Does Apple Music Support AAC? Explained

Apple Music has emerged as one of the leading streaming platforms in the world, offering a robust and seamless music experience for millions of users across multiple devices. A common question among users and audiophiles is whether Apple Music supports AAC (Advanced Audio Codec), a popular codec known for its high-quality audio compression.

TLDR (Too Long; Didn’t Read):

Yes, Apple Music supports AAC as its default audio codec. It uses the AAC format at 256 kbps, which offers high-quality audio at a relatively low file size. AAC is integral to Apple’s ecosystem and provides an optimal balance between sound fidelity and data usage. Although Apple has expanded into lossless formats, AAC remains the standard for streaming unless users manually enable higher quality options.

Understanding AAC and Its Significance

AAC, short for Advanced Audio Codec, is a digital audio compression format developed as the successor to MP3. It delivers better sound quality than MP3 at similar bitrates, making it widely adopted across various media platforms and devices.

• Better compression efficiency: AAC produces smaller files while maintaining sound quality.
• Broad compatibility: Used in everything from smartphones to gaming consoles.
• Enhanced audio quality at lower bitrates: This makes it ideal for streaming services where bandwidth might be a concern.

Apple’s ecosystem has long embraced AAC, and its seamless integration into Apple Music is no surprise.

Does Apple Music Use AAC?

The short answer is: Yes. Apple Music streams music in the AAC format by default. The music is encoded in 256 kbps AAC, which provides excellent sound quality while still being efficient in terms of data usage.

Here’s why AAC is so critical to Apple Music’s architecture:

• Optimized for Apple Devices: AAC is natively supported across all Apple products, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TV, and HomePods.
• Bandwidth Management: The 256 kbps bitrate strikes a balance between audio fidelity and data consumption, making it suitable for both Wi-Fi and cellular streaming.
• Consistent User Experience: Most users won’t notice any audible flaws, even on premium audio equipment, unless they are actively seeking lossless or high-resolution options.

Moreover, Apple uses a technology called Apple Digital Masters (formerly Mastered for iTunes), which ensures that the original recordings are optimized for digital playback in the AAC format, delivering superior sound even before the file is encoded.

What About Lossless Audio?

In June 2021, Apple introduced Lossless Audio and High-Resolution Lossless Audio to Apple Music at no additional cost. While this might raise the question of whether AAC is now obsolete, it’s important to understand that AAC still remains the standard format for most streaming users by default.

Lossless audio on Apple Music uses ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) instead of AAC. Users who want to stream in this format must:

1. Go to the Settings app on their iOS device.
2. Navigate to Music > Audio Quality.
3. Select Lossless settings if they prefer higher audio fidelity.

However, most users leave the default settings on, which utilize AAC. Apple’s decision to keep AAC as the default format makes sense, as:

• Streaming lossless requires significantly more bandwidth.
• Not all headphones and speakers can reproduce the added audio fidelity.
• Lossless streaming drains battery faster, especially on mobile devices.

Thus, AAC remains the go-to for day-to-day listening for the majority of Apple Music users.

Is AAC Good Enough for Casual and Audiophile Listeners?

This question largely depends on the individual’s listening preferences and setup. For casual listeners using earbuds or Bluetooth speakers, the difference between a 256 kbps AAC stream and CD-quality audio is often indistinguishable. AAC’s effectiveness is especially evident when played through Apple’s proprietary hardware, which is calibrated to work in tandem with the codec.

However, audiophiles with high-end headphones, DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters), and lossless audio libraries might detect subtle differences and prefer ALAC or other formats. Yet, even among audiophiles, AAC at 256 kbps is appreciated for being high-quality, efficient, and widely supported.

Comparison Between AAC and Other Codecs Used in Streaming

Different streaming platforms use various codecs to deliver content. Here’s a brief comparison:

As seen in this table, while other platforms may provide higher bitrate options or different formats, Apple’s use of AAC strikes a remarkable balance in terms of efficiency and performance.

How to Check and Change Streaming Quality in Apple Music

If users wish to explore higher audio quality or control their data usage, they can easily adjust their Apple Music settings:

1. Go to Settings > Music on the iOS device.
2. Select Audio Quality.
3. Choose the desired quality for streaming and downloading: High Efficiency, High Quality (AAC 256 kbps), and Lossless.

Note that enabling Lossless or High-Resolution Lossless will consume more storage and bandwidth. For most listeners, AAC provides all the quality and convenience they need.

Conclusion

AAC is not just supported—it is the core audio format used by Apple Music for streaming. Designed to offer an outstanding balance between audio fidelity and data economy, AAC ensures that everyday users have a pleasant listening experience across devices without worrying about file sizes or bandwidth.

With the addition of Lossless audio options, Apple now caters to various listening preferences. Nevertheless, unless users manually opt-in for higher-quality formats, they will continue enjoying music in the highly efficient and capable AAC format.

FAQ

• Q: Does Apple Music use AAC or MP3?
  A: Apple Music uses AAC at 256 kbps, not MP3. AAC provides better quality at the same bitrates compared to MP3.
• Q: Can I change the default format from AAC to something else?
  A: Yes, you can switch to Lossless or High-Resolution Lossless through the Audio Quality settings in the Music app’s preferences.
• Q: Is AAC good enough for audiophiles?
  A: While some audiophiles may prefer lossless formats, 256 kbps AAC is considered very high quality and is sufficient for the majority of listeners.
• Q: What devices support AAC playback from Apple Music?
  A: Almost all Apple devices support AAC natively, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, HomePods, and Apple Watch.
• Q: Does streaming in Lossless cost extra?
  A: No, Apple offers Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless streaming at no additional cost as part of the standard Apple Music subscription.