After the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, iOS Apple Music has been officially upgraded to support Apple's lossless and digital mastering music. As the world's largest manufacturer of portable amps, the earliest amp/player manufacturer that has acquired Apple's MFi certification, and the Chinese HiFi brand with the most MFi certifications (the Q5/Q1/Q1MK2/Q3/Q5S/i1/iRCMMCX, etc.), we would like to share some relevant knowledge.
1. What is Apple digital master-quality music?
Simply put, it means that the sampling rate/bits of the music file must meet Apple's standards. That is, the sampling rate should be greater than or equal to 44.1kHz, and the bit depth should be 24bit. "Apple accepts 24bit high-resolution (44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz) mastering."
2. What is Apple's high-resolution lossless music?
Apple defines that the sampling rate should be greater than 48k with a lossless format such as Apple's ALAC (similarly there are MP3, AAC, APE, FLAC, etc.). "High-resolution lossless" means lossless audio above 48 kHz or even up to 192 kHz."
3. Only when it satisfies Apple's digital mastering and high-resolution lossless at the same time, it is the Apple Music file with the best audio quality. In Apple's definition, master-quality music = 24 bit depth while high-resolution lossless = lossless with a sampling rate above 96k, each of which is represented by individual icons. Therefore, it is the highest standard music when two icons are displaying at the same time on the playback page.
4. What is the difference between Apple's high-resolution lossless and digital master-quality music and the commonly seen high-resolution and mastering music? At present, there is no clear definition in national and international standards, but we can generally think that PCM lossless formats of 192k/24bit and above, or lossless music in DSD format are master-quality music. And 96k/24bit and above can be called high-resolution audio format.
5. Apple HiFi Music.
In a word, we call the music that meets Apple's high-resolution lossless and digital mastering standards as HiFi Apple Music. If the music does not meet both the two requirements at the same time, it makes no sense.
6. Can we enjoy HiFi Apple Music on iPhone with commonly-seen Airpods Pro and Airpods Max?
Due to the limitations of Bluetooth codecs, currently all Bluetooth devices are unable to replay HiFi Apple Music, even with LDAC since it is still a lossy codec. What's more, iPhone only supports Bluetooth codecs of SBC/AAC.
7. Does the amp from Apple support HiFi Apple Music?
No, it does not. Apple's original amps and some MFi certified amps do not support HiFi Apple Music. Because for this type of product, Apple required them to use the LAM (Lightning Audio Module) module, which only supports a sampling rate up to 48k. The i1 released by FiiO the year before used the LAM module.
Instead, some non-MFi certified amps without a LAM module support it.
8. How to enjoy HiFi Apple Music on iPhone?
In fact, Apple official has stated very clearly but it is not easy to understand. Simply put, you need a digital audio converter that supports at least 96k/24bit and can receive digital audio data through the Lightning port of the Apple device.
Many devices can meet this requirement, including but not limited to portable/desktop DAC/Amps, portable players Bluetooth amps that support USB decoding, and active speakers that support USB inputs.
Many of these devices have acquired the MFi certification, and they usually have included the cable with a Lightning male connector, which can be directly connected to iPhone.
Other audio devices with a USB input port yet without the MFi certification can be connected to the iPhone by a camera adapter, and then use a standard USB cable to connect the USB output port of the camera adapter to the USB input of the audio device.
Lastly, there is another common connecting method, i.e. the Lightning OTG cable with one end being a Lightning male connector and the other a TYPE C connector, such as FiiO's LT-LT1. Use this cable to connect the USB input of the audio device to the Lightning end of the iPhone.
However, no manufacturers have been approved to make such cables by Apple official. So they all came out without the MFi certification. We should pay attention to knowing what kind of devices are supported. In particular, some brands have made a pressure boost design for the cable to break the current output limit of the Apple lightning port, which will lead to worse compatibility. In addition, some USB DACs and headphone amplifiers will consume more power due to the loss of a built-in battery. What's worse, some Lightning OTG cables fail to work or work unsteadily once they are connected.
9. Which FiiO devices can be connected to iPhones and support HiFi Apple Music?
At present, some desktop/portable products with a USB decoding function from FiiO support HiFi Apple Music, including the Q1MK2/Q3/Q5 and BTR5/K3/K5Pro (which should be used with the FiiO LT-LT1 cable).
10. Many portable players from FiiO also support USB DAC. Can they be connected to an iPhone to enjoy HiFi Apple Music?
Yes, it is supported, but it is not recommended. Usually, portable players only have one USB port, which will generally consume power from the USB port when working as a USB DAC, while the output current of the iPhone's Lightning port is very limited (no more than 100mA).
11. Does the Android version of Apple Music support HiFi Apple Music on Android devices?
As the Android version of Apple Music has not been upgraded yet, it is unsure for the time being. But in theory, it should be possible.
The attached pictures are the connection between the FiiO Q1MK2/Q3/BTR5 and an iPhone to play HiFi Apple Music. The last one is the bundling connection way commonly seen among audiophiles. According to our experience, no one will take a portable DAC/Amp just for HiFi Apple Music except for very few audiophiles. Frankly speaking, most users are unable to tell the sound difference between high fidelity, master-quality, lossless and general MP3. Otherwise, audio manufacturers can make a lot of money, and a bunch of brands will make every effort to take over this market.
