Apple Music brings lossless streaming, Spatial Audio support with Dolby Atmos

Apple

After all the rumours, Apple has officially announced its Music streaming service will bring a lossless music quality option to its entire catalogue beginning next month. You won't need to pay extra to get the feature. 

You have to opt-in to access the lossless mode. Head to Settings > Music > Audio Quality and then select Lossless or Hi-Resolution Lossless.

Besides offering this higher audio quality option, Apple Music is also getting support for Spatial Audio for songs authored in Dolby Atmos. This feature will allow you to listen to select albums in an immersive 3D sound-space using products like the AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats headphones with an H1 or W1 chip.

Right now, you need an AirPods Pro or AirPods Max to take advantage of Spatial Audio. So, we have to see how Apple will implement this with its other audio accessories.

According to the company, thousands of songs supporting Spatial Audio will go live next month. Apple partnered with artists like Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves, Maroon 5, and more for the initial launch, with more tracks being added "constantly." Apple plans to have special playlists that highlight the new additions. There will also be a new Dolby Atmos logo visible on albums that support the feature. 

As 9to5Mac pointed out, it isn't clear yet if AirPods are good enough to appreciate the boost in sound quality; even for Hi-Res Lossless, you'll need an external DAC. But for those who have been wishing to get this feature, your wish has finally been granted. Well, it will be next month.

In related news, Amazon has also just announced its lossless music streaming service will be a free upgrade, too.

Update on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 10:04PM by Nicole Batac

Apple clarified that its AirPods audio accessories won't support the Lossless formats.