Will lossless audio work via Airplay 2 and my receiver?

Another thing: what about choosing AirPlay system-wide (volume menu bar on Mac). Do you observe a difference?

I have tons of CDs ripped losslessly into ALAC files and imported into Apple Music. When playing those local files via Airplay from Apple Music to some Airplay / Airplay 2 speakers or amplifiers, will that be lossless or lossy AAC ?

Thanks

God I'm confused. Old system (lounge): Airport Express II as DAC into Arcam (Airplay 2). Kitchen system: B&W Zeppelin wireless (Airplay 1). New system (studio): LG TV/ Apple 4K TV mk1 (OS 14.7)/ Stereo paired HomePod Originals (OS 14.6). Apple Music / Amazon HD on trial / ageing Spotify account, soon to be axed. Could anyone tell me what I'm listening to?

I am very confused as well.

I have like 4300+ CD albums of classical music, ripped to lossless ALAC and imported into Apple Music on a headless Mac mini.

I have many airplay speakers at home : old airplay 1 speakers, including my Yamaha AVR, it also airplay 2 speakers like the Homepods and Sonos One.

So when I read that in forums (such as the Naim forum) that airplay 2 is streaming AAC and not lossless, it really worries me.

The reason why i chose to use mac at the first place years ago was it’s ability to play lossless over wifi (airplay).

Now I’m not sure what exactly gets streamed anymore.

And what I read in different forums is really contradictory.

For example, I read that Homepods doesn’t support lossless yet , but when streaming hi-res from Mac apple music to my homepods, the hires lossless logo is displayed and when airplaying the same hi-res files to old airplay 1 speakers the hi-res logo is not shown.

So all these apple music’s indications are just not trustworthy.

So confusing …

Marco, are you sure about this? I was always under the impression that AirPlay coverts all streams to ALAC regardless of their original content. That is, even a lossy file such as an AAC file is converted to ALAC when transmitted then converted back to AAC again in the source device. Can you point me to the sources stating that Apple Music lossless is only being transmitted in AAC? AAC streams are used for Bluetooth by Apple, however.

Just to add that if I hadn't read the forums about this issue, I'd have not noticed this whole AirPlay issue.

The only odd aspect about AirPlay I personally noticed is the lossless logo change between AirPlay chosen inside Music app vs system-wide (volume menu bar) on Mac.

Thanks for that. Very disappointing.

This basically makes Apple Music Lossless essentially useless for the vast majority of people.

Even my KEF LSX and KEF LS50 (connected via an Airport Express) therefore won't be able to enjoy an ALAC stream.

What is the point? I also have a Blusound Node 2i connected to a nice system that also won't be able to enjoy lossless!

Thanks again. The Node2i will give me information about a Tidal stream since it can play Tidal natively but not about an AirPlay stream as far as I can tell. I really do hope that Apple ensure that AirPlay will be able to take advantage of at least an ALAC 16/44.1 file as otherwise very few people will be able to take advantage of the lossless audio without an external DAC. I note that iOS devices only state that you need an external DAC when you choose the high def audio so seems this should be the case.

Thanks for your input.

Good to see that you're enjoying Apple Music.

I definitely don't consider your hi-fi system with your Mission speakers sub par. On the contrary.

My definition of HomePod as smart speaker didn't want to sound reductive. It's a well engineered device. Not only as a speaker. Its array of microphones are remarkably good to catch voice commands (even in my case – I have a terrible thin voice).

In my small room its bass sounds a little bit boomy. A future update (iOS15) is expected to introduce an option to lower the bass, which will solve this minor issue for those who find it too boomy.

I just consider regular Hi-Fi systems on another level. You own two HomePods which, I supposed, give you even a more enjoyable experience.

I have a more casual use fo my HomePod (e.g. listening while doing workout at home). ALAC or AAC makes little difference to me.

I agree that what really counts is how much you enjoy the music, regardless the format or speakers system.

The same goes for my AirPods Pro: they are good. I don't have activated lossless on te go, though. Makes little sense to me to listen lossless music outside via AirPods Pro. Even if I have an unlimited data plan. AAC is enough in this case.

At home is another story. I like using lossless via an USB DAC and my Hi-Fi rig.

Hi,

I have an AVR with a hi-ress audio built-in DAC and airplay capability. I also have an iPhone, an iPad, a Macbook air m1 and an Apple TV HD. As I understand there Is no way to stream Apple Music lossless through my receiver even though it is capable of playback ALAC files. Not even 44/16??? I don't understand... what makes it so difficult??

It would be useful if Apple at least only showed the Lossless logo when lossless was actually in use over Airplay. I think they need some other way to make this more clear so that we know when lossless is in effect and when it isn't. The lossless logo seems to be inconsistent as Marco has shown.

A downloaded file can be lossless but it might not stream in ALAC over Airplay 2 but it does over Airplay 1? Plus when this is happening it isn't clear that the lossless logo gives any useful information about the quality of Airplay streaming. Come on Apple.

I agree that the lossless logo should be implemented more consistently.

Another issue I noticed (not related to AirPlay). All my own music I uploaded/matched before the introduction of lossless is streamed AAC. Even after deleting and uploading/matching again the song/album is kept in AAC.

It seems that only the really new added music (never uploaded by the user before) is provided in ALAC.

Hope Apple will update to ALAC previously matched music, eventually.

On my Mac, streaming from Apple Music to my Blusound Node2i, the lossless logo is showing despite only selecting Airplay within the music app rather than system wide; however, from the above it would appear that this does not mean the file is actually playing in lossless.

The 2i supports Airplay2.

Thank you very much for your documentation.

I’ve already observed an inconsistent behavior when AirPlay is involved. I’ll share your gathered informations on other forums where we’re following and debating this issue.