
EthicalEar
Junior Audioholic
I’ve searched the forums and did not find enough specifics on achieving Apple Lossless. This includes Wade’s article. Feel this topic can be re-addressed. First, a positive note. Apple Music sounds much better than all other streaming services that I’ve tried. I have 4 Apple TV’s for different rooms, and no complaints on 24/48, spatial and normal lossless. My windows PC ITUNES has only 162 Gigabytes of music that I rip mostly Lossless from CD’s. so some have 1,100+ bits. This, even to my old ears sounds pretty damn good, way better than 256.
Recently switched from my Iphone 6S (with actual headphone jack), now with Iphone XS Max. I have a IFi Hip Dac attached to it. I figure Hip Dac 2 is more for MQA – Tidal users and APPLE is not going that route so I got regular Hip Dac instead. Is this incorrect? Would Hip Dac 2 be of any improvement to APPLE only users?
My phone 512g doesn’t have my music downloaded. It just has my Library in the Cloud. When playing from my Library some of the 1,100 or 900+ kb songs say Lossless and some don’t. Some even say High-Res. Am I listening to MY High Quality CD Rip or am I listening to whatever APPLE has in their library even if it’s 256? It doesn’t sound as good to me when it doesn’t say Lossless or High-Res on my phone screen. If I’m right, is there anyway to Download my Library to my phone? Phone says it’s not needed due to Icloud library access.
Another question: My HipDac really sounds awesome with Lossless, spatial and Hi-Res. It sometimes sounds better than my Windows Itunes library with Focal Arche. With my phone/Hip Dac combo, (using my Focal Stellias), I hear a bigger soundstage than before and more music details! I can’t get the Green Indicator Light on the DAC to change to Yellow, Cyan or blue (even with firm ware update). But the sound quality is obvious to me. Are there any DAC’s that will show that Apple is sending a higher Bit rate 176/192? I know that Tidal and other services will change colors but why doesn’t Apple?
Last question: If I rip a CD that is 16/44.1 at a Lossless rate, and Apple plays it at 24/48 is that improved over the CD lossless? Or is it just saying it’s playing it at CD Quality using a rate that is capable of keeping it lossless. Forgive me as this question shows I’m needing some basics. I know when I’m playing my SACD’s at 24/192 I’m getting close to all possible detail available. But when it’s streaming, and the DAC lights don’t tell me, I don’t like guessing. Thanks for any feedback on these questions
Recently switched from my Iphone 6S (with actual headphone jack), now with Iphone XS Max. I have a IFi Hip Dac attached to it. I figure Hip Dac 2 is more for MQA – Tidal users and APPLE is not going that route so I got regular Hip Dac instead. Is this incorrect? Would Hip Dac 2 be of any improvement to APPLE only users?
My phone 512g doesn’t have my music downloaded. It just has my Library in the Cloud. When playing from my Library some of the 1,100 or 900+ kb songs say Lossless and some don’t. Some even say High-Res. Am I listening to MY High Quality CD Rip or am I listening to whatever APPLE has in their library even if it’s 256? It doesn’t sound as good to me when it doesn’t say Lossless or High-Res on my phone screen. If I’m right, is there anyway to Download my Library to my phone? Phone says it’s not needed due to Icloud library access.
Another question: My HipDac really sounds awesome with Lossless, spatial and Hi-Res. It sometimes sounds better than my Windows Itunes library with Focal Arche. With my phone/Hip Dac combo, (using my Focal Stellias), I hear a bigger soundstage than before and more music details! I can’t get the Green Indicator Light on the DAC to change to Yellow, Cyan or blue (even with firm ware update). But the sound quality is obvious to me. Are there any DAC’s that will show that Apple is sending a higher Bit rate 176/192? I know that Tidal and other services will change colors but why doesn’t Apple?
Last question: If I rip a CD that is 16/44.1 at a Lossless rate, and Apple plays it at 24/48 is that improved over the CD lossless? Or is it just saying it’s playing it at CD Quality using a rate that is capable of keeping it lossless. Forgive me as this question shows I’m needing some basics. I know when I’m playing my SACD’s at 24/192 I’m getting close to all possible detail available. But when it’s streaming, and the DAC lights don’t tell me, I don’t like guessing. Thanks for any feedback on these questions