- Apple TV 4K with tvOS 27 adds Hi-Res Lossless up to 24 bits and 192 kHz.
- The first generation retains the standard Lossless, because it cannot be upgraded to tvOS 27.
- Select the quality in Settings, Apps and Music; also check receiver, speakers and HDMI connection.
- AirPods via Bluetooth do not take advantage of Lossless; the Max with USB-C cable requires compatible devices.
If you listen to Apple Music on your TV, the Apple TV 4K It can play songs with lossless audio. The quality you choose, however, depends on a setting in the Music app and the sound system you're sending the signal to. Furthermore, with tvOS 27 There's an important new development: compatible models can now select Hi-Res Lossless up to 24 bits and 192 kHz.
This changes the recommendation that was repeated for years regarding Apple TV: the 48kHz limit remains relevant for standard Lossless mode and for models that cannot install tvOS 27, but it no longer describes all the device's capabilities. Let's see which option applies to you and how to activate it without confusing the file quality with the quality that ultimately reaches the speakers.
What do Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless mean on Apple Music?
Apple Music uses ALAC.en is a format that compresses audio without discarding the data from the original digital file. In contrast, formats like AAC reduce data to take up less space and facilitate transmission. This doesn't mean that everyone will notice a clear difference in every song: recording, mixing, speakers, and the listening environment all play a role.
In the Apple TV 4K settings you will find these quality levels, depending on the tvOS version and model:
- High quality: Use AAC.
- Without loss: It uses ALAC with a resolution of up to 24 bits/48 kHz.
- High resolution without loss: with tvOS 27 On a compatible model, it allows you to select ALAC up to 24 bits/192 kHz.
Choosing Hi-Res doesn't turn every song into a 192 kHz recording. The available resolution depends on each track, and the final playback quality is also affected by the connection and sound system.
Which Apple TV 4K models can use Hi-Res Lossless
The main difference lies in tvOS 27This version is available for the Apple TV 4K second generation and later modelsIf you have one of these and update it, you can look for "Lossless High Resolution" within the Music settings.
El first generation Apple TV 4K You cannot install tvOS 27. You can continue using the standard lossless audio available in your version of tvOS, but you do not get this new Hi-Res option. Apple TV HD It is also not part of the Apple TV 4K models that this adjustment is aimed at.
If you don't know which model you have, check the device information at Settings > General > InformationTo check for an update, go to Settings > System > Software updatesBefore attributing the lack of Hi-Res to a receiver failure, check both the model and the installed version.
How to enable lossless audio on Apple TV 4K
The change is made in the settings of the Music appnot in the general audio format settings of the television:
- Open Settings on the Apple TV 4K.
- Enter Apps and select Music.
- Open Audio quality.
- Choose Without loss to use ALAC up to 24 bits/48 kHz.
- If your Apple TV is compatible and has tvOS 27, choose High resolution without loss to allow tracks up to 24 bits/192 kHz.
You need one active Apple Music subscription and a song available in that quality. The setting affects Apple Music playback; it doesn't improve the sound of videos, previously compressed files, or other apps on its own.
Keep in mind one consequence of selecting Hi-Res: AutoMix and Melt will not be available While that mode is active, Apple also disables Continuous Audio Connection during playback. If you prefer automatic transitions between songs, you'll need to choose a different quality level.
Connect a device capable of taking advantage of the chosen quality
The option selected in Music is only one part of the chain. To take advantage of Hi-Res you need a compatible external sound outputThe receiver, soundbar, or speaker system must accept the signal received from the Apple TV and reproduce it under appropriate conditions.
The reference connection for the Apple TV 4K is HDMI to a compatible AV receiverIf you connect the device to the TV first and then send the sound to another device, the capabilities and settings of each device along that path can also affect the signal. Check the receiver's specifications and, if it displays information about the incoming signal, use that to verify what it's receiving.
En Settings > Video and audio > Audio formatApple recommends keeping the selection Automatic when the equipment is compatible. Enabling "Convert to Dolby Digital 5.1" involves re-encoding the audio for equipment that requires it; it is not a setting to improve lossless music. Disabling Dolby Atmos is also not a method to unlock Hi-Res: Apple Music quality is selected in the Music menu mentioned above.
Do AirPods or Bluetooth headphones work?
If you connect AirPods to Apple TV via BluetoothYou don't get a lossless stream through that connection. Headphones can offer an excellent listening experience, but enabling "Lossless" or "High Resolution Lossless" in Apple Music doesn't eliminate the compression inherent in that wireless path.
There is a distinction that can lead to confusion: the AirPods Max 1 with USB-C and AirPods Max 2 Yes, they support lossless audio via a USB-C cable on compatible devices, such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. That capability. It doesn't mean you can plug them into the Apple TV 4K via USB-C to use it as a wired audio source. If you connect them to the Apple TV via Bluetooth, you're back to relying on the wireless connection.
To take full advantage of the Apple TV's tuning, focus on the sound system connected to its HDMI output and the features that the entire chain actually supports.
How to enable Lossless on iPhone, Mac, Android, and Windows
If you also listen to Apple Music on other devices, each one has its own settings and connections:
- iPhone and iPad: seeks Settings > Apps > Music > Audio Quality and activate lossless audio.
- Mac: Open the Music app and go into its settings. Reproduction to activate "Lossless Audio" and choose the transmission quality.
- Android: Open Apple Music settings, go to Audio quality and activate the no-loss option.
- Windows: In the Apple Music app, open Settings > Playback and activate "Lossless Audio".
On these devices, listening to frequencies above 48 kHz may require a compatible external DACDepending on the device and output used, Apple also specifies an external DAC for Hi-Res on Windows. If you downloaded songs from Apple Music before enabling Lossless, you may need to delete and download them again to get the lossless version. The files will take up more space, and streaming them will use more data.
The practical choice for the living room is simple: Check your Apple TV generation, update to tvOS 27 if compatible, and select the quality in the Music appNext, check the equipment connected via HDMI. This will tell you what options the device offers and prevent you from confusing a Hi-Res label available on a song with the quality your setup can actually reproduce.
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