Don't Buy Into Apple's Hype About AirPods Max Gaining Lossless Audio

Apple contiguous announced that AirPods Max with a USB-C larboard volition beryllium gaining enactment for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio with a firmware update adjacent month, alongside the merchandise of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4.


For context, audio files are typically compressed to support record sizes smaller. There are lossy compression standards similar MP3, and Apple's ain Advanced Audio Codec (AAC), which effect successful immoderate information loss. Then, determination are lossless compression standards similar Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC), which sphere each of the archetypal data. The full Apple Music catalog of much than 100 cardinal songs is encoded successful some AAC and ALAC.

In a post connected X today, Apple's selling main Greg Joswiak said lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio are the "ultimate" audio upgrades for the AirPods Max, promising "mind-blowing dependable quality." However, this selling assertion appears to beryllium astatine likelihood with what Apple states in a enactment document connected its website.

In the document, Apple says AAC already delivers audio that is "virtually indistinguishable" from an archetypal workplace recording. Accordingly, the institution besides says "the quality betwixt AAC and lossless audio is virtually indistinguishable."

If lossless audio offers nary large betterment implicit AAC, according to Apple, past calling it an "ultimate" upgrade is unjustified selling hype.

As for little latency, that does not straight interaction dependable quality.

All successful all, lossless audio is acold little important of an upgrade than Joswiak is making it retired to be, arsenic Apple admits connected its precise ain website.

Update — March 25: While the accrued dependable prime of lossless audio is not perceptible to everyone, it is worthy keeping successful caput that the upgrade volition unlock different payment erstwhile paired with ultra-low latency. According to Apple's announcement, these 2 upgrades combined volition marque the AirPods Max with a USB-C larboard the lone headphones that alteration musicians to some make and premix successful Personalized Spatial Audio with caput tracking.
This article, "Don't Buy Into Apple's Hype About AirPods Max Gaining Lossless Audio" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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