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Higgsinspace Author

Level 1

21 points

Apple Music Lossless. Static and crackling interference on songs

I seem to be getting a lot of static noise and interference drops in Apple Music lossless. It can be totally random but has really increased in frequency and severity these last few days / week or so. I have a very strong suspicion that its on the Apple Music server side.

My hardware test is 1. headphones into an Intel and an M1 Macbook. 2. External USB DAC /Amp - ifi MicroDSD Signature, Helm Bolt and Zoorloo Ztella 3. iPhone 12 and M1 iPad with above DACs and Apple headphone dongle. 4. Multiple over ear and IEM headphones with a mixture of above DACs on all devices.

I've even introduced a ifi iDefender USB into the chain to remove the risk of any ground loops in the system. I'm still getting constant crackles and static.

Just curious if anyone else is hearing the same thing?

Posted on Jun 23, 2021 8:33 PM

Similar questions

26 replies

Nov 22, 2021 6:40 PM in response to Higgsinspace

I have been having the same problem. I thought it was my new air pods 3rd gen, but then it happed when I was in the car (Bluetooth). The song starts and partway through will scratch and crackle and then skip to the next song. I noticed that it happens only when streaming vs downloaded.

Dec 16, 2021 5:39 AM in response to Higgsinspace

I have just discovered this problem. Having only recently bought a Bose SoundLink Mini bluetooth speaker I freaked out that maybe it was at fault. However I discovered that the crackling during heavy bass notes only happened when streaming music directly from Apple, in this case Ed Sheeran: "=" and others. It also happens regardless of whether lossless audio is turned on or off.

Significantly this problem does not occur when I play music directly from my library or a playlist. My control was Nino SLG EP: State of Mind. It too is heavy on the bass but played without an issue.

Is Apple fixing this?

Jan 26, 2022 9:45 PM in response to Higgsinspace

I have the same issue and it happend today on january 26 of 2022.

Ever since i updated the system software or the ios iphone software it started to happen.

Either happens at the end of the song or in the middle of the song.

Before i updated the ios it never happend

Jul 28, 2021 6:13 AM in response to Higgsinspace

Did Apple ever come back to any of these questions with a formal response? I have a 100Mbps line

titiolin

Level 1

4 points

Aug 2, 2021 8:02 AM in response to Higgsinspace

Same problem whit my Bose QC35II ..... I really problem when change song ... a cracking appear really hard . I have to put down the volume every time.....

Higgsinspace Author

Level 1

21 points

Aug 13, 2021 3:24 PM in response to Joe_Ker

Ha. Pretty much. I might just suck up the extra cost and go back to Qobuz or (vomit in mouth) Tidal.

Aug 18, 2021 2:44 PM in response to titiolin

@titiolin

Yep, change it back to "High quality". The "Lossless" setting does nothing for "Bluetooth" connections as described above.

Sep 19, 2021 1:43 PM in response to Higgsinspace

I had this problem and fixed it by plugging the Mac into a separate power outlet from my Apogee Duet 2 and M-Audio speakers. Seems to have done the trick.

Higgsinspace Author

Level 1

21 points

Sep 19, 2021 2:51 PM in response to Mr Guffman

Thanks mate, that helped

Rico1954

Level 1

8 points

Nov 2, 2021 6:02 AM in response to Higgsinspace

I have iOS 14.8.1. When I play music from my iTunes library, some songs will stop playing then I start hearing intermittent white noise then it will skip to next song.

pausnit

Level 1

9 points

Nov 14, 2021 9:44 AM in response to Higgsinspace

Thanks for your help here. Yes I think it’s lossless that’s causing the static. Big mistake from apple.

Apple Music Lossless. Static and crackling interference on songs