TylerT
Member
My current setup has an iPhone 15 Pro Max => USB-C Data Cable => Fiio BTR15 or K7 => Hart Balanced Cable => Hifiman Ananda Nano.
After reading about the Apple Music (AM) app online, it seems that the AM app cannot bypass the internal mixer for Windows, MacOS, and Android, as there is no exclusive mode available. The only way to achieve bit-perfect playback is through an iOS device connected to an external DAC. In the iPhone AM settings, I have the “Sound Check” option disabled (volume normalizer), EQ off, Crossfade off, Dolby Atmos off, and audio quality set to Hi-Res Lossless.
My concern is that the iPhone seems to be mixing the audio before sending it to the external DAC. Unlike Tidal's exclusive mode for Windows, I can hear notifications, keyboard sounds, lock sounds, etc., while playing music with the Tidal or AM app. The volume buttons and slider are disabled, but all other sounds (notifications, videos, etc.) are still mixed with the music. How can playback be bit-perfect if the OS is still mixing the music with system audio?
AM doesn’t seem to have an “exclusive mode” so to speak, and while I can “disable” keyboard sounds and lock sounds, I doubt I did anything to bypass the internal mixer. My knowledge of audio science is still that of a novice. If anyone can provide insight into how to enable bit-perfect playback or clarify if the internal mixer reduces quality (similar to Windows and MacOS), that would be very helpful.
Much appreciated,
Tyler
After reading about the Apple Music (AM) app online, it seems that the AM app cannot bypass the internal mixer for Windows, MacOS, and Android, as there is no exclusive mode available. The only way to achieve bit-perfect playback is through an iOS device connected to an external DAC. In the iPhone AM settings, I have the “Sound Check” option disabled (volume normalizer), EQ off, Crossfade off, Dolby Atmos off, and audio quality set to Hi-Res Lossless.
My concern is that the iPhone seems to be mixing the audio before sending it to the external DAC. Unlike Tidal's exclusive mode for Windows, I can hear notifications, keyboard sounds, lock sounds, etc., while playing music with the Tidal or AM app. The volume buttons and slider are disabled, but all other sounds (notifications, videos, etc.) are still mixed with the music. How can playback be bit-perfect if the OS is still mixing the music with system audio?
AM doesn’t seem to have an “exclusive mode” so to speak, and while I can “disable” keyboard sounds and lock sounds, I doubt I did anything to bypass the internal mixer. My knowledge of audio science is still that of a novice. If anyone can provide insight into how to enable bit-perfect playback or clarify if the internal mixer reduces quality (similar to Windows and MacOS), that would be very helpful.
Much appreciated,
Tyler