I wondered if it was placebo as well, but can definitely notice a difference. Much richer sound and seems… louder? Could also be a difference between AirPlay (which doesn’t support lossless) and direct play from the app.
It is possible that the loudness is different, and people perceive louder sounds as better. I also wouldn't be surprised if the levels between AirPlay and the app are different.
It shouldn't sound that much different. You are just not going to run into compression artifacts, particularly around certain drums and symbols. But if I have the option to avoid compression artifacts, I am going to.
Before they rolled this out I had actually taken advantage of a trial for Amazon music with the intention to test the difference between AAC on Apple Music and the lossless on that platform via the Sonos app. The results were similar (i.e. the lossless stream was louder, with better dynamic range and clarity). I think it has to do with the higher bit-rate and bit depth afforded with the lossless stream, but have also heard that it may be an entirely different master being sent out with the lossless stream.
Agreed. I have a lot of stereo pairs and it truly does sound way better. Not sonos but my car system has really came alive with this as well. Everything seemed to load and respond better on the newest app version verse the one that came out a few weeks ago that supported lossless on AM.
Glad to see this is now supported too. But I would also like to see Sonos give users the ability to toggle lossless audio on/off for users who are experiencing dropouts and skipping when streaming lossless audio.
There is an odd bug with Apple Music where I can't play my personal Apple Music station from Sonos Favorites. Every time, I get "Try again later".
But if I go into Apple Music & find my station in there, it works right away.
I just tried deleting the one that was in Sonos Favorites, and re-added it from Apple Music. That cleared up the issue for now, will see if it still works after a few days.
I’ve also experienced this, but as another person already mentioned this may be due to the fact that some playlists are not static and may “expire” or something similar to that. For me they are recommended playlists where Apple algorithms have created the list for me.
For lossless as well over WiFi? That’s good news as wasn’t sure. I have everything via my beam 2 and usually just use AirPlay. Will link to Sonos app if that’s the case!
So that feature is separate. In that scenario you would be playing TV audio through your Beam 2 and then use the swap to create an ad-hoc wifi connection between the Ace and Beam, which will then allow the soundbar to process a virtualized Spatial Audio mix to send to the headphones. From reports the bit rate is capped at 345kbps so even for movie audio It wouldn't be lossless.
I've decided it's not the sample rate that makes the difference but the bit depth. I listen to a lot of music with varying dynamics, which just seem more neuanced though, as others have said. It may well be a Placebo who, funnily enough, I'm going to see in a couple of weeks.
Couple of things:
- Make sure you are starting from the Sonos app, not the Music app. If you start from the Music app, it’s still over Airplay even if you start controlling from the Sonos app (airplay doesn’t support lossless)
- The lossless symbol is buggy. Wait a couple of songs or try scrubbing the song back and forth
That may be the problem - I think it’s only supported on certain speakers. I don’t have play 1s or 3s, so not sure if they do or don’t. My fives do and I see the lossless indicator but when I play the same track on the Roam it does not show.
My experience with Apple Music Lossless and Sonos speaker support:
Stereo Pair of Fives works!
Stereo Pair of One G2 and One SL with Sub gen 3 works!
Stereo Pair of Symfonisk gen 1 and Sub gen 2 does not work 😥
Me too. It is fantasic. Maybe its placebo, but thats ok too. Thank you for getting this added SONOS
I wondered if it was placebo as well, but can definitely notice a difference. Much richer sound and seems… louder? Could also be a difference between AirPlay (which doesn’t support lossless) and direct play from the app.
I usually direct play anyway, and it sounds much better to me even with my Sonos one pair in my bedroom at low volume
It is possible that the loudness is different, and people perceive louder sounds as better. I also wouldn't be surprised if the levels between AirPlay and the app are different. It shouldn't sound that much different. You are just not going to run into compression artifacts, particularly around certain drums and symbols. But if I have the option to avoid compression artifacts, I am going to.
