I would very much appreciate anyone using a Apple Music at CD quality or higher on an:
Apple MacBook Air M2….or
iPad 2025 Mini….or
7th generation iPod-Touch
With 2nd generation Mu-So in such a way that the Apple Music is streamed and played on the Mu-So at whatever the file on the Mac/iPad/iPod-Touch was stored (lossless).
Please….if you could be specific in terms of all the items needed to make the above work (make/model/source).
As background: I really want a Mu-So in seems to be a perfect solution for our small room….but I cannot seem to get a complete picture of how to let Apple Music be streamed “bit-perfectly” to the Mu-So so I can enjoy the playlists from Apple Music.
I am not into streaming from Spotify etc…in our old age, my wife and I simply “like what we like” ….. 99% of the time.
I have over 4000 songs (from CD’s) grouped into playlists and we love them just as they are. Today we listen to them in the car, or at home (Bose wave radios) greatly down sampled to AAC 256k level on very old generation iPods (8 gb !)….so I am trying very hard to “up” my sound enjoyment.
I realize that I will likely need to re-rip my CD’s into Apple Mudic as originally they were ripped to iTunes nearly 10-15 years ago.
Airplay can stream in 16-bit/44 kHz,
but what about Apple Music? What bitrate do they stream at?
Alternatively, you can also take out a Qobuz subscription, then use the Soundiiz website to transfer your playlists from Apple Music to Qobuz.
Then you can enjoy all your playlists to your heart’s content.
Either using the Naim app or with Qobuz Connect.
This also applies to Tidal.
You pay $12 for a month and try it out.
As I understand, your question is (only) on locally stored/ripped music in the Apple Music app (formerly known as iTunes)?
There’s also the Apple streaming service of the same name run in the same app.
To all I remember, the answer to your question will differ, as per this distinction. (It’s sometimes a bit messy, with service/app names getting mixed.)
Again, from memory: if you have local lossless files in Music (Apple uses ALAC as format here), you should be able to AirPlay the music to the Muso. This requires the sending device to be running; though I think you could still “remote control” Music on a Mac from an iPhone/iPad with the Remote app. (I used to do so for a long time.)
I’m not 100% sure, AirPlay (2) will be lossless, but AirPlay 1 definitely was.
Alternatives could running a UPnP server in the Mac (and using e.g. the Naim app) or putting the files on a USB drive/stick and put that into the Muso. (Both needs different way of usage, rebuilding playlists… not sure, if the USB option is as viable on Muso, as it is on Uniti and other streamers.)
You could also look into cabling a Mac to the Muso… so many options.
I’m still not sure if I can link to the Darko article (but it’s readily searchable). However the bottom line is this.
“The bottom line: it’s only when 1) the streaming app, 2) the iPhone/iPad model on which that app runs and 3) the streaming endpoint are all AirPlay 2-equipped that the stream is lossy compressed to AAC 256kbps.”
Sounds counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? Please note that for lossless he’s referring to 16/44 and maybe 24/48 - nothing higher.
(Also, the article is two years old, so something may have changed.)
I have Apple lossless files on my MacBook Air and I have occasionally used Airplay to stream the files to a Muso2 and a MusoQB1. However, as has been said above, the files are reduced to AAC. This is something to do with Apple Music/iTunes not Airplay.
Here’s a quote from Apple support:
‘AirPlay (1 and 2) is capable of ALAC (lossless) streaming up to 44.1 kHz (48 kHz for video contents).
Hi-res lossless (over 48 kHz) isn’t supported via AirPlay as a protocol, regardless of Apple Music.
That said, Apple Music in its lossless form streamed via AirPlay isn’t only limited to 44.1 kHz: unfortunately it’s turned into a lossy (AAC) stream. It has been confirmed from various sources.’
I don’t know whether you could connect directly to the Muso from your MacBook but it wouldn’t seem to be very convenient.
If you are planning to rip your CDs again you might consider getting a NAS on which to store the rips. This connected to your router would then stream via wifi at Apple Lossless level to the Muso, controlled via the Naim app.
I have just tested this. I played an Apple lossless file via Airplay to the Muso2 and then the equivalent FLAC file from my Naim UnitiCore (a ripper and storage device) - the difference was startling. I would therefore say that streaming your files from your Apple device to the Muso via Airplay will seriously devalue the potential of the Muso.
Yes’… I believe all my ripped CD’s are on an older MacBook Pro internal local storage in iTunes and in AAC format. I believe I also have purchased another 100-150 iTunes individual songs and they also are stored on the same MacBook/iTunes in AAC formatted.
I have been down many “rabbit holes” as I desire to enjoy music at a stepped-up “higher level of detail” (vs. my current AAC/iPods on Bose Wave radios) without going crazy with expensive audio equipment. Hence I think the Mu-So (with Apple Music lossless files) seems very appealing …. a HUGE step up from Bose Wave radios (with the attached AAC/iPods) and yet will fit comfortably into a much smaller space when move soon.
I seem to be leaning towards the following plan:
Re-rip my cd’s to an MacBook capable of running Apple Music. It will be a dedicated MacBook just for Apple Music. I want to set it up and then mostly “forget it”. I assume most CD’s can be re-ripped at the highest “lossless” level they are (16bit/44.1kHz is my assumption) into Apple Music.
