Does Wireless Car Play can handle Hi res Lossless Audio (24 bit/192 HZ) when streaming from Apple Music App

Question

Level 1

4 points

Does Wireless Car Play can handle Hi res Lossless Audio (24 bit/192 HZ) when streaming from Apple Music App

Have been using Wireless Carplay in my Car head Unit - Poineer DMH Z6350BT from May 2022. My head unit is Hi res compatible (24 bit 192 Khz)

When i stream Hi res lossless music from my iphone 13 pro, it display the audio quality as 24 bit 192 khz on my apple music app ( Song Name: Hotel Califoria - Eagles)

Whether the same Hi res audio quality is being reproduced when i connect carplay in wireless mode?

Since Carplay functions via WiFi, rather than bluetooth ( which cant produce/handle hi res quality), will the audio quality will be retained or is it restricted to lower bandwidth?

Need this clarification & cant find any clear statement on this topic.

Thanks in advance.

Vallinayagam P

iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 16

Posted on Nov 1, 2022 03:53 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Marco Klobas

Level 6

8,327 points

Nov 1, 2022 12:46 PM in response to Vallinayagam

Apple CarPlay supports lossless audio via W-Fi up to 16 bit / 48 kHz.

In this Apple's presentation (little bit dated, yet still valid) it's stated that the output is up to 48 kHz, 16 bit, stereo:

https://devstreaming-cdn.apple.com/videos/wwdc/2016/722x2eefo3u2rp8k8qs/722/722_developing_carplay_systems_part_1.pdf?dl=1

Moreover, Apple declares that "You can listen to lossless audio with CarPlay using a USB connection" without mentioning a wireless connection:

About lossless audio in Apple Music - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 2

Vallinayagam Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 1, 2022 06:25 PM in response to Marco Klobas

Thanks Marco for your reply.

I clearly understood the CarPlay connectivity functions( thanks for the attachment).

If Wifi is primary mode for all CarPlay functionality, then it is capable for carrying the enough bitrate to play Hi res streaming from Apple Music.

But, in Apple Lossless discussion forum, there’s no clear statement regarding Wireless CarPlay and it’s streaming limitations.

Will look for further details.

Reply

Answer 3

Vallinayagam Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 18, 2022 08:11 AM in response to Vallinayagam

Correct!!!! It’s a challenging task to maintain and deliver Hi-res losses quality on a cellular network…

May be that’s reason why Apple didn’t mentioned about Hi res on Wireless streaming…

But, many After Market Car Head Unit( Alpine, Poineer, Kenwood) started to support Car Play & Hi-res audio streaming ( Wired & Wiress)

Its better, Apple started to explore in that zone.

Cheers👍🏻

Reply

Answer 4

Nov 17, 2022 08:20 AM in response to Vallinayagam

On my iPhone, it says in Settings > Music > Cellular Streaming

Hi-Res Lossless

ALAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz

"Support varies and depends on song availability. Network conditions, and connected speaker or headphone capability"

When I choose this...I see the following:

You can see the jump in the file download size once you select Lossless, Hi-Res Lossless. Hence the notification and popup confirming.

Reply

Answer 5

Nov 18, 2022 07:46 AM in response to microChasm

I can tell you that if you are trying to stream his-res lossless content via cellular? Good luck with that. The carriers will limit this probably very quickly and it will not be a good experience.

How this correlates to CarPlay is probably based on the information provided in the presentation that was posted in this discussion.

Reply

Does Wireless Car Play can handle Hi res Lossless Audio (24 bit/192 HZ) when streaming from Apple Music App

Similar questions