Apple Music Discussion Thread

[Nick44]

2 hours ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

Dont let it deter you exploring Atmos tracks on AM, as you say there are some very good albums available that are enjoyable to listen too.

Yes I agree, I actually find the Atmos mixes of classical and jazz quite good. I much prefer just ambience in the rears ( which is how most seem to be mixed I have listened to), not instruments coming from every angle.

[powerav]

Listen to Band on the Run in atmos and you won’t be concerned about compression or bit rates 

Edited February 14, 2024 by powerav

[Grant Slack]

8 hours ago, Nick44 said:

I bought an Apple TV 4k to stream Dolby Atmos Apple Music, I notice all Atmos tracks are lossless (up to 24/48 I believe?). 

Hi Nick, 

 

they are lossy compression at 768 kbps, which is most certainly not "a very low bit rate". According to Dolby's controlled listening tests, 768 kbps is indistinguishable from uncompressed.

 

If you hear people complaining that it sounds worse because of the compression, that is probably the result of confirmation bias at work. 

 

OTOH nothing stops them from sounding worse due to poor mastering.

 

8 hours ago, Nick44 said:

Some stuff sounds great, I find big orchestral works don't sound nearly as good as a MC SACD eg.

Looking at Mac Minis etc they look like they can stream Atmos as Hi-Res Lossless ( up to 24/192).

I understand any Atmos via Apple is compressed/decimated via Dolby Digital Plus in any case, with that in mind would there be any theoretical (or real if people have compared) difference between the Hires and plain Lossless Atmos?

Cheers

Nick

See above.

 

Regards,

Grant

[powerav]

Gonna be a good day today, Animals in Atmos.

[powerav]

12 hours ago, powerav said:

Gonna be a good day today, Animals in Atmos.

Ok I am now of the opinion that the Apple TV box is the main bottleneck for apples Atmos music, I have modified my Apple TV so the power supply is outside the box but it still lacks that hi fidelity punch that even my PC straight into my avr playing multichannel through Roon has. Surely someone has to release a player that can play Apple Atmos music. I found it funny that at this years Munich Hiend show Steven Wilson is showcasing Dolby Atmos music and discusses how easy it is to get through Apple Music but not one piece of equipment at that show would be able to play it.

[Guest]

34 minutes ago, powerav said:

Ok I am now of the opinion that the Apple TV box is the main bottleneck for apples Atmos music, I have modified my Apple TV so the power supply is outside the box but it still lacks that hi fidelity punch that even my PC straight into my avr playing multichannel through Roon has. Surely someone has to release a player that can play Apple Atmos music. I found it funny that at this years Munich Hiend show Steven Wilson is showcasing Dolby Atmos music and discusses how easy it is to get through Apple Music but not one piece of equipment at that show would be able to play it.

Apple Atmos is lossy DD+.  Does that account for some of the difference with your PC?

 

And what about the Apple TV X, which you know introduced to Marc here?

https://www.stereonet.com/forums/topic/594477-appletv-x-owners-discussion-thread/

 

[powerav]

1 minute ago, Snoopy8 said:

Apple Atmos is lossy DD+.  Does that account for some of the difference

Yeah I realise that but it’s the same for stereo music as well in Apple, although it’s lossless doesn’t sound as good as lossless on roon.

2 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said:

And what about the Apple TV X, which you know introduced to Marc here?

I did my own mod and it was geared or designed more for video improvements, still lacks that punch that a Pc and Roon delivers. 
The reason for my conclusion is on headphones just through an iPad or phone Atmos delivers that hifi punch.

 

[powerav]

Well the mind games continue, lots of reports saying that the disc version of animals lacks bottom end and people preferring the 5.1 version from a couple of years ago so maybe it’s just the mix.

[oldrose]

10 hours ago, powerav said:

Yeah I realise that but it’s the same for stereo music as well in Apple, although it’s lossless doesn’t sound as good as lossless on roon.

Certainly has been my experience with ATV compared to Roon (or any other source that doesnt resample to 48).

 

But then I don’t have great expectations for such an inexpensive box directed at consumers.

[Grant Slack]

16 hours ago, powerav said:

Ok I am now of the opinion that the Apple TV box is the main bottleneck for apples Atmos music, I have modified my Apple TV…

Hi Dan,

 

The unmodified Apple TV box is bit-perfect at 24/48 which is 100% audibly transparent. It is for all practical purposes just a digital output box.

 

Listening tests plagued with placebo effects aren’t going to change that. It is better than whatever DAC you hook it to.

 

cheers

Grant

[powerav]

Some smart bugger has worked out how to download Atmos albums from Apple, they are in the Dolby Digital Plus with Dolby Atmos M4a format so in reality they are 5.1.

I converted to flac 5.1 using Foobar and played on my PC which runs Roon Rock and sounds fantastic, all the punch and detail that music from apple TV is missing is there.

The album so far is Daft Punk's RAM

[powerav]

This album has restored my faith in Apple Music Atmos and the Apple TV as a player, simple superb.

https://music.apple.com/au/album/gravity-stairs/1728305078

[obitankenobi]

Hi as many have realised, Apple Music lossless is only “truly” available with certain streamer setups.

 

Starting a thread then to list some streaming devices I’m aware are capable of “true” lossless Apple Music streaming. Feel free to add others you’re aware of…

 

1. Fiio R7

2. Eversolo dmp A6

3. Eversolo dmp A8

4. ?Shanling sm1.3?

 

So any others you know of?

 

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by obitankenobi
Added new device

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

Virtually anything running Android OS can have the Apple Music app side loaded, Eversolo and Fiio seem to be leading the way though as you've stated.

 

Apparently this Shanling streamer can: https://en.shanling.com/article-IntroSM13.html

 

If you have Airplay 1 enabled eco system like a ifi Zen Stream (which I do) you can stream CD quality but not hi-res.

[Kasman]

Hifi Rose streamers. 

[betty boop]

1 hour ago, Kasman said:

Hifi Rose streamers. 

sorry but  very unfortunately this is not true...

 

see note below from hifi rose..explains why they cant 

 

https://community.roseaudio.kr/t/when-apple-music-lossless-hires-will-be-available/6432/6

[betty boop]

9 hours ago, obitankenobi said:

2. Eversolo dmp A6

definitely does... I confirmed with the ever solo dmp A8

 

 

the ever solo does do native apple lossless..

 

 

 

matter of using apple music directly on the unit and signing in the app to access ... 

 

[Chigurh]

On 07/11/2024 at 10:24 AM, obitankenobi said:

So any others you know of?

Apple Mac Mini + any USB DAC.

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

6 hours ago, Chigurh said:

Apple Mac Mini + any USB DAC.

It’s a shame that the Apple Music iPhone or iPad apps can’t double as a remote for this scenario.

[Kasman]

2 hours ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

It’s a shame that the Apple Music iPhone or iPad apps can’t double as a remote for this scenario.

That’s my only gripe with Apple Music. Spotify have this near on perfected.