1. What is Apple digital master-quality music?
Simply put, it means that the sampling rate/bits of the music file must meet Apple's standards. That is, the sampling rate should be greater than or equal to 44.1kHz, and the bit depth should be 24bit. "Apple accepts 24bit high-resolution (44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz) mastering."
2. What is Apple's high-resolution lossless music?
Apple defines that the sampling rate should be greater than 48k with a lossless format such as Apple's ALAC (similarly there are MP3, AAC, APE, FLAC, etc.). "High-resolution lossless" means lossless audio above 48 kHz or even up to 192 kHz."
3. Only when it satisfies Apple's digital mastering and high-resolution lossless at the same time, it is the Apple Music file with the best audio quality. In Apple's definition, master-quality music = 24 bit depth while high-resolution lossless = lossless with a sampling rate above 96k, each of which is represented by individual icons. Therefore, it is the highest standard music when two icons are displaying at the same time on the playback page.
4. What is the difference between Apple's high-resolution lossless and digital master-quality music and the commonly seen high-resolution and mastering music? At present, there is no clear definition in national and international standards, but we can generally think that PCM lossless formats of 192k/24bit and above, or lossless music in DSD format are master-quality music. And 96k/24bit and above can be called high-resolution audio format.
5. Apple HiFi Music.
In a word, we call the music that meets Apple's high-resolution lossless and digital mastering standards as HiFi Apple Music. If the music does not meet both the two requirements at the same time, it makes no sense.
6. Can we enjoy HiFi Apple Music on iPhone with commonly-seen Airpods Pro and Airpods Max?
Due to the limitations of Bluetooth codecs, currently all Bluetooth devices are unable to replay HiFi Apple Music, even with LDAC since it is still a lossy codec. What's more, iPhone only supports Bluetooth codecs of SBC/AAC.
7. Does the amp from Apple support HiFi Apple Music?
No, it does not. Apple's original amps and some MFi certified amps do not support HiFi Apple Music. Because for this type of product, Apple required them to use the LAM (Lightning Audio Module) module, which only supports a sampling rate up to 48k. The i1 released by FiiO the year before used the LAM module.
Instead, some non-MFi certified amps without a LAM module support it.
8. How to enjoy HiFi Apple Music on iPhone?
In fact, Apple official has stated very clearly but it is not easy to understand. Simply put, you need a digital audio converter that supports at least 96k/24bit and can receive digital audio data through the Lightning port of the Apple device.
Many devices can meet this requirement, including but not limited to portable/desktop DAC/Amps, portable players Bluetooth amps that support USB decoding, and active speakers that support USB inputs.
Many of these devices have acquired the MFi certification, and they usually have included the cable with a Lightning male connector, which can be directly connected to iPhone.
Other audio devices with a USB input port yet without the MFi certification can be connected to the iPhone by a camera adapter, and then use a standard USB cable to connect the USB output port of the camera adapter to the USB input of the audio device.
Lastly, there is another common connecting method, i.e. the Lightning OTG cable with one end being a Lightning male connector and the other a TYPE C connector, such as FiiO's LT-LT1. Use this cable to connect the USB input of the audio device to the Lightning end of the iPhone.
However, no manufacturers have been approved to make such cables by Apple official. So they all came out without the MFi certification. We should pay attention to knowing what kind of devices are supported. In particular, some brands have made a pressure boost design for the cable to break the current output limit of the Apple lightning port, which will lead to worse compatibility. In addition, some USB DACs and headphone amplifiers will consume more power due to the loss of a built-in battery. What's worse, some Lightning OTG cables fail to work or work unsteadily once they are connected.
9. Which FiiO devices can be connected to iPhones and support HiFi Apple Music?
At present, some desktop/portable products with a USB decoding function from FiiO support HiFi Apple Music, including the Q1MK2/Q3/Q5 and BTR5/K3/K5Pro (which should be used with the FiiO LT-LT1 cable).
10. Many portable players from FiiO also support USB DAC. Can they be connected to an iPhone to enjoy HiFi Apple Music?
Yes, it is supported, but it is not recommended. Usually, portable players only have one USB port, which will generally consume power from the USB port when working as a USB DAC, while the output current of the iPhone's Lightning port is very limited (no more than 100mA).
11. Does the Android version of Apple Music support HiFi Apple Music on Android devices?
As the Android version of Apple Music has not been upgraded yet, it is unsure for the time being. But in theory, it should be possible.
The attached pictures are the connection between the FiiO Q1MK2/Q3/BTR5 and an iPhone to play HiFi Apple Music. The last one is the bundling connection way commonly seen among audiophiles. According to our experience, no one will take a portable DAC/Amp just for HiFi Apple Music except for very few audiophiles. Frankly speaking, most users are unable to tell the sound difference between high fidelity, master-quality, lossless and general MP3. Otherwise, audio manufacturers can make a lot of money, and a bunch of brands will make every effort to take over this market.
