carlo

Thanks again for all the tests done but I still have a doubt regarding Apple TV. According to my information, via Airplay version 1 any audio format is converted to ALAC 16 / 44.1 by the sending device before being sent to the receiving device. Also based on my information, the Apple TV 4K has a fixed audio output at 16/48. Apple Music sends in ALAC format up to 24/48 if lossless audio quality is selected on Apple TV 4K. To listen to Apple Music on my Apple TV 4K I don't use the HDMI audio output but I use Airplay version 1 + Airport Express version 1. I also use Apple Music + Phone X + Airplay 1 + Airport Express 1 (bitperfect at 16 / 44.1 according to the tests done here) but I prefer to use Apple TV to not drain the battery of the iPhone. [[I use iPhone to control Apple TV remotely with the Music app (it is a pity that through the iPhone Music app it is not possible to select Airplay 1 devices available for Apple TV .. it is not even possible to select an Airplay 1 device as default audio output but only HomePod = Airplay 2 .. every time you need to turn on the TV and use the Apple TV control center to select an Airplay device 1)]] My question is: What happens when I receive a lossless 16.44.1 format from Apple Music on my Apple TV 4K which I then send via Airplay 1 to my Airport Express 1? Airport Express 1 receives from Apple TV 4K lossless bitperfect ALAC 16 / 44.1? Apple Music on tvOS, is it bitperfect like iOS at 16 / 44.1 using Airplay 1? I forgot to say one thing. Airport Express 1 is connected to my Naim UnitiQute 1 via digital input and the Naim app confirms to receive 44.1.

I forgot to say one thing. Airport Express 1 is connected to my Naim UnitiQute 1 via digital input and the Naim app confirms to receive 44.1.

Thanks again for all the tests done but I still have a doubt regarding Apple TV. According to my information, via Airplay version 1 any audio format is converted to ALAC 16 / 44.1 by the sending device before being sent to the receiving device. Also based on my information, the Apple TV 4K has a fixed audio output at 16/48. Apple Music sends in ALAC format up to 24/48 if lossless audio quality is selected on Apple TV 4K. To listen to Apple Music on my Apple TV 4K I don't use the HDMI audio output but I use Airplay version 1 + Airport Express version 1. I also use Apple Music + Phone X + Airplay 1 + Airport Express 1 (bitperfect at 16 / 44.1 according to the tests done here) but I prefer to use Apple TV to not drain the battery of the iPhone. [[I use iPhone to control Apple TV remotely with the Music app (it is a pity that through the iPhone Music app it is not possible to select Airplay 1 devices available for Apple TV .. it is not even possible to select an Airplay 1 device as default audio output but only HomePod = Airplay 2 .. every time you need to turn on the TV and use the Apple TV control center to select an Airplay device 1)]] My question is: What happens when I receive a lossless 16.44.1 format from Apple Music on my Apple TV 4K which I then send via Airplay 1 to my Airport Express 1? Airport Express 1 receives from Apple TV 4K lossless bitperfect ALAC 16 / 44.1? Apple Music on tvOS, is it bitperfect like iOS at 16 / 44.1 using Airplay 1?

Hi Chris, thanks so much for the tests. Regarding video 1, you wrote: "At 0:35 into the video you can see what happens when I adjust the volume. As soon as the volume is not at 100%, bit perfection is lost and the HDCD indicator turns off. When I increase the volume back to 100%, the indicator illuminates blue once again." So, if I understand correctly, does the AirPlay volume in iOS always have to be at maximum to be bit-perfect? Since the AirPlay volume also controls the volume of my Naim UnitiQute 1 (shairport-sync + Raspberry + HiFiBerry Digi + UnitiQute Digital SPDIF or AirConnect on my Mac Mini) and it is not possible to keep the amplifier volume at maximum , how can I solve? As for AirConnect (link to the post I created https://github.com/philippe44/AirConnect/issues/356) that I use with my Naim UnitiQute 1, would you be able to test with this too? Compared to shairport-sync, this software receives from AirPlay and then sends to the receiver via UPNP. The program code is not the same as shairport-sync but both can only receive ALAC as per the AirPlay 1 standard.

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/63174-article-apple-musics-lossless-and-hi-res-mess/?do=findComment&comment=1141947 Hello everybody, I just wanted to share with you the tests carried out and present in the shairport-sync forum waiting for Chris to update us on his tests https://github.com/mikebrady/shairport-sync/issues/1205#issuecomment-859679508 I report below what the author of the tests said in response to my initial question: "My tests results were as described. I can certainly tell shairport-sync delivers lossless CD quality (16 / 44.1k) to a DAC. Strictly speaking, streaming Apple Music Lossless over network to shairport-sync is not a lossless process. Let's imagine the chain: Apple lossless files may be in 24 bit 48kHz format. Before sending it over network, Apple Music app has to dither it down to 16 bit and resample to 44.1kHz because that's the limit for AirPlay 1 ALAC streaming - that is a lossy process. In case of 16 bit / 44.1kHz lossless files this process obviously doesn't have to happen. In case of 24 / 44.1kHz only dithering is required. Encoded again into ALAC it is streamed over network to shairport-sync, which employs "stuffing" process, adding or removing frames in order to keep in sync is a lossy process. But it's just dropping or adding frames, compared to AAC's MDCT it's nothing. " At this point, it is necessary to understand if the problem of the frames is only of shairport-sync or even of official Apple AirPlay.