The Apple HomePods will receive the promised sound without quality losses
Apple recently announced lossless audio quality for music on Apple Music , but Apple devices like AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, HomePod, and HomePod mini don't support lossless audio. However, this will change on some devices.
In a new document on its website, Apple has revealed more details about lossless audio quality and advises in the FAQ that the HomePods and HomePod mini will eventually support that audio quality. This opens the door to the fact that in the future, the Airpods family will be compatible with that lossless audio.
[amazon box=»B07ZPNLGDP» title=»Apple AirPods» star_rating=»none» template=»table»]Apple devices on the market will be able to enjoy that sound without loss
According to its website, “HomePod and HomePod mini currently use AAC to ensure excellent audio quality. Support for lossless technology will be available in a future software update.” However, it is not known when such an update will be available.
As for AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats Wireless Headphones, the news isn't as good. They all " use Apple's Bluetooth AAC codec to ensure excellent audio quality ," but " Bluetooth connections do not support lossless audio ," says Apple.
Apple's headphones, the AirPods Max, can be connected to an analog music source via Apple's Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable. But that doesn't mean that you will be able to hear lossless audio on them. In the case of the AirPods Max, it can be connected to devices that play Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless recordings, but given the analog-to-digital conversion on the cable, the playback cannot be completely lossless, according to Apple.
But Apple's Lightning to 3,5mm Headphone Jack Adapter has a digital-to-analog converter that supports lossless audio up to 24-bit / 48kHz. Apple hasn't made it clear if this can be used to listen to lossless audio on the AirPods Max. In the MacRumors forums it is indicated that AirPods Max does not work with this cable or with third-party Lightning cables to 3.5 mm, which is ruled out in these models.
Lossless audio for Apple Music will arrive in June, but requires the use of Apple's ALAC codec which is incompatible with Bluetooth. It is possible that within a year or two, Apple will announce Airpods models with a proprietary connection protocol that allows the ALAC format to be played.
Source: Mashable
