Hi Res from iPhone vs AppleTV sound

Happy HolyDaze to you too @soix 

It’s all about love and fear, kitties.

For casual listening I use my old AppleTV Gen 3 to receive music via AirPlay. The Gen 3 has Toslink output. I consider redbook and up to 24/48 to be adequate for my casual listening. For more critical listening I use my iPad as a digital transport (right terminology?) with my Apple Music subscription. Unlike MacOS devices, iPhones and iPads dynamically switch output resolution to that of the source material. Other music services are more favored by audiophiles, but I really like the way things work with the integration of Apple Music and iTunes Match. All of the CDs that I own have been ripped and uploaded to Apple Music in iCloud. When I play/stream any of my uploads, if a higher than red book version is in the Apple library I’m prompted to choose whether I want hi-res or my original upload. Once I’ve finished overhauling my analog gear I’ll consider whether to upgrade my digital front-end. 

Not sure if this will help you but I run the hires radio app from iPhone through camera adapter then into Ifi hip dac headphone Jack out into aux in on my Lexus. My Lexus has the Mark Levinson system and it sounds great. Full body with kick to stomach bass. The hip dac has a great amp section snd a loudness switch that steps it up. You might be hearing what you are as the first out put is a 2 watt class d amp from the iPhone. Your best option might be to upgrade from phone to mid level streamer.