Apple claims that all Apple Music users will gain improved audio with Apple Music Lossless, but to get the full benefit, there are software and hardware requirements. Here’s what AirPods, headphones, or other hardware you need.
Apple Music is to get it first-ever major update with the June 2021 launch of Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, and Lossless Audio to the service. While initially available on 20 million songs, Apple plans to have its entire library of 75 million tracks streaming in the new, higher quality.
Headphones that will receive Spatial Audio
The change to Spatial Audio will come automatically if users have these headphones:
- AirPods
- AirPods Pro
- AirPods Max
- BeatsX
- Beats Solo3 Wireless
- Beats Studio3
- Powerbeats 3 Wireless
- Beats Flex
- Powerbeats Pro
- Beats Solo Pro
With any of these devices, Apple Music will automatically switch to Dolby Atmos when available. Other headphones can also be used, but they don’t include the automatic switching.
Instead, users have to go to Settings, Music, Audio, and turn a new Dolby Atmos setting to Always On.
Apple devices that will play Lossless Audio
As well as headphones and earbuds, many Apple devices will play the new Dolby Atmos or Lossless Audio from their built-in speakers. The base models that can play the new service — with the latest iOS, iPadOS, or macOS installed — are:
- iPhone 7
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd Generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch
- iPad (6th Generation)
- iPad Air (3rd Generation)
- iPad mini (5th Generation
- MacBook Pro (2018)
On compatible devices, Apple Music will automatically switch to Dolby Atmos versions of tracks where available
Listening to Lossless Audio on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Lossless Audio will require the forthcoming iOS 14.6, iPadOS 14.6, macOS 11.4, or tvOS 14.6, or later. For the Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users have to enable the new audio quality.
Go to Settings, Music, Audio Quality. There will be an option to turn on Lossless.
To hear Lossless Audio from an Apple TV, users will also need to connect to compatible equipment. It’s not clear yet what that is, and we are reaching out to audio hardware manufacturers including Sonos to find out.
Apple also notes that users may want to switch between Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless depending on whether they’re on a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.