I think I can transfer my purchased Apple music from iTunes to Apple Music (or I might just re-buy them if necessary (as I have 5-iPods that are very old but still work great that I use in my cars, or when exercising or doing chores …. in other words where AAC compression level is all I “need”.
From a newer MacBook with Apple Music and my “lossless” re-ripped CD’s / purchased music……my connection to Mu-So to play lossless files from the MacBook would likely be:
— very simply USB-C (on the MacBook) to USB-A (on the side of the Mu-So). I expect this will sent “bit-perfect” digital files to the Mu-So
— from the MacBook Apple Music app I plan to play any of my dozen or more playlists.
— FYI, I plan to connect my smart TV to the Mu-So with HDMI cable or optical cable …. whichever will be easiest to use when wanting the Mu-So to be the speakers or the TV!s internal speakers.
I haven’t tried to confirm that my plans will achieve my goals…..I think this is likely to work nicely:
— play my music on the Mu-So at the highest bit/rate that the files were stored (CD-quality for most, maybe a few purchased songs at a higher level and some that might still be AAC….I assume whatever is sent to Mu-So will automatically play at the level the song’s file was stored at (compressed, lossless…)
— play Blu-Ray or DVD movies with sound going to the Mu-So when desired or TV when not desired for some reason
— watch regular TV thru TV internal speakers.
So….if anyone has done something similar…or you can see obvious flaws in my “plan”…I’d surely appreciate your insights.
(BTW….other rabbit holes have included:
KEF LS50 Wireless ii
KEF LSX Wireless ii
Vintage Integrated Amplifier/stereo speakers (TV or MacBook to Schitt Mimir DAC, RCA cables to integrated fully rebuilt/updated Dynaco SCA80Q to ZU-DW6 speakers)
Then I heard about Mu-So….and if I can get a good setup working with the Mu-So then I think that will be my preferred “rabbit hole”…
Yes…I have watched dozens and dozens of YouTubes including Darko’s channel…. I really like his presentation style.
But I must say, I am not sure he addressed my specific questions. He talks a lot about how play lossless Apple files and seems to love the Fiio R9 the best…but with Mu-so and my MacBook running Apple Music I am not sure the R9 is needed.
My head begins to hurt trying to sift thru so many options and YouTubes to get a setup that is “neat, clean, effective, not costing a million bucks, and relatively user-friendly for non-technically inclined family members”…
There’s no need to re-rip the music you already have ripped through iTunes as it will also work with Apple Music, which is just iTunes re-jigged and re-named.
To confirm what Richard says about iTunes/Apple Music. And if you haven’t bought a new Mac recently everything can be transferred very simply from the old one. The Apple software guides you through the steps. If you want a dedicated Mac which will only act as a music server, have you thought about getting a Mac Mini? People here have been using one in this way but I’m not sure how you set it up - maybe you could ask separately. If you were to back up your MacBook to the Cloud you could set up the Mac Mini from the Cloud with all your music files.
A further thought and probably the simplest option. Do you realise that you could copy all your Apple music files to a USB memory device and then plug that directly into the Muso? You would control the Muso and access the files using the Naim app - available free on Apple and Android portable devices.
I think we are referring to different videos. Can @Richard.Dane advise if I can post a link to the Darko video I am referring to? I do not believe the video references any product other than going into some detail about how different streaming services interact with AirPlay.
My understanding - and correct me if am wrong - is that your current rips are 256 kbps and that the purpose of the re-rip is to have the files in a lossless format.
Actually I provided a summary above. With AirPlay you can only get CD quality if at least one of the following is still on AirPlay 1:
The app - in this case iTunes/Apple Music
The sender - in this case the Mac or iDevice
The receiver - in this case the Muso 2
I believe all three are on AirPlay 2, so you will NOT get lossless. (Although maybe if the sender unit is very old it might till be using AirPlay 1. This can be checked.) As I said unintuitive.
I also don’t believe you can run a USB cable into the Muso 2 - I know that’s the case for iPhones. Nor do I believe the OP can stick everything on a flash drive if they want to use playlists. (Actually I don’t use playlists much - can the Muso read a playlist file from a flash drive?)
As I see it, DLNA or maybe GoogleCast
Further edit - I found a thread from three years ago that addresses the playlist issue - but without a real resolution. Maybe @GadgetMan has an update.
Yes, but the OP says he has AACs and would like lossless - so would need to re-rip or download to get that.
When I got my QB2 (now looking smart in its new peacock cover - thanks!) I was quite surprised that I could really appreciate the benefit of higher res music formats on it: something I thought I might only notice on Naim separates, so time spent doing this could be worthwhile.
That’s correct, the Musos don’t have Apple ‘Made for iPod’ certification which allows use of iOS devices connected via USB. Only the 1st gen streamers had this as an alternative to Airplay.
The USB memory option is limited to a basic folder view. Not great for large music libraries.
Below I probably a better place to look, but not sure that is what is being asked here. It relates to the required format of M3u playlist files that are stored on a USB stick along with your music files, when plugged into the back of a device.
Thanks for responding. The OP is looking for a way to get CD quality music on their Muso 2. To make a long story short, their preferred method is/was with AirPlay, but I don’t believe that will work (based on an analysis done by Darko). One alternate suggestion was that they put the music on a USB stick. But the OP wants to use playlists, and I wasn’t sure if Musos could read playlists, as they can only access the USB stick through folders/files.
Your posts from three years ago and in an earlier thread suggest that maybe it’s possible (although not without some effort).