Yes, I am currently using PLEX on my iPhone. I was (naively) expecting the PLEX player to have its own CODECs (as part of the app), which based on the quality of the audio to my vehicle's audio system (via BT) is not to my expectations. My goal is to find an iPhone app with its own CODECs to process hi-def WAV and DSD files, understanding that the BT connection will limit the fidelity.
thanks for the comment, Joe
Well, there is your problem, lady. iPhones don't support FLAC, DSD, or WAV formats. If you convert your lossless files to ALAC, you might be able to play them losslessly from Plex to iPhone.
Make sure your ALAC audio files are in m4a or caf formats.
Also, BT doesn't support Lossless Audio AT ALL(*). It will nearly always be compressed.
* - specific very niche implementations like aptX Lossless or Denon PerL Pro technologies don't really count, and you'd struggle to find any car supporting it.
Q:
"Are there any cars with implemented "aptX lossless" in their entertainment systems?"
Here's Claude (AI) answer:
The short answer is:
no mainstream OEM car brand has publicly shipped factory infotainment with aptX Lossless as of mid-2026. Here's the full picture:
What Qualcomm Says vs. Reality
Qualcomm's aptX Lossless page broadly states the codec works across "headphones, speakers, smartphones, laptops, and automotive systems," and mentions that aptX brings high-quality, low-latency wireless sound to vehicles, enhancing music, calls, and in-car entertainment experiences. However, that's marketing language for the aptX
family broadly — there are no specific OEM car brands listed as shipping aptX
Lossless specifically in their factory infotainment.
Where It Does Exist in the Car Space
Aftermarket head units — most notably from
ATOTO (their Android-based Snapdragon-powered units are listed on aptX.com as certified products). These are bolt-in replacements, not factory systems.
The Helix BT-HD Streamer is another aftermarket device — a standalone Bluetooth receiver for DSP amplifiers that supports aptX Lossless, allowing you to add it to almost any car system.
Why Factory Cars Haven't Adopted It Yet
A few structural reasons:
- iPhone problem: aptX Lossless requires Snapdragon Sound on both ends. iPhones don't support any aptX variant — only AAC and SBC. Since iPhones are ~55% of the US smartphone market, a car OEM can't advertise meaningful lossless BT audio when half their buyers can't use it.
- Long automotive development cycles: Qualcomm only launched aptX Lossless in late 2021/early 2022. Cars take 3–5 years from design to production, so any OEM that started designing it in then would be arriving ~2025–2026 at the earliest.
- Automotive Snapdragon platforms: Qualcomm does make automotive-grade SoCs (Snapdragon Ride), but aptX Lossless support specifically in those platforms hasn't been publicly confirmed or announced by any major OEM yet.
Bottom Line
| Category | aptX Lossless support |
|---|
| Factory OEM infotainment (BMW, Audi, Mercedes, etc.) |  Not confirmed |
| ATOTO aftermarket Android head units |  Yes |
| Helix BT-HD Streamer (add-on) | Yes |
| Your iPhone as the source | Never (Apple blocks aptX) |
| Android phone as source | Many recent Snapdragon phones |
If you're trying to get lossless Bluetooth audio
into a car today, the practical path is an aftermarket Snapdragon-based head unit paired with an Android phone — not a factory system. And if you're on iPhone, aptX Lossless simply isn't an option regardless of the car.
