New Apple TV 4K and hi-res lossless

I assume you’re referring to the Apple Music? It comes with limitations as already noted. Try playing a non-Music, non-ALAC high resolution file (FLAC/Wav) using a 3rd party player like File Explorer.

My goal was to stream the Master Quality audio directly from Apple Music. There are other options, but the goal was to maximize the benefit of paying Apple for this service. Apple TV aspires to be an entertainment center. One can only hope Apple issues a firmware update to handle the larger files.

it is a big disappointment. May I ask what other options you are considering? So far all I am aware of is using a modern Mac mini via HDMI. or buying a USB DAC which is frustrating if you already have a good receiver Amp with DAC in it.

It’s not that big a deal - Apple TV is primarily for playing TV content, which it does with flying colors in all formats. Additionally, the volume of originally-recorded high-resolution music worldwide is minuscule, even more so in Apple’s library. True connoisseurs of high-resolution music won’t flock to Apple Music on Apple TV anyway (or Apple anything), it’s not what it’s for. That said, use Feedback to channel your wishes, can’t hurt. Good luck!

It’s a huge deal. There are enough Hi-Res tracks on Apple Music to listen for the rest of your life and never hear the same song twice. The AppleTV is a great piece to stream content, and maintain the Apple revenue chain. It is built with remote control being a top feature. Using a dongle to connect your phone or iPad into your audio system is ridiculous in that you lose much of the remote control capacity, and more importantly-use of your phone. Had the new ATV had the ability to stream Hi-Res, which is a top feature of Apple Music, then I’d have bought one for every room and maintained an Apple Music subscription.

Since this is not the case, I’m using streamers and moved to Qobuz.

[Edited by Moderator] 

As already mentioned, Apple TV is primarily for TV content, not Music. It also doesn’t work without a TV which is ridiculous in itself if you’re wanting it primarily for Music, that too in every room. Irrespective, use Feedback if Music on ATV falls short of your needs (or stick with Qobuz, whatever that is). Good luck!

Apple got into master quality music because competitors like Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon and others are siphoning off customers. Apple has committed to expanding their hi-res library. To each his own, but once you hear it you can appreciate the difference in sound quality. Not everyone has that need. The point in answering the question above was to save them the expense of being misled.

ATV is primarily an entertainment hub, and part of the Apple total solution which is the only way it will stay relevant in light of there being a plethora of other options, many built into TVs. Typically, the best audio components are also part of a home’s entertainment center. Apple has offered Hi-Res audio to stave off subscriber attrition to other services that offer it, but don’t offer a way to actually get what you are paying for. I get why you’d need a DAC to access it from a phone, but considering the ATV is plugged into a DAC, it would make sense to transmit Hi-Res through the HDMI line. It’s hard to understand this omission. Especially when you can connect the iPhone to a DAC and get Hi-Res.

Further, you are incorrect. You do not need a TV to use the AppleTV. Connecting it to Ethernet and an AV Processor works just fine for streaming music from Apple Music.

Not for most users, they’d need the user-interface, not to mention ATV remote to enjoy the full experience. Also, when it comes to high-speed throughput, Ethernet is no comparison to HDMI. At any rate, you’re voicing your criticism/future vision for the device for which Feedback is best. This forum is for technical issues with the box/App as specified and offered. Good luck!

Stating that AppleTV will work without being connected to a TV is part of a technical discussion, which is also correcting the erroneous statement that it won’t work. ATV owners with iPhones have the UI to fully operate it with your said iPhone - which is, again, a technical and factual statement correcting a previous erroneous statement.

I’m going to try playing Hi-Res audio from another music app on the ATV shortly to fully clear up the misinformation being shared. I’ll edit once I’ve determined if it will work or not.

I agree 100% with this. If they can’t fix this I will start shopping for a solution that can access Tidal with convenient smart phone control that can be fed into my receiver.

what is the point of only offering high res lossless if the only way (most) people can listen to it is through expensive headphones and portable dac. Surely the vision would be to enjoy music in a lounge room setting as it was recorded! 24 bit 96khz.

I have a bunch of albums in 24bit and they sound amazing. The fact that we can now steam using apple is brilliant. There is surprisingly a huge catalogue of hi-res already available.

common apple tweak the last bit we are 98% there.

just as a clarification for anyone interested if you do play a hi res track through Apple TV it will play it at 24bit 44khz.

You are the one getting it wrong ALAC and FLAC are the same thing, ALAC is simply apple’s version of lossless and yes it can be higher res than CD. Please don’t confuse people more than they already are.

Sorry, but that is simply not true. I can stream music to an Apple TV from an iPhone or iPad without ever using the remote or TV. My phone turns on the receiver and controls tracks and volume via Airplay 2.

As for your last question, yes ALAC and FLAC are the same quality. Apple uses proprietary technology to produce the same quality audio as FLAC. They simply give it a different name: ALAC.

For those seeking a workaround to Apple TV’s lack of support for hi-res audio files, here is what I found. I streamed Apple Music Lossless audio from an iPad to a top end Denon AVR-A110 receiver with an internal digital-to-analog (DAC) converter. The speakers are Class A audiophile quality. I compared the same Lossless audio file on both the Apple TV and the iPad using a headphone cable from the iPad to RCA jacks on the receiver. The iPad stream was poor by comparison. Yes, you can stream hi-res files from the iPad, but the added distortion and meager bass will leave you disappointed. If you are willing to spend a few hundred $$ on a lightning/headphone/RCA cable, perhaps you may get better results.

Apple TV 4K can't stream hi-res audio via Apple Music - amen to that. I stand by everything in my posts despite your and others' assertions to the contrary. It doesn't really matter - find alternate solutions outside of ATV for high-resolution, that is the only (real) option available. For frustrations about what the ATV can or can't do, use Feedback. Good luck!