Apple Music Introduces Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos in June

UPDATE 5/17: Apple has now confirmed that it’s improving the sound quality of Apple Music through the introduction of Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos. More than 75 million songs will eventually be available (thousands are available at launch) to listen to in Lossless Audio, assuming you have the equipment to truly hear the difference. Audiophiles will also be happy to hear Apple is keeping prices the same.

“Apple Music is making its biggest advancement ever in sound quality,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats. “Listening to a song in Dolby Atmos is like magic. The music comes from all around you and sounds incredible. Now we are bringing this truly innovative and immersive experience to our listeners with music from their favorite artists like J Balvin, Gustavo Dudamel, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, Kacey Musgraves, The Weeknd, and so many more. Subscribers will also be able to listen to their music in the highest audio quality with Lossless Audio. Apple Music as we know it is about to change forever.”

To listen to Lossless Audio, subscribers will need to be running the latest version of Apple Music. The lossless options can then be accessed in Settings > Music > Audio Quality, with 16-bit at 44.1kHz through to 24-bit at 48kHz available on all Apple devices. A further 24-bit at 192kHz option is being made available for “the true audiophile.” Apple does point out, however, that “Due to the large file sizes and bandwidth needed for Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless Audio, subscribers will need to opt in to the experience. Hi-Res Lossless also requires external equipment, such as a USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC).”

Original Story:Apple Music is reportedly prepping a new lossless audio subscription tier.

“Get ready—music is about to change forever,” the platform teased on its Browse page, accompanied by a dizzying clip of the Apple Music logo flipping from black to white and back again. No additional information—product details, launch date, etc.—has been revealed. All signs (including previous findings in the Android Apple Music app), however, point to the announcement of lossless audio streaming as soon as Tuesday, May 18.

It’s unclear whether the new option will harmonize with Apple’s existing spatial audio feature. Cupertino in June introduced the 3D listening experience—compatible with AirPods Pro and AirPods Max and enabled in iOS 14. The feature uses built-in accelerometers to track your head movements and effectively change the direction of sound for a truly immersive effect.

But what good is proper surround sound if you’re missing out on the finer points? In contrast to popular audio formats like AAC, MP3, and WMA—which lose certain complexities when compressed—lossless or high fidelity music promises a richer, more fully detailed sound.

Assuming the rumors are true, Apple Music subscribers can look forward to a (presumably more expensive) HiFi tier “coming soon.” Whether or not the launch will include a look at third-generation AirPods remains to be seen.

Streaming rival Spotify earlier this year unveiled a new HiFi subscription plan that promises “high-quality” lossless audio. Starting later this year, Spotify Premium users can upgrade to enjoy all the subtle details they may have missed in their favorite recordings. Amazon Music added the same feature in 2019, while Tidal has had it since the start.