In 2021, Apple improved its music streaming offering by offering titles in lossless format. But what does that mean exactly? And do you need it?
In 2021, Apple launched into the Lossless format, said lossless, with its Apple Music subscription (at no additional cost). This is an option allowing you to enjoy your favorite songs a little more, provided you are equipped and have a sufficiently sensitive ear. Translation: provided you are a purist.
According to information from 9to5Mac published on January 2, 2022, the Cupertino company could further democratize the Lossless format by making its future generation of AirPods Pro compatible. Today, no Bluetooth accessory sold by Apple is.
In short, if the AirPods Pro 2 are indeed compatible with Lossless, then more and more owners of an iPhone or an iPad will be able to discover this more audiophile format. But what exactly is Lossless?
Lossless, 24-bit 48 kHz, kezako?
Services like Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Tidal or even Apple Music already offer “lossless” offers supposed to convince the most audiophiles among us with a quality better than that of MP3s. The different market players baptize this option with evocative names. For example, at Spotify, like Deezer and Tidal, the Lossless is called HiFi. This format results in a compression that preserves all the original data (hence the lossless). This achieves resolutions ranging from 16 bit / 44.1 kHz (CD quality) to 24 bit / 192 kHz (Hi-Res).
If the previous numbers don’t speak to you, there’s a good chance you’re not the target audience for this new option. To put it simply, the kHz (kilohertz) correspond to the sampling, that is to say in how many samples is cut a second of audio signal. The bits correspond to the encoding, that is to say the width of the signal between an inaudible sound and the loudest sound. Technically, the higher these two values, the better the sound since it will be easier to reproduce high frequencies and to let the entire soundstage express itself (all the nuances between pianissimo and fortissimo).
Quality material and a trained ear
But unless you have really good audio gear and a finely trained ear, not sure the difference is immediately obvious. To express their full potential, these lossless formats need to be played on very good quality headphones or speakers, in a controlled environment. If you listen to your music with the headphones available with your smartphone, the difference will not be noticed. In nomadic use, in the noise of public transport or in the street, the precision of the lossless signal will undoubtedly be lost in the ambient hubbub. In its FAQ, Apple also specifies that the Lossless works with a wired connection (headphones, receivers or amplified speakers), integrated speakers and an external digital-to-analog converter. In short, forget your Bluetooth headphones, even the most expensive on the market.
Currently, there is no Bluetooth codec that can transmit a lossless stream with maximum quality (Hi-Res). At best, you can get CD quality. This is for example the case of the Sony WH-1000X4 headphones, to be associated, of course, with a compatible streaming platform.
If you have a great audio setup in your home and often play wall-shaking music, then maybe these offers could be right for you, and again it will depend on your ability to perceive all the intricacies of a signal. audio. To find out if you have the ear of a music lover, the NPR site has set up a very simple test that asks you to decide between three song extracts, one uncompressed and the other two compressed. Unless you manage to get everything right on the quiz, chances are the Lossless isn’t for you.
Technical limitations
Beyond logistics, Lossless involves some technical constraints. Indeed, lossless streaming “consumes much more dataAnd takes up much more space if you download titles. To give an order of magnitude Apple specifies that “10 GB of space can store about 3000 songs in high quality, 1000 songs in lossless, 200 songs in hi-res lossless.“
In short, high quality streaming will come in handy if you have a listening ear, great listening equipment, and you enjoy your music more at home than in the hubbub of the city. Let’s be clear, the appearance of high quality format is a good thing for the music world, which has come a long way (hello poor MP3s recovered from eMule in 2001), but they are just not relevant to everyone. And it is not certain that AirPods Pro will change anything there.