Apple Music HiFi Tier incoming?

Presumably, if you use Roon it will be able to stream hi-res ALAC up to 24/192 from the Apple Music library on a Mac to my Naim streamer ND5XS2, so no reliance on Airplay? Or am I way out?

Cheers, Ian

I guess it depends on the DRM stance that Apple adopt. If tracks/albums are purchased, this may be possible. I would doubt a locally downloaded file obtained under the Apple Music sub would be playable via Roon due to DRM.

So the rumours are true. Apple announce hires musicā€¦ think itā€™ll become native to the Naim app?

It depends on whether Apple can update airplay to be compatable otherwise from what Iā€™ve read so far itā€™s specific Apple products or wired connections onlyā€¦ if they can get their act together though it will be a winner given their is no up charge,

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Iā€™m currently streaming RP via AirPlay and, if you can see past the finger marks on my iPad, the artwork shows - at least it does on my Nova.

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Very few ā€˜specific Apple productsā€™ at this point. Itā€™s obvious theyā€™ve got the announcement out now to steal Spotifyā€™s thunder, and the details will come later. Needless to say weā€™re in conversation with Apple on the subject.

https://www.whathifi.com/news/apple-music-hi-resolution-lossless-wont-work-on-iphone-airpods-or-homepod

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Airplay streams the album art every time. Not sure what those comments are about. Also airplay is really easy to do. You just drop down control centre and tap on your device. If itā€™s only CD quality your after then an absolute bargain. We have a family subscription and I find the Apple Music app smooth and easy to use.

Are you also talking to Amazon?

Yes - as previously noted, Amazon Music HD is already on our development wishlist.

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Never had any issues with AirPlay 2 - besides the limitation to 8/44.1.

With the announcement of lossless and even HiRes in Apple Music without higher prices, it will become very difficult for niche streaming services like Tidal and Qobuz to survive.

Donā€™t agree when they integrate better into hifi without the need to use another app. Having to use airplay or Chromecast really isnā€™t good enough compared to native streaming
through the apis. Certainly isnā€™t on my Atom.

Appleā€™s never going to open this up, much like Spotify donā€™t. Not in their interests to. Hifi world is small fry as well itā€™s likely a very small percentage of users on Tidal who care about hires, likely more on Qobuz that do care. It may well impact their plans but I am sure there is plenty of room for all of them. Plenty of niche video streaming services why not audio. More choice and freedom not to be locked into one companies monopoly the better.

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I see better audio quality is good for us if all services are offering it, more choices less compromise in audio quality.

What I am afraid is that the big and powerful business like Apple can with their low price offerings destroy the less solid business models, I still prefer Tidal or Qobuz option integrated in our software of choice, than using Apple Music or Spotify.

But the majority of subscribers will look into their value and will choose at the end of the month a 7 euros Apple Music over a 14 euros Tidal HiFi, both lossless with Apple integrating this in a easy transparent way in their devices. If Tidal is not financially strong a change like this could be de end after some time.

And even family Apple Music is cheaper than Tidal and Qobuz, single user, only 11 euros.

All streaming business oferrings must be at the moment evaluating what they will do, or waiting to see the impact of this and then react.

I donā€™t think so, mainly because as previously discussed the Apple ecosystem is closed. People want to share music/playlists etc. Donā€™t underestimate the importance of the social network features to the younger generations. They would only be a threat to Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, etc. if they opened the service up to other non-Apple devices. I donā€™t see that happening. Amazon is more of a threat in that sense.

They havenā€™t had DRM on downloads for years and that was something the record companies wanted, not Apple.

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You can share playlists on Apple Music and also send them your Spotify app.

If you have an Apple deviceā€¦

I donā€™t really do playlists, so not certain, but I thought friends of mine with Apple Music on their Android devices (not quite sure why they have it) were sharing playlists with friends with IOS devices.

I didnā€™t actually realise it was available on Android. Surprised at that!

Well Apple forgot to call me to let me know :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: good to know, may use them again now.