Ten-year Apple Music user advocates for implementing high-fidelity feature to optimize their listening experience
Apple Music, launched on the 30th of June 2015, has amassed over 100 million songs in its catalogue, making it a formidable player in the streaming market. With 93 million paid subscribers, it remains a popular choice for music lovers. However, when it comes to streaming quality, Apple Music's users, who prioritize seamless connection and integration, may not be overly concerned about codecs or bitrates.
AirPlay, a wireless protocol developed by Apple, is commonly used for streaming music from Apple devices. While AirPlay claims to deliver 16-bit/44.1kHz quality streams, when streaming using AirPlay 2, the quality gets downsampled to the lossy AAC format, which is a Bluetooth standard. This has been a point of contention for those who care about sound quality, especially when compared to services like Qobuz Connect and Tidal Connect, which allow for hi-res quality streaming.
The advent of Qobuz Connect has made the difference between AirPlay and its competitors more stark. Tidal and Qobuz's Connect versions send music directly from their servers to connected hi-fi products, unlike AirPlay, which streams songs from a smartphone or tablet, not directly from the streaming service's servers. This direct connection results in better-than-Bluetooth quality streaming for Tidal and Qobuz users.
Apple Music has introduced spatial audio and 24-bit hi-res lossless tiers, but these improvements are limited to downloads and not wireless streaming via AirPlay. The desired update for AirPlay is to stream music directly from the service's servers to connected hi-fi products, leaving the phone free to be used as a remote.
However, as of mid-2025, there is no public information or announcement indicating Apple is planning to implement a "Connect" version of AirPlay specifically aimed at improved streaming quality. The latest Apple TV update, tvOS 26, focuses on enhancing AirPlay usability by allowing any wireless speaker that supports AirPlay to be set as the permanent output device, expanding beyond just HomePod speakers. However, this enhancement targets convenience and wireless speaker compatibility rather than streaming quality improvements through a new protocol or "Connect" version.
Apple continues to emphasize seamless integration and continuity features across devices, such as AirDrop, Universal Clipboard, and Handoff, but these relate more to workflows and device interoperability rather than AirPlay streaming quality. There are also audio improvements like "enhanced dialogue" on Apple TV that use machine learning for clearer vocals, but these are processing features rather than changes to AirPlay’s streaming protocol.
For those who care about sound quality and use Apple Music as their main streaming source, there is a desire for better wireless streaming quality through their hi-fi kit. The second desired update is full hi-res support over AirPlay, allowing for wireless streaming of lossless hi-res quality. As of now, these improvements appear incremental and geared toward ecosystem integration and ease of use rather than a fundamental upgrade to AirPlay’s quality or technology.
The original review of Apple Music, published in July 2015, received five stars. The Apple Music main individual tier started at £9.99 per month and is now £10.99 per month. Despite the slight increase in price, Apple Music remains a popular choice for music lovers seeking a seamless, integrated streaming experience.
- Some music enthusiasts might be swayed towards services like Qobuz Connect or Tidal Connect, offering hi-res quality streaming, over AirPlay due to the latter's downsampling to the AAC format.
- The news of Apple Music's 100 million song catalogue and 93 million paid subscribers sparked interest in the streaming market, reaffirming its position as a formidable player.
- When selecting brands for home-and-garden audio equipment, potential buyers might consider whether the speakers support AirPlay, given its widespread use for wireless streaming.
- AirPlay 2's downsampling to lossy AAC format can be a letdown for those who prefer high-fidelity audio, and they might seek alternatives like Qobuz Connect or Tidal Connect for better sound quality.
- As technology advances, there is a growing demand for full hi-res support over AirPlay, allowing for wireless streaming of lossless hi-res quality music.
- The Hi-Fi community has been requesting a "Connect" version of AirPlay, similar to what Tidal and Qobuz offer, to stream music directly from the service's servers to connected hi-fi products.
- The latest Apple TV update focuses on enhancing AirPlay usability, allowing any wireless speaker that supports AirPlay to be the permanent output device, but streaming quality improvements are not a focus.
- Streaming platforms like Apple Music, Qobuz, and Tidal have made their mark in the entertainment industry, with millions of songs in their catalogues and millions of paid subscribers each.
- In terms of lifestyle, AirPlay compatibility has become a desired feature for wireless speakers and audio equipment, given its popularity and ease of use.
- The rise of streaming services and their high-quality offerings, such as spatial audio and 24-bit hi-res lossless tiers on Apple Music, has led to increased demand for better sound quality in home-and-garden audio equipment.
