For the first time since Apple Music has existed since 2015, Apple will make a major update in sound quality this June. From then on you can listen to Apple Music with Dolby Atmos and lossless audio. At first it was a bit unclear what exactly you need to take advantage of the higher sound quality, but now more and more information is gradually pouring in. This time there is more clarity about listening to lossless audio with the HomePod.
HomePod not suitable for lossless Apple Music
In Apple's original press release, the HomePod was not listed among suitable devices for lossless audio, and for good reason. Apple has confirmed to The Verge, among others, that the HomePod and HomePod mini are not suitable for playing the lossless audio format. The exact reason for this has not been disclosed, but it may have something to do with the music being streamed wirelessly to HomePods. For the higher lossless audio quality you will probably need a wired connection.
Incidentally, the HomePods can play a lossless version of a song, but not with the audio quality that goes with this lossless audio format. The HomePod and the HomePod mini support w & eacute; l Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio, so you can still benefit from better sound quality through the speakers than before. Above all, music will sound much more spacious.
It does not seem to be for nothing that Apple's press release mainly focused on support for Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio. The AirPods and even the AirPods Max do not work with lossless audio. As a result, the number of possibilities to listen to it is considerably limited. Presumably you can therefore only listen via lossless audio if you connect wired headphones to your iPhone, possibly via a special adapter. For example, you cannot use the AirPods Max wired via a Lightning cable for lossless audio.
Do you have any more questions about lossless audio with Apple Music? Then read our comprehensive lossless audio FAQ about Apple Music.