I know there are a few threads, but I thought a refresh might be useful as some features have changed (I think).
For background, I have a large iTunes collection of ripped CDs from before I had my Uniti Core, and also keep this going with new rips so I could copy music onto my iPhone for playing in the car. I’m also on a 3 month free trial with Apple Music, hence my renewed interest.
So, Apple Music first. The UI is really nice and as I have a lot of Apple devices, it might be a better long term option to either supplement or replace Qobuz for on-line streaming. From what I can ascertain, using AM through Airplay gives me 44/16 CD quality music on Naim streamers. I can also output to my ND555 and Nova through the Apple TV, which gives option 96/24 with the right settings used and a wired ethernet network, or HDMI to a TV and optical output to the steamer. I also have a 2015 iMac in my music room/office, so I can play 96/24 using the optical headphone output to the ND555 (again have to select settings in AM and the Midi set-up). So, that is pretty good.
Moving to iTunes and the local ripped files. Unbeknown to me, when you subscribe to AM you can sync your local files in iTunes and your favourites from AM - this seems to work pretty well (it’s like the merged libraries you get with Roon).
I’ve a slight complication in my iTunes library - this was on a second 2012 iMac which I use as a second monitor. It’s getting old and has random power-offs, so I am moving to a dedicated monitor and will keep it as a spare. I’ve migrated the music files to a seperate hard drive connected to the main 2015 iMac and pointed the AM app (iTunes) to those files, which it reads. However, syncing the library hasn’t showed all the files. I needed to tidy up various folder locations, and discovered that you need to update the genius thing in settings and now I’m updating the cloud music library. I’m not entirely sure how the sync of the local library works - it seems to be like the photos app, where the files are uploaded to iCloud and sync back to your iOS devices? I really wanted the old Home Share option to play files from an iPhone to AirPods whilst on the home network. So, this aspect is work in progress. Can anyone clarify how this works please?
Also, are there any aspects of AM that I have missed to get the best out of it?
Which Apple TV do you have (I’ve probably had most of them) as there is no longer optical out so without an HDMI audio option you’re stuck with CD quality.
The ones I am using are the earlier 4K ones. I thought if you used airplay from them they were hi-res if connected through the Ethernet to a streamer, or optical via a suitable TV.
I do have 2 older ones with optical outputs in my old gadgets drawer.
Okay, so. Test track is Sorrow by Pink Floyd - Hi-res audio and an Apple Digital Master.
From the TV optical out to ND555 using the AM app on ATV - all 48kHZ. Using the audio out setting on the ATV and selecting the ND555 - shows as Airplay on streamer with no resolution displayed - but sounds sameish. In the ATV settings I have the hires 24/48kHZ selected, but the ND555 doesn’t display the bit rate for some reason.
Using AM on Mac, Mac outputting optical to ND555, streamer shows 96kHZ, and sound quality is way better.
As an aside, Re Bluray output. A 96/24 file shows as 48kHZ using either the coaxial output to the ND555, or optical via the TV.
I guess that this is always a matter of personal taste and also driven by choice in devices.
To me Apple Music is no match for Qobuz where it comes to sound quality. Also Apple Music isn’t integrated in Audirvāna, which is my main application for streaming.
I used to be in the Apple ecosystem. Sole reason why I have quitted with the Apple ecosystem about 10 yrs ago was the fact that it is so focused on Apple devices and ‘unfriendly’ to working with other devices.
Apart from a great UI/UX with the Apple devices it falls short in almost every field where it comes to sound quality or ease with any other device. I realized I had stepped into the trap of the trend that a lot of my colleagues were following. Apple was keeping me hostage in a way.
The day I went Android and Windows (although certainly not without limitation) I gained a lot of ‘freedom’ in choice. Chromecast goes to 24/96 and with UPnP I can go even further without much hassle.
Maybe 360 recordings would be a reason to do this, but I don’t have a surround system. This is mainly because I find the music in 360 always less engaging than in stereo. Haven’t heard anything at friends that made me change my mind on this yet.
Good points and I agree that Qobuz sounds better (I read a few comparisons earlier) and the UI within the Naim app is fine for me. The attraction with Apple Music is more for mobile use in my case, as I find the iOS app much better than the Qobuz one. Not sure that justifies both subscriptions once the free trial is over though.
What are your main issues where it comes to the Qobuz app?
I also feel it’s not optimal, but I am also looking for best sound quality with mobile use. Therefore I stream a lot on mobile by using the app USB Audio Player Pro, a mobile DAC (Dragonfly Red with Jitterbug FMJ) and my headphones. I chose the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 as it also had quite a decent sound in Bluetooth when not using cables.
Mostly, I don’t find it easy to navigate, especially the library. Too many clicks, back steps, filters etc. Also, the lack of recommendations and links to similar music etc. It really just doesn’t seem to flow that seamlessly.
The Naim app is okay, but would be better with a few more features - recently played, similar artists etc.
You have once again confirmed the old adagio that in this hobby a lot (if not all) is about personal taste. A good thing!
I for instance just love the library as it gives me the ease of setting filters, and then can find easier what I’m looking for. You on the other hand feel that it is a hassle. Two different feelings about the same feature.
It sure makes me understand better why you are looking for improvement.
Maybe it would help you when you prioritise your requirements on this matter. For example: UI should be first, sound quality second, gear needed (only phone or laptop, or also DAC) et cetera.
I was also looking at switching to Apple Music as default music service.
For me, airplay through a mobile device is not something i want to do.
Apple TV as far as i know resamples everything to 48kHz. I would prefer no resampling and for all audio not to go through my TV…I’m sure going through the TV doesn’t increase the Audio quality.
Benefits though are having probably the best iOS UI and being able to navigate via the Apple TV remote on the TV for music selection and artwork.
However, Spotify seem again to be promising Hi-Res tier…
I have the all the gear I need. Priority would be sound quality first on the main system, so Qobuz. For mobile use, probably UI, so Apple Music. I’ll play around with the Qobuz mobile app a bit more though - would prefer a single subscription.
Presumably TV is passing through the HDMI audio to its optical out which is nice.
I still don’t think that Airplay is currently giving you anything better than CD quality irrespective of the Apple Music app on the ATV - the Naim firmware is ready and waiting for hi-res stereo Airplay it’s just that AFAIK Apple haven’t flicked the switch to allow it. Would love to be wrong!
Glad that’s working properly - have been meaning to try this for ages but my ‘newest’ Mac which still has optical is too told to officially offer hi-res via Apple Music.
Suspect that the player is only allowing 96/24 over HDMI not coaxial and that the TV won’t or is prevented from outputting 96/24 over optical. I think that’s what you are describing. BluRay audio output settings are often quite fiddly to customise though I suspect you’ve looked there.
The original AppleTV would output lossy or lossless stereo audio as 16/44.1 over optical from memory. Starting with AppleTV 2 for some bizarre reason they resampled things to 48 kHz over optical which made little sense and didn’t sound as though it was going to do much for the sound quality. This continued with other models at least until Apple ditched optical out from the device. I’m not certain what they do with the latest ATVs apart from being fairly certain Airplay is limited to CD quality (Airplay 2 on paper can do better) and the only way of getting anything better is via HDMI to an AV receiver or with HDMI being passed through from a connected TV/display.
