Apple Music is Getting 24-bit/192kHz. Here’s How to Play It. 

Apple announced this week that Apple Music will begin supporting HiFi lossless streaming next month at no extra cost. This is awesome news for Apple fans who want to jump into lossless streaming without leaving the Apple ecosystem. It’s also super tempting for anyone paying over $9.99 a month for the same quality on a different platform. 

Apple Music users will be able to enjoy Apple Music’s entire catalog from 16-bit/44.1kHz to 24-bit/48kHz quality and play it natively on Apple devices. 

Apple Music users will also get access to a Hi-Resolution Lossless tier with resolution up to 24-bit/192kHz (by all indications, this tier is included with the $9.99/month service), but they’ll have to opt in to use it. This is due “to the large file sizes and bandwidth needed for Lossless and Hi-Res Audio,” according to Apple. Bring it on, right? Well, not so fast. Neither Macs, iPhones, nor iPads support 24-bit/192kHz (they top out at 24-bit/48kHz), meaning that you’ll have to purchase a DAC to stream it.

If you’ve already got a DAC that supports 24-bit/192kHz, congrats. You’re ready to receive Apple’s greatest gift to audiophiles ever. But if not, you’ll need to get one. Here are some that we recommend at all price points. 

Best Portable DAC/Amps

xDuoo XD-05 BAL Balanced DAC/Amp

Price: $429

Max sampling rate: 32-bit/768kHz

DAC chip: ESS ES9038QSM x 2xDX

FiiO Q3 THX Portable Balanced DAC/Amp 

Price: $149.99

Max sampling rate: 32-bit/768kHz

DAC chip: AKM AK4462

xDuoo Link 2 DAC Headphone Amp

Price: $109

Max sampling rate: 32-bit/384kHz

DAC chip: ESS ES9118EC

Best Desktop DAC/Amps

TOPPING DX9 DAC/Amp

Price: $1,299

Max sampling rate: 32-bit/768kHz

DAC chip: AK4499EQ DAC

SMSL M500 V2 MQA DAC/Amp

Price: $419.99

Max sampling rate: 32-bit/768kHz

DAC chip: ESS ES9038 PRO

FiiO K5PRO Desktop DAC/Amp

Price: $149.99

Max sampling rate: 32-bit/768kHz

DAC chip: AKM AK4493EQ

Best Desktop DACs

SMSL M400 MQA DAC

Price: $859.99

Max sampling rate: 32-bit/768kHz

DAC chip: AKM AK4499

 

TOPPING D30 Pro Desktop DAC

Price: $399.99

Max sampling rate: 32-bit/384kHz

DAC chip: Cirrus Logic CS43198 (x4)

 

TOPPING E30 Desktop DAC

Price: $149.99

Max sampling rate: 32-bit/768kHz

DAC chip: AKM AK4493EQ