Bitrate handling on iOS 18.1 and TIDAL

[as286]

I have just been in touch with Tidal support about a problem I have been having with iOS 18.1 when directly connected to an external DAC. This is a problem that affects all iOS 18.1 devices apparently. What happens is that the DAC will only get 16/44.1 no matter what the declared sound quality on the TIDAL app is. The problem only occurs when playing directly from an iOS18.1 device to an external DAC. Streaming, Roon, Tidal Connect etc. are not affected.
TIDAL is aware of the problem which has to do with bitrate handling in this OS version. The workaround is to download the file and play the downloaded version.
Just thought I'd let people know as I am sure there are some who stream in this way.

 

[Hifiman]

Do you know if this was fixed with IOS 18.2?

 

[Lukaku1744]

I have just been in touch with Tidal support about a problem I have been having with iOS 18.1 when directly connected to an external DAC. This is a problem that affects all iOS 18.1 devices apparently. What happens is that the DAC will only get 16/44.1 no matter what the declared sound quality on the TIDAL app is. The problem only occurs when playing directly from an iOS18.1 device to an external DAC. Streaming, Roon, Tidal Connect etc. are not affected.
TIDAL is aware of the problem which has to do with bitrate handling in this OS version. The workaround is to download the file and play the downloaded version.
Just thought I'd let people know as I am sure there are some who stream in this way.

The same issue (16/44.1) is with all apple mobile devices. I tried an iphone 16 Plus running IOS 18.2, an iphone 11 pro max running IOS 18.1.1 and an old iPad Air running IOS 15.8.3. I have the same issue also with my Fiio R7 streamer while everything is fine with my Eversolo DMP-6 streamer and my Volumio Rivo streamer. I enquired the Fiio customer support but no satisfactory reply yet. On a Macbook Air the problem is different. I think everything is capped at 96kHz, but there is no automatic sample switching. I was able to play Tidal at 24 bit 48khz. Apple products definitely have a problem!

 

[as286]

The same issue (16/44.1) is with all apple mobile devices. I tried an iphone 16 Plus running IOS 18.2, an iphone 11 pro max running IOS 18.1.1 and an old iPad Air running IOS 15.8.3. I have the same issue also with my Fiio R7 streamer while everything is fine with my Eversolo DMP-6 streamer and my Volumio Rivo streamer. I enquired the Fiio customer support but no satisfactory reply yet. On a Macbook Air the problem is different. I think everything is capped at 96kHz, but there is no automatic sample switching. I was able to play Tidal at 24 bit 48khz. Apple products definitely have a problem!

I can confirm I am still experiencing exactly what you are describing.