Playing Apple Music HiRes

[Zgrado1970]

(1) don't you get fixed 44.1 sample rate from iOS? I will have to try this again but the last time I tried I think I saw fixed 44.1 sample rate. Maybe that was my Android phone

(2) macOS solves that problem. So why stay away from macOS?

In fact, even on your #1 macOS is kinda fine if you stick to 96k sample rate for everything. Or you can get the free auto rate switcher utility which switches the sample rate automatically - but after a brief pause once the track starts playing

The biggest reason I like macOS is the ability to run CamillaDSP. This is a very versatile EQ tool that allows me to add some simple high shelf filters to tweak the sound to my liking. It is like having a whole different set of speakers.

(1) no
(2) I don’t see how macOS solves the remote problem.

 

[Miniyouuuu]

Best layout for Apple Music with audio&video is AppleTV 4K to audio extractor. HDMI to TV and toslink to DAC. In my case thanks to Feintech AX210. Much better audio export than my previous layout where TV was exporting audio with much more distortion.

You can send audio from iPhone/iPad to AppleTV and works well. If AppleTV is the only player, AppleTV will be the host. If you add other players with Airplay, the iPhone will be the host.

 

[masterhw]

Worth mentioning, since seemingly the only downside of using an Apple TV as a source is its sample rate limit, that the sample rate conversion (SRC) is not being performed on-device. Apple Music keeps a 24-bit/48kHz version of Hi-Res tracks created using the Apple Digital Masters Droplet outlined in their whitepaper. They’re a bit light on details as to how their SRC is superior, but they’re confident enough that they explicitly ask the mastering engineer not to do this step themselves. In any case it gives me slightly more peace of mind that there isn’t risk of wonky OS-resampling. The file is coming from the server already 48kHz.

 

[yelloguy]

(1) no
(2) I don’t see how macOS solves the remote problem.

It is already mentioned in this thread. Enjoy the music!

One big advantage (ha!) of macOS is the ability to display VU Meters

 

[Miniyouuuu]

Worth mentioning, since seemingly the only downside of using an Apple TV as a source is its sample rate limit, that the sample rate conversion (SRC) is not being performed on-device. Apple Music keeps a 24-bit/48kHz version of Hi-Res tracks created using the Apple Digital Masters Droplet outlined in their whitepaper. They’re a bit light on details as to how their SRC is superior, but they’re confident enough that they explicitly ask the mastering engineer not to do this step themselves. In any case it gives me slightly more peace of mind that there isn’t risk of wonky OS-resampling. The file is coming from the server already 48kHz.

… so bit perfect from apple server to DAC.
In my case, due to Dirac live limitation on MiniDSP Flex digital, any signal above 48khz would also be rescale to 48khz. So 48khz up to DAC without rescaling.

 

[yelloguy]

While that is great info, playing via Apple TV ends up using HDMI for output. I have thought about switching to Optical via TV out but that would need another HDMI cable to be run to the TV behind the wall. That is too much work. The HDMI extractor devices tend to cost half as much as the Apple TV. There is just no easy/free way to get audio routed to a DAC from Apple TV. And that is just one downside. The other downside is also the navigation via TV - at least to start the music. Finally, it does not allow me to disable Dolby Atmos without disabling it at the device level. While some DA songs are well done, more often than not, I get familiar songs sounding all different because of the DA mastering. While I am fine with a hard wired, stable 44.1 or 48k sample rate, Apple TV is just too problematic for these reasons.

 

[Owis]

I have thought about switching to Optical via TV out but that would need another HDMI cable to be run to the TV behind the wall. That is too much work

Why do you need an additional HDMI cable?

One from the ATV to TV. Then optical from TV to DAC?

 

[Axo1989]

Why do you need an additional HDMI cable?

One from the ATV to TV. Then optical from TV to DAC?

Yes, that's what I do basically.

As well as using the Music app on the Apple TV box, an iPhone or iPad can AirPlay to the device, depending on preference.

As for a second HDMI cable, sometimes I connect a MacBook Pro to the TV (which can play audio via the same optical out to the DAC). Since the Mac is the M2 13" model with just two thunderbolt ports, I use a 3 metre Thunderbolt cable to a LaCie hub which houses the Time Machine backup drive, then a short HDMI cable to the TV. If the Mac was a model with HDMI port it could go direct to the TV. I'd still want the backup drive connection though.

 

[yelloguy]

Why do you need an additional HDMI cable?

One from the ATV to TV. Then optical from TV to DAC?

That is the second cable, hehe. The first cable is connecting the tv to the AVR and allows me to switch sources via the AVR

Also the optical in your scenario will be visible below my tv. Unless I run it in the wall

 

[Miniyouuuu]

Why do you need an additional HDMI cable?

One from the ATV to TV. Then optical from TV to DAC?

In my case, I got a clearer signal when I bypassed the sound signal before the TV. I have a cheap Samsung, and while that TV has an optical output, an external audio extractor has better quality components.

 

[amper42]

AppleTV 4K with ethernet 128gb version is on sale for $119 at Samsclub - ends Oct31:

Apple TV 4K 128GB with Wi‑Fi + Ethernet - Samsclub.com

Buy Apple TV 4K 128GB with Wi‑Fi + Ethernet at Samsclub.com

www.samsclub.com

Rumors of a new version coming soon are out there, but this version seems to work.
It comes with three months of FREE AppleTV and Apple Music.

Installed all my apps using the AppleTV store for PLEX, HBO, Netflix, Disney, Hulu, Tubi, Paramount and Peacock and now it's up and running. I was also able to easily import my Qobuz playlists into Apple Music. It's nice there are apps for that. I turned on Airplay streaming inside Moode so Apple Music could play through RPI4. It's not too bad once you understand how to set it up. The rechargeable remote battery is a nice touch. It's not as intuitive as my Roku but it offers good 5G wifi capability that my older Samsung TV lacks.

Having options is nice...

 

[mglobe]

I’ve been playing with a headless Apple TV and my OS26 iPad and iPhone recently. Have an HDMI extractor hooked to the Apple TV, and output to my Trinnov NOVA via optical. Not sure what sample rate I’m getting, but what is interesting is that when I select the Apple TV via the airplay button on the iOS device, I then can pause, play, next song… with the Apple TV remote. Further, if I turn off network and BT on the iOS device, the music keeps playing for a while. It acts as if the music is streaming from the Apple TV, and not the phone/ipad. Curious if anyone can duplicate this and figure out what is actually happening with the streaming aspect. If its doing what I think, I’m at least streaming lossless at 48kHz.

 

[masterhw]

It acts as if the music is streaming from the Apple TV, and not the phone/ipad.

It is, Airplaying to another apple device (at least one with its own SoC) turns the initiating device into just a controller/remote (for compatible apps anyway). The playback is originating from the AppleTV in this case.

AppleTVs should be streaming lossless 24-bit/48kHz when cast to from an iPhone, assuming you’re using Apple Music and the track is available at that spec.

 

[mglobe]

It is, Airplaying to another apple device (at least one with its own SoC) turns the initiating device into just a controller/remote (for compatible apps anyway). The playback is originating from the AppleTV in this case.

AppleTVs should be streaming lossless 24-bit/48kHz when cast to from an iPhone, assuming you’re using Apple Music and the track is available at that spec.

Thanks for the confirmation. It seems to work well and might ultimately be a replacement for Room for me. I’ll continue to play with it. Wish Apple had the meta data that Roon has. It’s great for me for discovering new music. FWIW rumor has it that the next ATV will have 96khz output, but it’s only rumor as best I can tell. I’m not convinced I can hear a difference but it would be worth the price of a new Apple TV to give it a try.