Apple Music offers two audio quality options: lossless and Dolby Atmos.
Lossless audio is a type of audio compression that does not lose any quality in the process of compression. This means that the audio is compressed to a smaller size without losing any data. Lossless audio is often used for streaming music services and for archiving audio files.
Dolby Atmos is a surround sound format that uses height channels to create a more immersive listening experience. Dolby Atmos can be used with any type of audio content, including lossless audio.
Apple Music’s lossless audio is CD quality, meaning that it has a sample rate of 44.1 kHz and a bit depth of 16 bits. Dolby Atmos on Apple Music can have a sample rate of up to 96 kHz and a bit depth of up to 24 bits.
Here is a comparison of lossless audio and Dolby Atmos on Apple Music:
| Characteristic | Lossless audio | Dolby Atmos |
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Preserves the original audio quality | Can enhance the audio quality with height channels |
| File size | Smaller than uncompressed audio files, but larger than compressed audio files | Larger than lossless audio files |
| Compatibility | Supported by most audio devices and software | Requires a Dolby Atmos-compatible audio system |
Which is better for you?
Whether lossless audio or Dolby Atmos is better for you depends on your needs and budget. If you are looking for the best possible sound quality, then lossless audio is the way to go. However, if you have a Dolby Atmos-compatible audio system, then you can experience a more immersive listening experience with Dolby Atmos.
Here are some specific examples of when you might want to use lossless audio or Dolby Atmos on Apple Music:
- Lossless audio:
- Streaming music from Apple Music with lossless audio enabled
- Archiving your Apple Music library for future use
- Dolby Atmos:
- Listening to music that has been mixed in Dolby Atmos
- Watching a movie or TV show with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack
- Playing video games with Dolby Atmos support
Lossless audio and Dolby Atmos are both great ways to improve your listening experience on Apple Music. However, they are different technologies with different strengths and weaknesses. Lossless audio preserves the original audio quality, while Dolby Atmos can enhance the audio quality with height channels.
Which is better for you depends on your needs and budget. If you are looking for the best possible sound quality, then lossless audio is the way to go. However, if you have a Dolby Atmos-compatible audio system, then you can experience a more immersive listening experience with Dolby Atmos.
Personally, I recommend enabling lossless audio on Apple Music for everyone. It is a free upgrade that offers excellent sound quality. If you have a Dolby Atmos-compatible audio system, you can also try enabling Dolby Atmos to experience a more immersive listening experience.
