Apple Music Classical to Audiophile HiFi

[Tashley]

Assuming that when it launches, Apple Music Classical fulfils its promise of providing a much better metadata set for classical music, and lossless hi-res audio, many of us will be faced with the fact that Apple Music, unlike Tidal and Qobuz, isn’t built in to any third part streamers other than Sonos (I think).

Which means that a lot of us are going to be trying to find the best (i.e. not airplay) way to get apple’s classical music to our audiophile amps and speakers,

Assuming I start with an iPad (the story will be quite similar with a Mac or iPhone with some specific differences but I will be using an iPad Pro) it seems to me that there are two main ways of doing this:

1) To use a USB external DAC (I have an A&K AKHC3) plugged in to the iPad and then take analogue out from the AK headphone jack via a 3.5mm jack to RCA cable, then feed that in to my Cambridge Audio EVO 150 as a selectable Aux In source. So the A&K does the digital to analogue.

or

2) use a USB C to USB B cable (would I need any particular spec fo this cable I wonder?) to connect the iPad to the USB Audio port on the EVO. So (AFAIK) the EVO’s DAC would be doing the digital to analogue conversion.

Both the DAC in the EVO and the DAC in the AK HC3 can more than cope with the highest resolution files Apple music has to throw.

Does this sound sensible? Or am I missing something obvious?

 

[manicm]

I'll veer slightly off track here. If Sonos can stream Apple Music directly (like Spotify and Tidal Connect) why don't other manufacturers follow suit? I'm guessing Sonos are paying a premium for that connection, and others are reluctant to.

Because if Apple Music 'Connect' becomes more prevalent it would spell the beginning of the end of Spotify, and give Tidal a real headache too.

 

[nopiano]

I only read about Apple Classical today. Unless it makes itself widely accessible - and without charging silly money to manufacturers of Hifi devices - then I won’t bother. Rather like Amazon, unless they practically give the music away, accessibility is key.

In fact, even if it were free I’d rather pay Qobuz as at least the artists get something.

 

[AndrewF]

After experimenting with Qobuz and Tidal, I have decided to keep life simple and just continue to use Apple Music (and soon Apple Classical) for everything. For critical listening, USB-C to USB-B on my CXN V2. For multi room or less critical listening, Airport 2. CD quality steaming is pretty decent, for me at least.

I find Apple Music the easiest and most comprehensive streaming service, with an excellent interface. Unclear why it doesn’t seem to get much love here.

 

[Tashley]

Thanks Andrew,

Do you use any particular USB cable? All the ones I see on Amazon are described as printer cables and I don't see any specialised audio ones.

 

[Al ears]

Thanks Andrew,

Do you use any particular USB cable? All the ones I see on Amazon are described as printer cables and I don't see any specialised audio ones.

a USB cable simply passes data whether that be a music file or anything else, they all do the same thing.... As long as they have the correct terminations for your needs that is.

 

[Tashley]

Sure, but I'm always a sucker for gold plated copper braided audiophile snake oil....

 

[WayneKerr]

Sure, but I'm always a sucker for gold plated copper braided audiophile snake oil....

Then go ahead and pay audiophool prices, it's your money

 

[nopiano]

After experimenting with Qobuz and Tidal, I have decided to keep life simple and just continue to use Apple Music (and soon Apple Classical) for everything. For critical listening, USB-C to USB-B on my CXN V2. For multi room or less critical listening, Airport 2. CD quality steaming is pretty decent, for me at least.

I find Apple Music the easiest and most comprehensive streaming service, with an excellent interface. Unclear why it doesn’t seem to get much love here.

May I ask where/what the source is that uses the USB. A laptop, maybe?

 

[Al ears]

Sure, but I'm always a sucker for gold plated copper braided audiophile snake oil....

Feel fee to indulge, just don't make this another cable thread please because A\ it's in the wrong subforum and B\ it will not last very long....

 

[AndrewF]

I have an older IPad I use as a dedicated source. The only tiny hassle is that I periodically have to plug in a different USB C cable for charging, since the one used for audio out doesn’t charge. Tiny, tiny hassle.

 

[nopiano]

I have an older IPad I use as a dedicated source. The only tiny hassle is that I periodically have to plug in a different USB C cable for charging, since the one used for audio out doesn’t charge. Tiny, tiny hassle.

Thanks, Andrew - so is that sending analogue to your CXN or a digital signal?

 

[manicm]

After experimenting with Qobuz and Tidal, I have decided to keep life simple and just continue to use Apple Music (and soon Apple Classical) for everything. For critical listening, USB-C to USB-B on my CXN V2. For multi room or less critical listening, Airport 2. CD quality steaming is pretty decent, for me at least.

I find Apple Music the easiest and most comprehensive streaming service, with an excellent interface. Unclear why it doesn’t seem to get much love here.

It would get love if it had a more open streaming platform like Spotify and Tidal. But Sonos somehow gets the love - one can stream directly from Apple Music to Sonos devices - no Airplay or Bluetooth required.

 

[AndrewF]

Thanks, Andrew - so is that sending analogue to your CXN or a digital signal?

I would assume digital. The CXN V2 is the DAC.

 

[AndrewF]

It would get love if it had a more open streaming platform like Spotify and Tidal. But Sonos somehow gets the love - one can stream directly from Apple Music to Sonos devices - no Airplay or Bluetooth required.

my guess is that will come. I would like to be able to just stream hi-res, but this workaround is fine for now. In truth, unless you are really, really listening closely, Airport 2 sounds great to me. Any difference is very subtle.