Apple Music Apple Music Classical now streaming at CD quality?

[ChrisByrd]

I thought I’d give Apple Classical another try as I like the app. I’m pretty sure that previously WiiM Home just showed it as streaming at 256 kbps, but now it’s showing 256 kbps 16bit/44.1, which seems contradictory. This is using AirPlay 2 from my iPad. Has something changed?

 

[ChrisByrd]

Just checked the same album on Spotify and WiiM Home is showing 900 kbps 16bit/44.1 kHz, puzzling.

 

[Shotgun Rico]

Cd quality is 1411 kbps uncompressed. 700-1000 is lossless flac. Anything under that is compressed.

 

[Mr Ee]

but now it’s showing 256 kbps 16bit/44.1, which seems contradictory

Yes, and no

It'll be 256kbps wrapped up in a 16/44.1 container.

Search for "256kbps wrapped up in a 16/44.1 container" (google etc) and you should get an accurate description even from the AI overview.

 

[Burnside]

Just checked the same album on Spotify and WiiM Home is showing 900 kbps 16bit/44.1 kHz, puzzling.

That's suggesting you're still using AirPlay rather than Spotify Connect where the WiiM app would show "lossless"

 

[Burnside]

Yes, and no

It'll be 256kbps wrapped up in a 16/44.1 container.

Search for "256kbps wrapped up in a 16/44.1 container" (google etc) and you should get an accurate description even from the AI overview.

Yeah, my Amazon packaging box analogy

It's well known that, except in a very particular case on a Mac, that Apple Music only supports 256kbps aac over AirPlay 2.

 

[ChrisByrd]

Thanks for the replies, that all makes sense now. @Burnside you’re right, I did forget to switch to connect after using Apple Music. It’s hard to work out what Apple gains by making it difficult to play their music lossless.