Apple Music update will add audio quality setting

By Joe Cox
published

An updated version of Apple Music in iOS 9 will allow you to force music to stream at the highest possible audio quality when streaming over your network connection.

@HiFiGuy528 bit rate depends on whether you are on WiFi or cellular

MORE: Apple Music review

This update, which has been spotted in the latest iOS 9 beta by Apple Insider, still keeps the level of control to a minimum, however.

For example, there's seemingly no option to set the streaming quality over WiFi, no hint of the streaming bitrate that you're getting, nor any option to set the audio quality to low, medium or high, as is the norm on the likes of Spotify and Tidal.

As it is, we're 99% certain the service is streaming at 256kbps AAC, which we're happy to report delivers pretty decent audio quality compared to its main, non-lossless rival, Spotify.

Apple iOS 9 is expected to be released later this year.

MORE: Apple Music streaming - what you need to know

Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is Content Director for T3 and What Hi-Fi?, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for more than 15 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).