Want to Hear Apple Lossless Audio? Here's How. 2024

Want to be able to listen to Apple Music Lossless audio? Here's a list of some of the best headphones and DAC/Amps you can buy to get started Apple announced that Apple Music will now support lossless audio for all its users They didn't even raise the price! One problem: None of the Headphones they sell--not the AirPods, not the AirPods Pro, not the AirPods Max--will play lossless audio Of course they won't
00:00 Intro
03:16 Headphones
13:14 DACs
18:31 Conclusion
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Gear I Use:
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☑️ This video and description contain affiliate links which means that if you click on one of the product links I'll receive a small commission

#applemusiclossless #howtolistentoapplelossless #courage

[nathanroberts]

Quidelix 5k is the DAC/AMP I use. You can use it wired or bluetooth, has a 3.5mm port and 2.5mm balanced port, the app has EQ settings, has a built in microphone for calls or can use your headphones' built in mic if it has one. Supports music up to 24 bit 96khz wired, and works with PC, mobile, along with Nintendo Switch/PS4/PS5 at $110.

[jinvid]

Jason, thank you so much for all the suggestions! I was able to pick up the Dragonfly Red with adapter set off your Kit link! I also got the Drop Sennheiser HD6XX for somma that Hi Res Goodness.

4/19/22 UPDATE AND WARNING TO ALL YOU KIDS OUT THERE: Just like Jason said, getting into Head-Fi is a Rabbit Hole that you will be falling deeper and deeper into. It starts off innocently enough, one headphone and an adapter to listen Hi Res Lossless like me with the HD6XXs and the Dragonfly Red. But since then I’ve purchased the Dragonfly Cobalt thanks to John Darko’s review as well as the Chord Mojo 1 and my first set of Planars, the HiFi Man HE-X4s. And I’m not done because I’m planning on purchasing a Campfire Audio IEM soon! So, in conclusion, calling this an addiction is an understatement.

[prasannakurukuladithya]

Correction: DAC stand for Digital to ‘Analog’ Converter and not Digital ‘Audio’ Converter

[michael_c]

This is a really great service to people that have the hardware to support it. I was paying 50 bucks a year to get lossless audio on Amazon although now it's free. But I refuse to buy a phone without a headphone jack for that very reason

[sggylettuce]

I got my Sennheiser 650HD and iFi hip-dac delivered today and I love them. Music sounds amazing now!!

[Nanomaroni]

I would like to add a few points and it would be awesome if you talk about them in the next video or maybe give me some Feedback. I will be talking quite in Detail though, there’s lots of room to make them much shorter.

1) Lossless Audio on Apple Music (Apple Digital Master) will always be streamed if the Highest Quality Settings are Selected. Your Gear doesn’t matter, so even for AirPods Products, Lossless will be streamed.
2) Lossless is the input, like Tea Leafs when you make Tea. Your Speaker/Headphones are the „transfer Medium“, like the Tea Water. You can make always Good Tea/Good Music with good Quality stuff but you can never make Good Tea/Music with poor Quality stuff. So even on crappy Speakers you will hear a difference. The Source is now finally Good stuff and the Rest of the Chain is your Equipment. But you will hear a difference for sure, but with better Equipment you can unlock the full potential.
3)it’s still a controversial topic but sampling more than 48khz isn’t noticable for humans (there’s people say they can hear the difference). Most of us can’t hear over 20Khz, none can over 22Khz. Since we’re listening to stereo, you need to double that. So everything sampled above 48khz should theoretically not be noticable for humans (thus why the Airpods Max Limitation).
4) Even if the AAC Limitations of Airpods Max would be fixed, they could never output true Lossless and aren’t meant for that. Main Reason is that they Automatically change the Sound 200 times per second to give always a consistent hearing experience. This Computing and Altering of the sound can’t be described as Lossless since the output will change all the time.

Those are a few basics to understand Lossless a bit better, what it means and why a DAC and good Headphones are worth it. As for my Part, I listen with DAC and Sennheisers at Home and with my AirPods Max on the go. The Bluetooth Connection surely reduces sound quality a bit but when you’re on the go it’s barely noticeable and they’re very easy and comfy to use.

Just make sure to take a giant surviving backpack with you because they take up waaay too much space.

Love your Videos, keep being Honest for us! We all appreciate it!

[zabdielscoon]

It’s really nice to have this kind of episode. I hope you carry on with a series of talks and reviews about music tech.

