Both the original HomePod and the HomePod mini will receive support for Apple Music Lossless Audio playback in a future software update, according to a new support document. The topic of AirPods was also touched upon.
At launch, the HomePod and HomePod mini will not support Apple Music Lossless and will instead offer support for Dolby Atmos for Apple Music. Dolby Atmos, also known as Spatial Audio, creates an immersive three-dimensional experience that simulates music around the listener. Apple Music Lossless offers higher quality audio to the listener. In June, Apple will offer Apple Music subscribers a "Standard" tier of Apple Music Lossless with audio up to 48kHz and "Hi-Res Lossless" with audio between 48kHz and 192kHz. Hi-Res Lossless requires external devices such as a USB digital-to-analog converter. Despite support for Apple Music Lossless in a future software update for HomePod and HomePod mini, the AirPods and AirPods Pro will not receive support.
Apple Music Lossless Audio with AirPods Max?
In the support document, Apple explains that current Bluetooth does not support the higher quality format of Apple Music Lossless. In addition, the AirPods Max will not support Lossless wirelessly, but explained Apple that the 600 euro over-ear headphones will reproduce lossless audio when using a cable.
The Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable is designed to connect AirPods Max to analog sources for listening to movies and music. AirPods Max can be connected to devices that play lossless and hi-res lossless recordings with exceptional audio quality. However, due to the analog-to-digital conversion in the cable, playback will not be completely lossless.
Apple Music Lossless and Dolby Atmos will be available in June. More than 20 million songs support lossless audio and thousands of songs support Dolby Atmos. (Photo by Unsplash / Brett Jordan)
