HyFa Apple Music Lossless Setup: Get the Best Quality
Apple Music includes lossless and hi-res lossless at no extra cost, but the settings are not enabled by default and the hardware requirements are specific. Here is how to actually listen in hi-res.
Apple Music Lossless Setup: Getting the Best Quality
Enable Lossless
iPhone/iPad: Settings > Music > Audio Quality > toggle Lossless Audio on. Set Wi-Fi Streaming and Download quality to “Hi-Res Lossless” (24-bit/192 kHz) or “Lossless” (24-bit/48 kHz) based on your storage and bandwidth.
Mac: Music app > Settings > Playback > Audio Quality > Lossless.
Android: Settings in the Apple Music app > Audio Quality > Lossless Audio.
The Bluetooth Problem
AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and all Bluetooth headphones cannot receive lossless audio. Bluetooth maximum quality is AAC at 256 kbps, which is lossy. No Bluetooth codec supports lossless at Apple Music’s resolution.
To hear lossless Apple Music, you need a wired connection:
- Lightning to 3.5mm adapter (iPhone 14 and earlier)
- USB-C to 3.5mm adapter (iPhone 15+, iPad)
- USB-C to external DAC for hi-res above 48 kHz
The Apple USB-C to 3.5mm adapter ($9) supports up to 24-bit/48 kHz. For 24-bit/96 kHz or 192 kHz, you need an external USB DAC. See [INTERNAL: headphone-dac-dongle-guide].
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos spatial audio is a separate feature from lossless. It works over Bluetooth with AirPods and Beats headphones. Atmos tracks are indicated by a Dolby Atmos badge in the Now Playing screen.
Atmos and lossless are sometimes mutually exclusive. An Atmos track plays in Atmos format (which may not be lossless) even if you have lossless enabled. You can disable Atmos in Settings > Music > Dolby Atmos to force stereo lossless playback.
Storage Impact
| Quality | Size per Album (~60 min) |
|---|---|
| AAC 256 kbps | ~115 MB |
| Lossless (16/44.1) | ~600 MB |
| Hi-Res Lossless (24/192) | ~3.6 GB |
Hi-res downloads consume significant storage. A 256 GB iPhone holds approximately 70 hi-res albums versus over 2,000 at AAC quality.
Is It Worth It?
If you have quality wired headphones and a DAC, lossless Apple Music at $11/month is remarkable value. You get the same audio quality as Qobuz ($13/month) or Tidal ($11/month) with a larger catalog.
If you listen exclusively through AirPods over Bluetooth, lossless provides zero benefit. Your audio is converted to AAC regardless of the source quality.
For a full comparison, see [INTERNAL: lossless-streaming-compared].
Key Takeaways
- Lossless is included free but disabled by default; enable it in settings
- Bluetooth cannot transmit lossless; you need a wired connection
- The Apple USB-C adapter supports up to 24-bit/48 kHz for $9
- Hi-Res (192 kHz) requires an external USB DAC
Next Steps
Get a DAC for hi-res with [INTERNAL: headphone-dac-dongle-guide]. Compare services in [INTERNAL: lossless-streaming-compared].