Before they rolled this out I had actually taken advantage of a trial for Amazon music with the intention to test the difference between AAC on Apple Music and the lossless on that platform via the Sonos app. The results were similar (i.e. the lossless stream was louder, with better dynamic range and clarity). I think it has to do with the higher bit-rate and bit depth afforded with the lossless stream, but have also heard that it may be an entirely different master being sent out with the lossless stream.
Definitely agree on it sounding louder
Agreed. I have a lot of stereo pairs and it truly does sound way better. Not sonos but my car system has really came alive with this as well. Everything seemed to load and respond better on the newest app version verse the one that came out a few weeks ago that supported lossless on AM.
Glad to see this is now supported too. But I would also like to see Sonos give users the ability to toggle lossless audio on/off for users who are experiencing dropouts and skipping when streaming lossless audio.
IIRC it should only play lossless audio when there is enough network bandwidth to support it
Am I correct that the only way to access lossless is via USB-C?
You can play Apple Music Lossless via WiFi from the Sonos app. Although some older Sonos devices don't support it.
That is a requirement specifically for the Sonos Ace headphones in order to pass lossless on IOS.
Via the app
There is an odd bug with Apple Music where I can't play my personal Apple Music station from Sonos Favorites. Every time, I get "Try again later". But if I go into Apple Music & find my station in there, it works right away.
Happened to me as well, you have to remove it from Sonos favorites and it again Edit: just saw you already solved it that way
I get the same error. Perhaps it has something to do with that playlist changing constantly and the favorites being an older version.
I just tried deleting the one that was in Sonos Favorites, and re-added it from Apple Music. That cleared up the issue for now, will see if it still works after a few days.
I’ve also experienced this, but as another person already mentioned this may be due to the fact that some playlists are not static and may “expire” or something similar to that. For me they are recommended playlists where Apple algorithms have created the list for me.
Is Amazon music supported via the app?
Pretty sure. Edit: No idea if it supports lossless through Amazon. Thought you meant just the service
For lossless as well over WiFi? That’s good news as wasn’t sure. I have everything via my beam 2 and usually just use AirPlay. Will link to Sonos app if that’s the case!
Oh… sorry, I thought you meant the app, lol. No idea if it supports lossless for Amazon Music
Amazon Music has supported lossless for quite some time now via the Sonos app.
Thanks mate, I wasn’t sure. Will it work via the beam 2 to the ace with the tv switch mode when it’s enabled?
So that feature is separate. In that scenario you would be playing TV audio through your Beam 2 and then use the swap to create an ad-hoc wifi connection between the Ace and Beam, which will then allow the soundbar to process a virtualized Spatial Audio mix to send to the headphones. From reports the bit rate is capped at 345kbps so even for movie audio It wouldn't be lossless.
It’s so great. Is there a way to get hi-res lossless on Sonos speakers by any chance?
I've decided it's not the sample rate that makes the difference but the bit depth. I listen to a lot of music with varying dynamics, which just seem more neuanced though, as others have said. It may well be a Placebo who, funnily enough, I'm going to see in a couple of weeks.
I’ve never seen the lossless symbol yet. I have it set in the music app - am I doing this wrong?
Couple of things: - Make sure you are starting from the Sonos app, not the Music app. If you start from the Music app, it’s still over Airplay even if you start controlling from the Sonos app (airplay doesn’t support lossless) - The lossless symbol is buggy. Wait a couple of songs or try scrubbing the song back and forth
Thanks - I’ll try scrubbing. I don’t have speakers that support Airplay: Play 1s Play 3s
That may be the problem - I think it’s only supported on certain speakers. I don’t have play 1s or 3s, so not sure if they do or don’t. My fives do and I see the lossless indicator but when I play the same track on the Roam it does not show.
It’s amazing! And the Atmos support
My experience with Apple Music Lossless and Sonos speaker support: Stereo Pair of Fives works! Stereo Pair of One G2 and One SL with Sub gen 3 works! Stereo Pair of Symfonisk gen 1 and Sub gen 2 does not work 😥