Music download quality (lossless files relative to output: airplay streaming vs. bluetooth headphones)

Question

Level 1

8 points

Music download quality (lossless files relative to output: airplay streaming vs. bluetooth headphones)

When downloading music to my phone (for playing later to my Sony XM4 wireless headphones, for instance, while in airplane mode), I've often debated whether it makes any sense to download at the lossless quality (since, unless I'm mistaken: it's not possible to actually hear the extra quality when bluetooth headphones are the output). However, I'm less unsure when it comes to streaming to an airplay device (such as my Sonos speakers). When I ask Apple Music to play songs that have been downloaded to my iPhone, while I'm connected to WiFi, and the files that've been downloaded to my phone are lower quality than lossless— does Apple Music instead stream the lossless files from the online source? Or does it default to the files that are local to my iPhone? (And, regardless, when playing a lossless file from my iPhone to something like a Sonos speaker— is the extra quality actually perceivable over AirPlay (as opposed to Bluetooth)?

iPhone XR

Posted on Nov 6, 2022 12:12 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Grace2211

Community Specialist

Nov 8, 2022 1:01 PM in response to tonsure

Hello Tonsure,

We understand that you're streaming music and using AirPlay or Bluetooth you're not able to experience the quality that Apple Lossless Audio Codec delivers. Please be mindful of the following details when using Bluetooth:

AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation), and Beats wireless headphones use Apple AAC Bluetooth Codec to ensure excellent audio quality. However, Bluetooth connections aren't lossless.

Here's what you need in order to listen to lossless audio on your device:

You can listen to lossless on an iPhone or iPad updated to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS using:

• A wired connection to headphones, receivers, or powered speakers

• The built-in speakers

• To listen to songs at sample rates higher than 48 kHz, you need an external digital-to-analog converter.

We hope this helps.

Best wishes.

Reply

Answer 2

Chris_C1

Community Specialist

Nov 8, 2022 3:30 PM in response to tonsure

Hey there tonsure,

To play music downloaded to your iPhone:

Open Music
Tap Library
Tap Downloaded
Choose from the music you have saved to your device

Your downloaded music will be played at the quality you chose to download it.

Add music to iPhone and listen offline

Regarding your Sonos speaker, we'll need to take a look at About lossless audio in Apple Music.

AirPlay is not mentioned. Instead, if you are not using AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods 3rd generation, or Beats wireless headphones, you will need a wired connection or the built-in speakers of your iPhone.

Have a good one!

Reply

Answer 3

tonsure Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 8, 2022 1:42 PM in response to Grace2211

Hi Grace. Thanks for the answer. But, my question was more specific. (1) if a song is downloaded to my phone in non-lossless quality (to save on storage) but I’m connected to wifi, will Apple Music stream the lossless audio file from the Music source (presuming that I’m using the right output device)? Or does Apple Music default to playing whichever file is stored locally (even if I’m connected to wifi)? The second (2) question is whether Airplay to a speaker (in this case Sonos) qualifies as a lossless output format. Or whether AirPlay is also like Bluetooth, in not being able to work with lossless files. Thanks.

Reply

Music download quality (lossless files relative to output: airplay streaming vs. bluetooth headphones)

Similar questions