As of v3.6 release we are on the v2.0.4 version of the Airplay2 library, so we are ready if Apple decide to do lossless buffered streams from Apple Music. We have a full blown implementation in the products.
Regarding Airplay2 not all implementations are born equal. One dilemma of Airplay is that one of the devices on the network that is Airplay2 enabled is elected as master clock reference for the PTP clocking system ( Precision Time Protocol - Wikipedia ) and then all other devices have to track. This means the hifi clock needs to precisely track the external clock based on this protocol.
In Naimās solution we use a programmable fractional clock generator so we can dial the audio clock in to match the calculated rates down to fractions of a PPM. Quite a few manufacturers use software SRC to make player clock match external clock which is quite destructive on sound.
Thank you for the response (especially on a Sunday ). Good to hear that the Naim streamer software is prepared for AirPlay 2 lossless if Apple decides to use that in Apple Music.
Could you please comment on the maximum supported resolution? Is it 16 bit / 44.1 kHz, 24 Bit / 44 kHz or more? Is FLAC supported or just the Apple codecs AAC and ALAC?
Would it be possible to display the resolution and codec in one of the Naim appās next versions?
RE: Max supported resolution. There are two answers to this.
In its current form Apple will deliver a 16/44.1 stream to the AIrplay2 enabled device. The phone / computer may implement a sample rate convertor to achieve this.
Protocol wise Airplay2 can go up to 24/96, but in current implementations this is not enabled and itās unlikely that Apple will start doing multiple native sample rate support.
New rumors (based on Apple Music Android-app beta information) and some hints for a release already next week. (See e.g. MacRumors.)
Terms like āhigh efficiency/qualityā, ālosslessā, and āhi-res losslessā are mentioned; ranging from current AAC/256kbps to 24bit/48kHz and also mentioning 24bit/192kHz.
Yes, saw that earlier. I think itās probably inevitable at some stage.
What I do find odd is that consumers are generally disinterested in hi-res audio but are taken in hook line and sinker (not in a bad way) by AV things like HDR/4k(+) and Dolby Vision. Odd disparity really.
Hmhh, the TV industry has successfully used the advance-through-resolution as selling point for about 2 decades now? And screens get bigger, computer displays and phone screens have ever increasing resolutions, digital cameras increase all the timeā¦
ā¦ so consumers are used to this āfeature creepā. Also with PCs, video consoles, graphic cards, ā¦ the more pixels, the merrier.
Plus the massive increases in TV size the last 20 years as well - it sound ālogicalā, you need higher resolution, shiny colors, etc. pp.
Plus the usual marketing hype about any soccer championship (here in Germany, maybe other sports in other countries); the hunt for the perfect āhome cinemaā.
And, admittedly, until Full-HD, itās pretty obvious visible improvements. I donāt have experience with 4K, HRD/Dolby Vision and surround yet at home - pretty conservative, looking mostly DVD-rips in stereo (itās decent, I enjoy the content, and I try to only buy new things, when hardware breaks); but the screen Iām typing on currently is 5K on my desktop. (You get used to āRetinaā, ā¦)
Or: the gap between possible visual reproduction and what your eye can see (I do think, 8K for a home TV takes it too far - but letās not talk about eye dynamic adjustment capability vs. todays cameras/screens) was huuuuuge and to a point still is.
With CD-quality, you are close to what most humans will ever discern - so there is intrinsically much more information in the visual than in the audible domain. So tech caught up 30 years earlier or soā¦
PS: Surround sound is obvious to anybody - super-hires-audio is not.
The next generation of sound on Apple Music is coming to subscribers June 2021 at no additional cost
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced Apple Music is bringing industry-leading sound quality to subscribers with the addition of Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos. Spatial Audio gives artists the opportunity to create immersive audio experiences for their fans with true multidimensional sound and clarity. Apple Music subscribers will also be able to listen to more than 75 million songs in Lossless Audio ā the way the artists created them in the studio. These new features will be available for Apple Music subscribers starting next month at no additional cost.
I thought AirPlay was limited to 16/44 the press release stated that will offer 24 bit
Dolby Atmos may well be the thing that gets consumers excited, I have Airpods Pro but have not tried any of the spatial audio features on movies yet. May be popular or just a gimmick I suppose.
I always thought Qobuz family was extremely expensive when maybe only the subscriber was interested or had audiophile equipment. Itās now extremely ppor value when Apple Family is Ā£15/month.
). Good to hear that the Naim streamer software is prepared for AirPlay 2 lossless if Apple decides to use that in Apple Music.
