Will lossless audio work via Airplay 2 and my receiver?

Streaming Apple Music over Airplay on an iPhone, the resolution will be 44.1kHz/16bit AAC.

When streaming from a Mac (or Windows PC), this will adjust to 44.1kHz/16bit ALAC.

The Roon's forum link I posted contains various interesting posts about this topic – especially the recent posts (you don't have to read the whole thread).

AFAIK, currently a definitive explanation isn't available. AirPlay specs are mainly unknown. Only those who can somehow debug or dig inside an AirPlay receiver can provide some evidence.

I use Apple Music in lossless with my iPad attached to an USB DAC. This way I can enjoy the lossless music without complains.

Lossless AirPlay with Apple Music (within its 44.1 kHz limit) is definitely something I'm looking forward.

Speaking of Airport Express: there's evidence that at least on Mac choosing AirPlay system-wide rather than within Music app gives ALAC.

Does your Bluesound device give some informations when using AirPlay (AAC or ALAC)?

BTW, congratulations for your KEFs.

You can stream hi res audio (>16/44.1) to your Apple TV from your local files on your Mac or pc (itunes needs to be open) using homesharing (Apple TV “computers” app), rather than airplay. In this case data is pulled rather than pushed, and utilises a DNLA-like protocol rather than Airplay. It can pull 24/192 audio.

Based on your answer, it seems the best Apple Music experience may be via a Lightning->3.5mm adapter or Lightning->USB->DAC from an iPhone or iPad.

Hi spacecadetG5,

I can provide a link to Naim's forum where Steve Harris, Software Director Naim Audio, describes the AAC AirPlay stream:

https://community.naimaudio.com/t/apple-music-hifi-tier-incoming/16445/437

Another evidence is here:

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/apple-music-high-res/159869/646

I just checked the lossless logo thing out. MacBook Pro 11.4, using system volume and in-app volume, to Homepods 14.6 and also B&W Zeppelin, by way of Express ii as DAC.

I get the lossless logo on all counts….?

The AirPlay via AirPort Express (AirPlay 1) to your B&W Zeppelin is ALAC.

As mentioned before, I've shown that my HomePod via AirPlay 2 gets the lossless logo in Music app, as you experienced.

Apple announced that HomePod doesn't support lossless yet. It'll come later through an update. Surely Apple meant when the music is started directly on it.

I'm not sure, whether the HomePod is already capable of lossless when used via AirPlay 2 or not.

Nobody knows what happens inside the HomePod. It's impossible to verify. Given the current evidences around AirPlay 2 with lossless Apple Music, I'm prone to believe it gets AAC. I could be wrong, though.

Given the current inconsistent AirPlay handling by Apple Music in lossless mode, I can't rely solely on the presence of the lossless icon.

That said, in my opinion, considering the HomePod it's a smart speaker (mono, by the way), the sonic difference between AAC and ALAC is little.

AirPlay, in general, is curiously not mentioned on Apple support page about lossless.

Suddenly today I tried playback streaming Apple Music lossless with AirPlay from iPad to my receiver (AirPlay 1) and the “lossless” icon stayed on! If they really fixed it so that iOS/iPadOS can send at least 44/16 through AirPlay, this is the best scenario listening lossless audio for me. Unfortunately my Pioneer AVR doesn’t show quality information for AirPlay but at least the iPad icon keeps visible and the song doesn’t seem to re-buffering at output switching

Yes, as best as I can tell, if you have an ALAC file that you've ripped yourself, then Apple Music will preserve the lossless format when sending it to an AirPlay 2 receiver. I've only tested this from a Mac because there isn't a good way to get an ALAC to my phone without turning off cloud syncing, which I haven't wanted to do.

Nobody knows Apple’s plans for AirPlay in hi-res mode.

I’d like to see Apple leveraging its AirPlay protocol for “audiophile” needs.

The currently missed bit perfect thing and forced AAC conversion are both a little bit disappointing, especially if compared with other services like Qobuz, which provides bit perfect playback.

I hope that at least these two issues will be fixed, eventually.

If you choose AirPlay 2 destination (Airport Express) system-wide (via the menu bar rather than within Music app) then the streaming is bit perfect regardelss the connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).

AirPlay 2 chosen within the Muisc app doesn’t provide a bit perfect streaming.

AFAIK, AirportExpress doesn’t resample to 48 kHz. Its output is set to 44.1 kHz. It will receive a bit perfect streaming from Idagio app (assuming that the app isn’t faulty in this regard like the Music app).

The point above was that Apple is adding lossless over AirPlay for the HomePod, so this means it can be done for other devices as well. It wasn’t a question on whether currently other devices support this - they don’t. We’re all hoping this improvement gets expanded to other devices as well.

If they are local files, then they are sent as ALAC to AirPlay.