gnahra01

Lyricist III

As a follow up, the bots seem to have been redeemed.

I spoke with Sonos directly and Apple Music does NOT output 24 bit quality via a 3rd party app like Sonos.

So the limitation is from Apple’s side, not Sonos’ side (as other have said the Port can output 24 bit quality, which I’m sure is true, but that’s not the issue in this case).

I was told only Amazon Music will send a 24 bit signal through the Sonos app.

While I’m disappointed, I hope this helps clarify.

Through the port?

Yes. But I don’t think the Apple Music output limitation is tied to the port. My understanding is that Apple limits output sound quality to 16 bit regardless of where it’s being output to, if using a 3rd party app (which is what I am doing when I am using AM through the Sonos app).

The port itself is capable of accepting and ouputting 24 bit audio, but it’s Apple Music that is the roadblock.

Schlumpf

Virtuoso

The other service next to Amazon Music definitely providing 24/48 is Quobuz.

But regarding to Apple Music either the information from support or the official Sonos info page is wrong.
https://support.sonos.com/en-us/services/apple-music

Infopage says up to 24/48.

So though Ports spdif output is limited to 24/44,1 this should be possible. Or maybe Apple Music 24/48 signal can‘t be reduced(resampled) to 24/44,1 but just to 16/44,1.

Ralf

G

gnahra01

Lyricist III

The other service next to Amazon Music definitely providing 24/48 is Quobuz.

But regarding to Apple Music either the information from support or the official Sonos info page is wrong.
https://support.sonos.com/en-us/services/apple-music

Infopage says up to 24/48.

Yes, I don’t know what to say about that info page graphic.

All I can say is:

From my personal experience I am not getting 24 bit (at least according to my DAC, which is saying it’s only getting a 16 bit signal from the Port)
Sonos has told me (via both a live human and their own bot) that Apple Music restricts the quality to 16 bit.

Not sure?? Perhaps just a marketing error on the infopage.

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