Adding high-res audio files to my Apple Music library - issues

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Level 1

4 points

Adding high-res audio files to my Apple Music library - issues

I am adding my own high-resolution audio files to my Apple Music library. When I play a high-res audio file from Apple's library, my iPhone 15 Pro and my M2 iPad Air will both adjust the bit depth and sampling frequency automatically. I connect these devices by USB to my Benchmark DAC2 DX.

When I upload one of my own high-res audio files to my library (a 24/96 WAV vinyl rip, for example), it always plays back at 24/44.1. I tried converting a 24/96 WAV file to 24/96 ALAC (inside of an M4A container) and it still played back at 24/44.1.

Is there any way to make my uploaded high-res files play back "bit-perfectly" in Apple Music?

iPhone 15 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Aug 13, 2025 12:14 PM

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Answer 1

ras_bassy Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 17, 2025 10:42 AM in response to ras_bassy

Update: I opened a ticket with Apple support yesterday evening, and this has been escalated to a higher support tier. It will likely take a few days, but I expect an answer and hopefully a resolution. I will update this thread again when I have more.

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Answer 2

ras_bassy Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 21, 2025 10:40 AM in response to ras_bassy

My call with tier 2 lasted for almost two hours, and the issue has been escalated to Engineering. I asked a couple of AI sites - Perplexity and ChatGPT - about this, and the consensus is that it's by design/expected behavior.

I just paid a visit to Feedback - macOS - Apple and left this message:

Subject: Degradation of high-resolution audio files uploaded to Apple Music

As stated in the subject line, when I upload a high-resolution audio file to my Apple Music library (for example, a 24/96 vinyl rip in WAV format), the file streams in 16/44.1 resolution on my other Apple devices (M1 Max MacBook Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, M2 iPad Air). Of course, external DACs are connected in every instance. High-res lossless music from Apple's library behaves correctly. Can this be fixed? Many of us audio engineers who are Apple users would be extremely grateful!

(I don't have great expectations...)

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