[Displays..]

It would be good if you could more reviews on wired top quality headphones and DACs

[zzz-vdrp]

Hd 650 is quite pricey though. Just buy the 6XX since they are just the same thing. Buying used is also very good for saving money since headphones would keep thier value relatively well after its being depreciated by thier first owner.

[MikeSparksMusic]

Great topic here Jason! I am glad that Apple and Spotify are finally going lossless. I’ve been buying CDs for the longest time due to the lossless quality and physical artwork.

[Shundave]

The newest iPod Touch, which runs iOS 14.6, has a headphone jack. So you can get lossless audio on that.

[nick_vee]

Apple in 2016: Removes headphone jack “Use bluetooth headphones, bluetooth is the future.”

Apple in 2021: Releases lossless audio songs. “These won’t work with bluetooth headphones, you need wired headphones and a headphone jack.”

[fabiz]

Really great list imo, just wanna mention a couple things:
1) I really love my Hifiman HE4xx, if you want a warm, spacious sound these are a really great peoduct imo
2) can also recommend the Beyerdynamic Tygr 300r as an alternative to the 770/880/990, they are warmer sounding as far as I know and their imaging is really great. They are marketed to gamers but they're really great as an everyday headphone
3) Instead of the regular Senheiser hd 650, the Drop x senheiser hd6xx is available forbabout 200$ in the US, which are just reskined hd 650. This means you get the same sound for less than half the price of the normal hd650

[jennifergala]

I use amazon HD. Very satisfied UHD audio is awesome. I use planar headphones with a DAC. Is a must.

[pablovi]

You can use the Apple dongle, ligthing or USB-c to headphone jack, and use any wired headphones and get lossless and Highres audio. Up to 24bit 96Khz.

[IanRoberts-sznx]

Jason. Any solutions for achieving full lossless resolution from Apple Music with a home Hifi set up please?
I have zero interest in a headphone/DAC amp set up. (Tinnitus - and headphones only make it worse), I listen only via speakers. Thanks

[robertosanchez]

I have been getting into audio lately due to the AirPods max and the Sonos arc. So, it would be nice to hear expert advice to have a better sounding experience. I like hearing the audio as the musicians intended us to listen to it.

[groundcontrol]

10:19 Agreed. I own a ton of headphones, ranging from regular in ears to high end ANC cans to high end audiophile grade headphones. I also own the Beyers 990 pro 250 ohm like you, but it's like a decade old at this point. Anyway, the point is I have the Sennheiser HD 650's since 2016, and paired with my JDS Labs Element (first gen, it's both a DAC and amplifier unit all in one, with dual gain settings, low for efficient IEMs and high for power hungry cans like planar magnetics and all that) and they are by far the most clean, clear, open and "honest" cans I own. Sure, they're not gonna give you head rumbling bass, but that's not what they're for and I have other cans for that. Don't confuse that with not being able to hear bass in the music, as you will, they actually WILL play the lowest bass you could ever find in a track, and you'll clearly be able to hear it because it's neutral. Their frequency response is actually 10-40, 000hz, so they literally play sounds beyond what you can even hear. I'd also highly recommend the JDS Labs Element, it has served me since 2016 with absolutely zero issues, the sound is CLEAN and it will drive pretty much anything you throw at it. The HD650's are 300 Ohms and it can make them louder than I can tolerate listening to for more than a short period of time. They have a 2nd gen of it out now, but I don't have experience with it nor have I read the specs, so I can only personally recommend the 1st gen, although I'm sure they probably just made an even better and capable unit than before. Oh, forgot to mention they do custom etching on your products. I have a custom etched image on my volume knob and to this day, it still looks absolutely amazing. The image was low res and they still managed to make it look amazing.

[kbarnes]

I'll just use the Hi-Fi Quad DAC on my LG V60. Good to go!

[alejandroelcid]

This was a great video for anyone like myself who is new to the world of audio. I am currently using a Moondrop Starfield (IEM), which I changed to a balanced 2.5 mm cable, with a FiiO BTR5 which cost me about $250 ($109+$20+$119). I don't pretend to know about audio but I am hearing more from my audio library and I am enjoying movies a lot more. Definitely, it is worth investing in this type of "kit"; I will add a suggestion of looking at multiple reviews as different people prefer different sounds so there are not necessarily good or bad devices as much as devices that fit different sound tastes. But someone correct me if I am wrong.