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Is Apple Music lossless/uncompressed?

I gave up following what the hell Apple was doing with music long ago cause it’s just been a confusing and disappointing mess, but a friend is considering using Apple Music and asked me if it’s lossless so thought I’d ask here to hopefully get the latest poop.  I thought I recently read they were introducing some new lossless format but I dunno about resolution or what it might cost?  Also, how does the music selection/resolution compare to Qobuz or Tidal, and does Apple Music offer hi res?  My friend is planning on using the Lightning connection from his iPhone to an AQ Dragonfly Cobalt in case that’s important.  Thanks for any thoughts/info. 

soix

Showing 2 responses by mahler123

mahler123
3,467 posts
 

I listen to Classical so it’s hard for me to comment on the depth of catalog but I believe that they carry as many tracks as any of the other top claimed services.

  They are indeed lossless but it depends on the playback device.  With the possible exception of Eversolo (and that may be temporary) you can’t stream it directly except with Apple TV, and that will get you mp3 sound(the Apple equivalent-I forgot the acronym for the file format, but it’s the Apple version of mp3).

 Airplay is an improvement over Bluetooth and almost CD quality.  Either option of course throttles High Resolution offerings to a lower resolution.  Chromecast is the best SQ option but you will hit occasional glitches where Google and Apple don’t wish to play nice together, and you will need an Android device for Chromecast 

mahler123
3,467 posts
 

@lalitk 

I actually missed that last sentence in the OP.  That is an interesting way to do it and he might get a decent result.

  AirPort Express I think used to top out at CD quality.

  AirPlay isn’t that bad, pretty close to a standard redbook CD.  It’s definitely an improvement over Bluetooth although I haven’t heard the latest Bluetooth codec.  I use streaming primarily to investigate material that I don’t own and then if I really like it I buy a CD or download.  With some older recordings, especially stuff that appeared on budget Classical labels such as Vox, there really isn’t any difference between the CD and AirPlay 

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