I primarily use Apple Music Classical to discover new albums (new to me), which I then purchase from other platforms. Currently, for me, Apple’s search functionality for classical music is the most effectively executed among all streaming services. However, integrating its service into a stereo system has always been Apple’s weak point. It’s perplexing why they bother with 24/96 and 24/192 files if they cannot, and likely never will, effectively deliver them to a proper stereo setup. Recently I talked to Apple's customer service. My question was as follows: How can I stream Apple Music content bit-perfectly at 24/96 & 24/192 quality to my stereo system? Which device or streamer should I use, and what type of connection is required? The advisor was entirely uninformed; all he could do was direct me to some articles. Even when he highlighted specific content within those articles, it failed to address my query adequately and was quite hit-or-miss. For instance, he was unaware that 24/96 and 24/192 content cannot be streamed bit-perfectly from a Mac connected to a dac. I explained that the limitation arises because the Mac's Audio Midi setup is locked to a bit and sample rate selected by the user. For a Mac to achieve bit-perfect audio, it would need to automatically adjust the bit rate based on the file being played. He suggested referring me to another department, thinking there was an issue with my Mac. I explained to him that this limitation is built into every Mac globally; it's a standard feature, not a defect. Then we discussed using iPhones and iPads as bit-perfect 24/96 and 24/192 streamers. I know that both devices can meet my requirements. However, my audio system is 3 meters away from my sofa, which would necessitate running a cable across the room, which is not very convenient. He then mentioned a completely unusual solution, suggesting that I need to download music directly to my phone from Apple Music to listen to high-resolution files. Additionally, he mentioned that I need an active subscription—which he wanted to verify with a screenshot as proof—and he also inquired whether my Mac operating system is up to date. All of these suggestions indicated a clear lack of understanding and competence on the matter. I'm still unsure how to achieve my goal, so I'm waiting to be enlightened by a more knowledgeable advisor. Only joking. Of course it will never happen and it seems that the high-resolution offering is only available on their platform to tick a box. There is much more that could be done to make Apple Music more accessible to audiophiles. For instance, they could enable the search function in the iTunes Remote app to search Apple Music content, allowing end users to use their Macs headlessly. Or make Apple TV boxes, as they used to, with optical outs for easy connection with dacs.
