Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless - is this a Bluesound limitation?

Answered
cew
  • Edited

Hi,

I have a new Powenode on order along with a pair of Kef LS50 Metas and a Project Carbon Evo turnable - was really looking forward to the arrival until I realised some presumptions I made look to be incorrect...

Firstly re: Apple Music Lossless - I full appreciate the limitations of Airplay 2, hence intended to hardwire my iOS device to my Powernode via USB and therefore utilise its onboard DAC. Apple themselves advise using an external DAC in this way: About lossless audio in Apple Music – Apple Support (UK)

I had expected to be able to connect my iOS device via a camera connection kit to enable the Powernode DAC to process the stream. The post here seems to suggest this is incorrect as Powernode does not support direct streaming over USB unlike every other DAC I've come across, instead they rely on a system of indexing music which Apple does not support and I have no interest in. Buying an external DAC as a workaround seems wasteful given the presence of a quality DAC within the Powernode. This seems a huge oversight on the part of Bluesound - is there any plan to address this issue to allow direct connection of Apple devices and streaming of music to the Powernode via USB? This appears to be a limitation imposed by Bluesound rather than Apple unless i'm mistaken?

I note Tony W advised a workaround here involving a Macbook, which is obviously less convenient compared to using an iPhone/iPad and still does not support fully High Res playback due to Mac output limitations so not an ideal solution.

I'd be grateful of confirmation either way as currently considering cancelling my order and reluctantly replacing Powernode with an analogue amp with a separate DAC which will allow the above.

Thanks for any advice/info.

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Comments

2 comments

Date Votes
  • Official comment
    Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res
    • Edited

    TonyW’s post is correct, he is the Bluesound product support manager. Apple Music is just one of many streaming services that support hires and personally would not limit my choices to what Apple offers until such time they find a way forward which I gather will be with an updated version of Airplay.

    The USB port on the POWERNODE is for connecting an external storage device and not a DAC. 

  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Please follow this thread for news on Apple Music.

    https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360037270313

     

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