Apple's Lossless Audio Explained: Guide to Streaming High-Quality Music on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and More Apple Gadgets
In the ever-evolving world of technology, music enthusiasts can now enjoy an immersive sonic experience with unparalleled clarity, depth, and fidelity, thanks to the advancements in lossless audio. To fully appreciate this superior sound quality, connect your device to high-quality headphones or speakers capable of reproducing lossless sound.
Apple Music, with its extensive catalog of over 90 million songs, has made lossless audio available for its subscribers. However, to enable this feature on various Apple devices, you'll need to adjust the audio settings specific to each device's operating system.
For iPhone and iPad users, ensure your device is running at least iOS 14.6 or iPadOS 14.6, and follow these steps: 1. Open the Settings app. 2. Scroll down and tap Music. 3. Tap Audio Quality. 4. Toggle on Lossless Audio. 5. Choose between Lossless (ALAC up to 24-bit/48kHz) or Hi-Res Lossless (ALAC up to 24-bit/192kHz) depending on your preference and the connection (Wi-Fi or cellular).
If you're using a Mac, ensure you have macOS 11.4 Big Sur or later installed, and follow these steps: 1. Open the Music app. 2. From the menu bar, click Music > Preferences. 3. Select the Playback tab. 4. Check the box for Lossless audio. 5. Choose your preferred quality: Lossless (ALAC up to 24-bit/48kHz) or High-Resolution Lossless (ALAC up to 24-bit/192kHz).
For Apple TV 4K users, your device must be running tvOS 14.6 or later, with important updates in tvOS 26 improving audio passthrough and Lossless support. Follow these steps: 1. Go to Settings on your Apple TV. 2. Navigate to Video and Audio. 3. Look for audio output settings and enable Lossless Audio or Passthrough audio if available (especially with the tvOS 26 update). 4. Connect your Apple TV 4K to compatible audio equipment that supports lossless playback for the best experience.
While detailed, official steps for enabling lossless audio on Apple Vision Pro are not fully documented yet, users can expect a similar process to that of the iPhone and iPad.
It's important to note that Apple Music's Lossless Audio is off by default to save data and storage, so manual activation is necessary. Compatible devices include iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, and Android devices running the necessary OS versions. To get the best lossless experience, use wired headphones or high-quality external DACs, as Bluetooth codecs generally do not support true lossless streaming.
Apple's commitment to delivering premium sound quality sets a new standard for audio excellence in the music streaming industry. Many streaming services offer lossless audio subscriptions, such as Apple Music and Tidal. Enjoy the rich and immersive listening experience that lossless audio provides and immerse yourself in the music as if you were in the recording studio with the artists.
Engaging in high-quality lossless audio listening through Apple Music's extensive catalog can significantly enhance the music experience, providing a studio-like immersion. To activate this feature on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or HomePod devices, follow the specific steps outlined for each device's operating system, as detailed above. For best results, use wired headphones or high-quality external DACs, as Bluetooth codecs may not support true lossless streaming.
Furthermore, the advancement of lossless audio technology has propelled the music streaming industry towards a new level of audio excellence. In addition to Apple Music, services like Tidal also offer lossless audio subscriptions, offering listeners an immersive, studio-like auditory journey.
