Bluetooth STILL can't do HI-RES AUDIO (and iPads aren't free)

This video is brought to you by Primare:

🎥 Camera: John Darko
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan

0:00 Intro
2:43 Hi-res Bluetooth?
4:09 Hi-res on Apple TV?
5:38 What about Sonos?
7:09 Android 14
9:35 LTS
11:40 iPads aren't free
13:12 Night & day?

👉 As mentioned in this video...

My $702 iPad streaming setup for Apple Music:

iPad 10th Generation w/ USB_C (US$404) ⬅️ discounted

Moswag USB-C splitter (US$10)

iFi Zen DAC 2 (US$199)

iFi 4.4mm to XLR Balanced cable (US$99)

Third-party Android streamers...

Eversolo DMP-A6 (US$859)

FiiO R7 (US$699)

Other stuff...

We need to talk about APPLE MUSIC & hi-res audio (2021)

HI-RES AUDIO and APPLE MUSIC done right! (2021)

No, Bluetooth cannot deliver hi-res audio

Podcast: Bluetooth STILL can’t do hi-res audio BUT…

WiiM Pro Plus

FiiO PL-50

Mathmos Lava lamps

Streaming platform by Roon

Cables and power products by AudioQuest

Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel

Room treatment by Vicoustic

Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, which are indicated with a '🛒'.

#applemusic #bluetooth #hiresaudio

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[jcappleman]

I’ve been using the loudness wars database to find albums on CD with the best dynamic range and they are almost always original recording mixes and mastering. I have purchased several albums that I also own in high resolution and the sound quality is noticeably better and less harsh. I’ve been engaged in this hobby for 10 years and I feel that I’ve been duped by Hi-Res audio. Hi-Res is great for recently released music, but Hi-Res releases of the albums I’ve tested so far are still dynamically compressed enough to sound harsh at times. As mentioned on the Darko Audio podcast, it took digital playback gear awhile to catch up but now that DACs and filters are for the most part very good and affordable the superior sound quality of original mixes are even more apparent. I want to say thank you John for helping to open my eyes and ears to enjoy my music even more.

[JorgedeLumiarFerreira]

I am happy using my iPad Pro (that I use for everything else, including work) via USB C to my external DAC with Hi-res capabilities. And this saves me around EUR 800 that would only buy me some cool VU meters in the EverSolo and a remote/control app, along with the risk of it becoming obsolete due to the lack of Android updates in the long run. I would replace my iPad anyway in the future, so it isn't really a question for me (and I believe for many iPad users). Great video tough, as usual!!!

[chrishumphries]

Thank you for continuing to beat the drum over dynamic range and compression issues in mastering. For years I have reluctantly turned my back on a lot of good music that is poorly mastered and instead often found myself honing in on less ideal music but that sounds dynamic. It actually drives me batty.

[kiv]

Btw, if someone already owns iPad Pro with Apple Smart Keyboard, they can charge the iPad using the keyboard USB C port and connect iPad to external DAC through iPad USB C port simultaneously. No 3rd party dongles or splitters required.

I wouldn’t recommend purchasing both solely for AM streaming as it’s too pricey for the purpose, but it’s a good use case if you already own the combo anyway.

Oh, and I connect my iPad to Cambridge Audio CXA 61 amplifier via USB.

[Svboru]

Thank you so much for this series! It was very helpful. Just joined your Patreon as well to say thank you (and your playlists are amazing)!

[Blaira]

This is a fantastic video, John! Love the format and pace. Really enjoyable.

[bbfrid]

I agree that the mastering quality is far more important than the bit rate, etc. Thanks for the information. Btw, when does the interview with pbthal air?

[absolutium]

Thanks for elaborating in regard of the 48kHz downsample/upsample..
I really don't care about high res but I really like when a device manages a direct integer for 44.1 and 48kHz.

[peturstefansson]

I am very grateful for your explanations on this technical side of Hi-Res audio transmission via Bluetooth, Apple and Android software and devices from them.

[cheeky]

I love how thoughtful, well considered and thought provoking these followup videos are. Thank you John 👍😁👍

[budgetaudiophilelife-long]

THANKS JOHN 👍 FOR EXPLAINING IN UNDERSTANDABLE TERMS…JUST HOW NICHE THIS IS AND HOW THE QUALITY OF THE MUSIC IS MORE IMPORTANT…I PERSONALLY CAN RELAX 🤗 AND JUST ENJOY THE MUSIC 🎼🎹🎺🎷

[davehood]

I use my old Google pixel phone with usb audio pro app and chord mojo dac into my Hifi stream amazon music the high resolution is cheap and sounds fantastic.

[arnarringheim]

Most important thing I took from this, which is very true, is that indeed hi res audio means nothing without a proper mastered album/track which in quality varies by a lot

[David-Ellis]

Hmm, if you already have an iPad [lots of people do] and your amp contains a decent inbuilt DAC [like a Hegel does] then Apple Music streaming does come at the very reasonable price of a Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter from Apple at £45. The adapter lets you power the iPad whilst also streaming via USB.

[jackiedurk]

Thank you so much for all your reviews. Really appreciate all the informative videos.😊

[BillyVerden]

Hmm.. that's the cleanest, clearest intro audio I've heard in a long time.. Cool..

[Synthysizer]

I'd never considered mastering and dynamic range seriously until encountering your content reviewing it, so thank you for continuing to point out it's significant impact!

[bling]

You should be able to connect the Ipad directly to the R7 via USB. (Ipad as source and R7 as DAC/Amp.) I connect my Ipad to the Fiio K9 Pro that way.

[JustLearning]

I may be wrong but I think you can have the battery on your old iPad replaced.

[neekondrums]

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate how in depth you go into these things, and mostly how I appreciate you giving all the correct information rather than glossing over differences that "most people" aren't going to notice. It's refreshingly respectful for you to give the information as accurately as you can so that people can decide for themselves what parts matter to them (as opposed to what many reviewers seems to do, which is try to sound absolute about things because that is what they imagine an authoritative voice should do). It's very helpful to hear, for instance, that although you don't particularly care to chase hi-res audio for your own listening pleasure, it is incorrect and misguided to call something hi-res or bit perfect just because it can upsample and output greater than CD quality resolution. Thank you for being reliable by putting forth care and effort. It's noticed.