Apple Music Comes to BluOS, but Lossless Audio Is Missing

Apple Music has finally joined the BluOS streaming platform, giving music fans a new way to enjoy their favorite tracks on compatible wireless speakers and hi-fi equipment. The integration is available through a free software update and extends beyond Bluesound products to selected devices from other audio brands.

However, there is one disappointing detail for audiophiles. Although the new feature allows Apple Music to stream directly through BluOS, it does not currently provide lossless or high-resolution audio. The integration reportedly uses compressed AAC audio at up to 256kbps.

Apple Music Is Now Built Into the BluOS App

BluOS has announced native Apple Music support through its BluOS Controller app. Previously, owners of compatible Bluesound devices generally relied on Apple AirPlay 2 to play music from an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

With the new integration, users can sign in to their Apple Music accounts directly through the BluOS app and access the streaming service alongside other supported platforms, including Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz.

Apple Music offers access to more than 100 million songs, along with personalized recommendations, curated playlists, artist-hosted shows and radio programming.

The update also means users do not need to keep their phones or tablets responsible for delivering the music. Compatible BluOS players retrieve the audio stream directly, making playback less dependent on the mobile device and its connection.

Which Devices Support Apple Music?

The new integration is not limited to Bluesound hardware. It is also coming to compatible products powered by the BluOS platform.

Supported brands include:

• Bluesound
• NAD Electronics
• PSB Speakers
• DALI Speakers
• Cyrus Audio
• Monitor Audio

Compatible products include wireless speakers, stereo components, network streamers and soundbars. The exact availability depends on the device and its BluOS compatibility.

For existing owners, Apple Music support arrives through a free BluOS software update. No additional hardware purchase is required if the device is supported.

The Biggest Disappointment: No Lossless Audio

While native Apple Music support is a welcome addition, the audio quality may disappoint users who purchased premium hi-fi equipment specifically for high-resolution music.

Apple Music offers lossless audio through Apple's ALAC format, including high-resolution tracks. However, the new BluOS integration reportedly relies on Apple's MusicKit tools, which currently provide third-party services with compressed AAC audio rather than lossless streams.

According to reporting from Darko.Audio, Bluesound confirmed that its implementation uses the same toolkit available to other third-party developers. The resulting stream is AAC at 256kbps rather than lossless ALAC.

This means that direct streaming should not automatically be confused with lossless playback. The music reaches the BluOS player without requiring a phone to relay it, but that does not guarantee the original lossless audio quality.

AirPlay 2 remains another option for Apple Music users. However, playback quality can depend on the device and streaming method, so users should not assume that switching between native BluOS streaming and AirPlay will automatically provide high-resolution audio.

For people who mainly want convenient music playback, AAC at 256kbps may be perfectly acceptable. But dedicated audiophiles may want Apple to expand MusicKit's capabilities before considering the integration a complete solution.

Multi-Room Music Streaming Gets Better

One of the most useful additions is support for BluOS multi-room playback.

Users can play Apple Music on a single compatible device or group several BluOS players to listen throughout their homes. They can also choose different music for individual rooms or audio zones.

For example, someone could play music in the living room while another family member listens to a different playlist in the bedroom.

This makes the update particularly useful for households with multiple Bluesound or other compatible BluOS products.

How to Get Apple Music on BluOS

Getting started is relatively simple:

1. Update your compatible device to the latest BluOS software.
2. Open the BluOS Controller app.
3. Find Apple Music in the available music services.
4. Sign in using your Apple Music account.
5. Select your preferred music and start streaming.

An active Apple Music subscription is required. The BluOS software update itself is free, but it does not replace the subscription needed to access Apple's music library.

Owners of older or third-party devices should check compatibility before expecting the feature to appear.

Is This a Good Alternative to Sonos?

The addition of Apple Music makes Bluesound and other BluOS-powered products more attractive to people looking for a multi-room audio system.

Sonos has long been a popular choice for users who want integrated streaming services and convenient whole-home playback. BluOS now offers Apple Music directly within its own controller app, making it a stronger option for Apple Music subscribers who prefer dedicated hi-fi equipment.

The lack of lossless streaming is still a limitation, particularly for users who prioritize sound quality over convenience.

Final Verdict

Apple Music support is an important upgrade for the BluOS ecosystem. It brings a major streaming service directly into the platform, simplifies playback and makes multi-room listening more convenient.

However, the absence of lossless audio takes away some of the excitement for serious music enthusiasts. Until Apple makes lossless streaming available through its third-party MusicKit tools, BluOS users will have to settle for compressed audio when using the native integration.

For everyday listening, this is still a useful improvement. For audiophiles, however, the missing lossless support remains a significant drawback.