Lossless is coming later for Homepod and Homepod mini
Homepod and Homepod mini can enjoy lossless audio. However, “Spatial Audio” with Dolby Athmos can only be played on one of the rows – and only under certain conditions. (Image: Apple)
The manufacturer has announced that the mini-boxes will be retrofitted with a software update. The headphone lineup, however, is left out. There is also bad news for song buyers via iTunes.
Apple has one Support page online on the details of the new sound formats Lossless and Hi-Res-Lossless. In it, the company states that it will provide the Homepod and Homepod mini with a software update in the future. It should enable the speakers to play lossless audio. It remains unclear whether two home pods are required for this or whether it can only be used with one copy. To play Dolby Atmos in videos, for example, two of the devices have to be controlled. It is not known whether the smart speakers will be able to play the “immersive sound” in the future with pure audio files. Homepod Minis (test), on the other hand, do not support 3D sound.
This is how you can play Lossless
The first requirement is an Apple Music subscription. Music purchased through iTunes cannot be updated without a membership. However, if you have a (test) subscription, you can use it to download the lossless files at a later date. In the settings of iOS (from version 14.6) the lossless music enjoyment can be switched on via “Music”> “Audio Quality”. On the Mac (from macOS 11.4) the option is hidden in the Apple Music app under “Options”> “Playback”> “Audio Quality”. In order to be able to hear the higher resolution, you need a cable connection to the output medium. An external digital-to-analog converter is required for Hi-Res Lossless. The option can also be activated on the Apple TV 4k (tvOS 11.4) via “Settings”> “Music”> “Audio Quality”. The AV receiver, which is connected via HDMI, then forwards the sound to the loudspeakers. Hi-Res Lossless is not supported.
No lossless on radio or Apple Music 1
Apple confirms in the document that do not play lossless Bluetooth headphones from the manufacturer can – including the Beats brand – and justifies this with the wireless connection. The AirPods Max can do it with the cable connected, but the sound is not completely lossless because it is converted twice. Content broadcast on Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country will not provide lossless sound. The same goes for music videos and radio. Apple Music Lossless hits the market in June. If necessary, the operator recommends that subscription customers delete the old files and download the new Lossless songs.
