What is Spatial Audio?

In another new addition to Apple Music, Spatial Audio has been designed to provide multidimensional sound and clarity, delivering surround sound and 3D audio via your headphones (and other devices). Unfortunately, the streaming giant was unable to meet its 'by the end of 2021' launch pledge, and despite recent rumors in 2023, it still remains unavailable. However, Spotify's long-awaited HiFi tier is also expected to offer CD-quality streams at some point.

Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music HD, and Deezer already offer CD-quality and 24-bit hi-res listening, while Apple Music Classical (a separate app for classical music that sits alongside your main Apple Music subscription) features Lossless and Spatial Audio tracks. Apple Music isn't the first service to offer lossless or hi-res streaming, as over 20 million tracks were accessible in the highest quality Hi-Res Lossless format at launch in Summer 2021.

The streaming giant has made good on its promise to bring the entire catalogue – in Lossless, at least – by the end of 2022. Users can choose their audio quality through the iPhone's Settings > Music > Audio Quality section of Apple Music. All of Apple Music's massive music catalogue is now available in CD quality or Apple Music Lossless.

Apple's Lossless streams use ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) to offer more detail and information in a recording. The company offers three tiers of higher resolution audio: CD quality (16-bit/44.1kHz), Apple Music Lossless (up to 24-bit/48kHz), and Hi-Res Lossless (up to 24-bit/192kHz). Essentially, it's Apple embracing hi-res audio.

Apple sound studio