Hi, what about airplay, can stream apple lossless music via airplay?

I had confirmation today from the tech support team that Airplay does support Apple Music's new lower tier lossless (CD spec 16 bit 44.1KHz).

Ironically this is the ALAC conversion data rate that Airplay performs on all compressed formats like AAC so it should be a no-brainer that it will directly stream the lower tier ALAC lossless format. HOWEVER, this is not the case and so it seems that even tech support are unaware of the actual status of Airplay's ability right now.

Hi martti144,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities. We understand that you have questions about lossless audio and we would be happy to help! We also see that you checked out the Apple Support article About lossless audio in Apple Music. As stated in that support article, lossless requires a wired connection. Wireless connections such as AirPlay or Bluetooth are not supported at this time.

Have a good day. 

While Airplay can currently handle lossless CD quality, and has done for some time (eg a CD ripped to ALAC or lossless CD Quality file), there are some reports that Apple Music still sends 256kbps lossy AAC over Airplay when playing back a lossless title.

Airplay 2 is supposedly capable of above CD quality lossless playback, but the ecosystem doesn't seem to allow it as yet - let's hope Apple only have to tweak something in software to allows this.

There's this thread with an airplay trace that suggests it's not lossless from AM over airplay too. https://community.naimaudio.com/t/apple-music-hifi-tier-incoming/16445/437 . Would really be helpful if Apple clarified this definitely in their support doc re lossless. Pretty odd that, that doc makes zero mention of airplay.

Hi deweydm,

I came across the same post as well, and it was a bit of a shock.

I wonder if this lossy airplay transmission applies only the music from Apple Music online catalogue, or is it the same with your local library’s files that you ripped lossless your from your CDs !

I understand that other music apps using AirPlay 2 deliver 16/44.1 from other forums discussions, I only have AM so unable to confirm. Still a glaring gap in the lossless support doc, oversight or bug?

I believe that the restriction is that the Apple Music app on iOS is not using the lossless capability of airplay, other music apps such as qobuz, and maybe Amazon , deliver lossless over airplay. Would be good to get a definite statement from apple on airplay support to avoid speculation.

Agreed, we need more transparency with the AirPlay 2 protocol, and how it handles Apple Music ALAC streaming, local ALAC files, and other Lossless sources (like FLAC from Amazon). The OP was vague, but the use case I’m helping someone with is: Ethernet wired Mac playing to Ethernet wired AirPort Express or Ethernet wired AirPlay 2 DAC. To me this should be Lossless AirPlay 2 over Ethernet with all sources (though he’s only interested in Apple Music). People (especially Apple) need to consider that AirPlay 2 isn’t just a wireless protocol.

You can get lossless with AirPlay 2, just not with the Apple Music App., other Apps like Amazon Music will play lossless over AirPlay. We can hope that Apple will remedy this and increase the sample rate limitation.

You should clarify that in the support document, which doesn't mention AirPlay at all. <shakes head>

“Wireless connections such as AirPlay or Bluetooth are not supported at this time.”

But Leanne, AirPlay 2 can run over Ethernet, a wired connection, what’s the lossy / lossless situation there?