Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless.
Answered
I have a Bluesound Node 2i and I am trying to play Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless. I have connected my iPhone 11 to the the Bluesound using an Apple lightening to USB adapter along with a Dragonfly Red DAC with an Audioquest Evergreen 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable to the optical/analog in port of the Bluesound. My iPhone is set to Wi-Fi stream at 24 bit 192kHz. Regardless what Hi-Res I play the Bluesound is reporting that the sample rate is 44.1kHz. My question is “ Does the Bluesound optical/analog in port support only up to 44.1kHz?”
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Official comment
Due to limitations of certain Apple Products, currently, the only way to get Apple Lossless to your Bluesound Player is via AirPlay from a MacBook. This means, today, your NODE 2i will support it to the same extent as the new NODE N130.
When a BluOS Player is selected directly from the list of Airplay compatible devices in the Apple Music app, lossless audio is converted to AAC at 256 kbps. As a workaround, when the system-wide audio output on a Mac is set to a BluOS Player, the AirPlay Content is sent up to 16 bit 44.KHz using ALAC or Apple Lossless.
To change the system-wide audio output in Mac, perform the following steps on your Mac:
- Select Control Center in the menu bar.
- Select the Airplay icon under Sound.
- Select the required BluOS speaker.
- Open the Apple Music app, select the Airplay icon in the upper-right corner.
- Select Computer ––> (BluOS Speaker).
Alternatively, to change the audio output on the Mac – click here.
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^ so in short, it should easily support over 44.1. Question now would be: can you get 96khz out of Apple Hi Res yet? Or, even via the lightning cable, does it cap out?
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The Dragonfly Red DAC is showing a magenta light which apparently signifies 96 kHz. However the Bluesound is reporting 44.1 kHz.
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Hmm. Where is the Bluesound showing 44.1? Is it the CD icon - that would be 16-bit, but not necessarily 44.1 iirc.
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My reference to the sampling rate being displayed is on my Arcam SA20 which is connected to the coax out of the Bluesound.
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Due to limitations of certain Apple Products, currently, the only way to get Apple Lossless to your Bluesound Player is via AirPlay from a MacBook. This means, today, your NODE 2i will support it to the same extent as the new NODE N130.
When a BluOS Player is selected directly from the list of Airplay compatible devices in the Apple Music app, lossless audio is converted to AAC at 256 kbps. As a workaround, when the system-wide audio output on a Mac is set to a BluOS Player, the AirPlay Content is sent up to 16 bit 44.KHz using ALAC or Apple Lossless.
To change the system-wide audio output in Mac, perform the following steps on your Mac:
- Select Control Center in the menu bar.
- Select the Airplay icon under Sound.
- Select the required BluOS speaker.
- Open the Apple Music app, select the Airplay icon in the upper-right corner.
- Select Computer ––> (BluOS Speaker).
Alternatively, to change the audio output on the Mac – click here.
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Thanks Tony for your info, however I'm refering to a wired connectionion from my iPhone, through a Dragonfly DAC to the analog in port in the Bluesound and out of the coax port in the Bluesound to Arcam SA20.
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I'm trying to play Apple Lossless through my Bluesound Node.
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Thanks Seppi
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The official comment fro Tony stated currently Apple Lossless is available through iOS streaming. There is a part that I don’t understand. AirPlay 2 I capable of streaming up to 24bit-48khz. Sonos Port also said to be capable of this through AirPlay 2. I’m wondering why Node 2i cannot do it?
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@seppi thanks for further elaboration. Does this mean that the same thing happening with all AirPlay 2 streamers (used in conjugation with iPhone) such as Sonos Port, Cambridge Audio CXN2?
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Hello. I just ordered the new Node. I’m a little confused. I’m I going to be able to stream via Airplay 2 from my iPhone 12 using Apple Music lossless to the new Node and at least get 16/44 CD quality playing thru my preamp?
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HI Ponch0069 - you will not get it through your iPhone as Apple does not support this yet - but you will get it through your MacBook if you see the 'Official Comment' at the top of this thread.
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Ok. Thx Tony for the reply. I bought the NODE 2 about 5 years ago waiting still for the Airplay 1 update. I just ordered the new NODE not just for the included Airplay 2 but for the convenience of streaming 16/44 from my phone. Freaking Apple!! I thought Steve Jobs mantra was “It Just Works” 😂 hopefully I don’t have to wait 5 years for a fix. I’ll continue using Tidal for my Hi Res listening. I take it my iPad doesn’t work either. Is it possible to stream Lossless from my Apple TV to the Node?
Seppi Evens thx for the link.
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I understand that Appel might impose some restrictions, however, I don’t understand how Sonos Port added Apple Music for streaming but no one else (including Bluesound) could do it?
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New Gen owners, can you confirm something for me? With my old Node 2i, I used to hear a subtle cracking noise (similar to vinyl noise) when playing music through Airplay 2. The issue was only demonstrated in certain songs when music was very quiet (i.e. piano sounds or when they were not too many instruments playing). I link two songs that I could hear the noise on. I am wondering if New GEN demonstrates the same issue? Please note that the noise is only heard through Airplay and not the Node App.
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/barf-ruye-kajha-peyman-maadi-pt-1/863128882?i=863134017
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Is the USB output working on the Nodes yet? I tried connecting a DAC via the USB and got no sound but I got sound via optical
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Seppi, thanks for the link. We’ll I guess I got bamboozled again 1st when I purchased the Node 2 waiting for Airplay and now after purchasing the new Node with the USB out put.
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Seppi, I hate to bug you but I was just listening to my new Node and it stopped playing and started displaying a green light. My player disappeared on the App. I tried setting it up but it kept giving me and error “set up incomplete try again”. And the Node is displaying a red light and now I can’t even try to set up the player. I sent a message to Bluesound.
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I still don’t understand why Apple Music has not yet been added to BlueSound. A previous answer said that it was because of limitations by Apple, but Sonos has added Apple Music for some time already, so it should be possible.
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