Apple Music to Offer Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos at No Additional Cost Starting in June
In a recent announcement, Apple has revealed that its music streaming service, Apple Music, will soon be offering spatial audio with Dolby Atmos at no additional cost to its subscribers. This feature is set to become available starting in June, and users will have access to over 75 million songs in lossless audio quality.
To deliver this feature, Apple uses the ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) format, which allows for the preservation of every single bit of the original audio file. This means that subscribers will be able to hear the exact same thing that the artist created inside the studio when they listen to their music on Apple Music. Users can access lossless audio by heading into Settings > Music and selecting a new audio quality section, where they can choose different resolutions for different connections such as cellular Wi-Fi or when downloading.
Apple's lossless tier starts at CD quality, which is 16-bit at 44.1 kilohertz, and goes up to 24-bit at 48 kilohertz, with the option to play back the true audio file natively on Apple devices. Additionally, Apple Music also offers high-resolution lossless audio all the way up to 24-bit at 192 kilohertz, although this will require external hardware.
The news that Apple is offering lossless audio at no additional cost is significant, as other streaming services have already dropped their prices in efforts to compete with Apple. Amazon was the first company to drop its high-end tier down to $9.99, and it is likely that other companies will follow suit after seeing this move from Apple.
Spotify recently announced Spotify Hi-Fi, but did not give any update on pricing. Given that Apple has just made this new feature available for free for its subscribers, it would be surprising if Spotify does not follow suit and offer Hi-Fi at no extra cost to its current premium subscribers. With Apple's lossless audio feature now becoming available, one cannot help but wonder what the future holds for other streaming services.
Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos Coming to Apple Music
In addition to offering lossless audio, Apple has also announced that it will be bringing spatial audio with Dolby Atmos to its music streaming service. According to Apple, subscribers will be able to enjoy thousands of songs in spatial audio from some of the world's biggest artists and music across all genres.
Apple is working with artists and labels to add new releases and the best catalog tracks specifically for the spatial audio experience. By default, Apple Music will automatically play Dolby Atmos tracks on all AirPods and Beats headphones with an H1 or W1 chip as well as the built-in speakers in the latest versions of iPhone, iPad, Mac.
However, for other headphones, Dolby Atmos can be turned on in the settings app. This is part of Apple's efforts to expand its catalog of compatible tracks, which are made easier for musicians, producers, and engineers to create songs in Dolby Atmos by doubling the number of Dolby-enabled studios in major markets, offering educational programs, and providing resources to independent artists.
The announcement of spatial audio with Dolby Atmos on Apple Music is significant news for the music streaming industry, and could potentially lead to more people making the switch from other platforms to Apple Music. However, it remains to be seen whether this feature will resonate with users who are not familiar with spatial audio or Dolby Atmos.
Is This Something You'd Jump Over to Apple Music?
For those who currently use Spotify or Amazon Music, the question is likely on everyone's mind: would you jump over to Apple Music for its new lossless audio and spatial audio features? The answer will depend on individual preferences and listening habits. However, with Apple's commitment to delivering high-quality audio experiences, it may be worth considering making the switch.
As the music streaming industry continues to evolve, it is clear that Apple Music is positioning itself as a leader in terms of audio quality and user experience. With its new lossless audio and spatial audio features, Apple Music is likely to attract more users who value high-quality audio experiences. Whether or not this will be enough to convince you to make the switch from another platform remains to be seen.
Conclusion
The announcement by Apple that it will soon be offering spatial audio with Dolby Atmos at no additional cost to its subscribers marks a significant development in the music streaming industry. With over 75 million songs in lossless audio quality available, users can expect an improved listening experience on Apple Music. The integration of spatial audio and Dolby Atmos also opens up new possibilities for artists and producers who want to create immersive audio experiences.
As other streaming services respond to this move by Apple, it will be interesting to see how the market evolves in the coming months. For now, one thing is clear: Apple Music is committed to delivering high-quality audio experiences that will appeal to music lovers around the world.