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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteApple Music is the technical winner: it supports Lossless up to 24-bit/48 kHz, Hi-Res Lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz, and Dolby Atmos. Spotify Premium is now a much closer competitor, offering lossless FLAC up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz in supported markets. However, most listeners using AirPods, wireless earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, or car systems will not receive either service’s full lossless signal over ordinary Bluetooth.
So the practical answer depends on your equipment. Apple Music is the better choice for wired listening and maximum resolution. Spotify may be just as satisfying for Bluetooth listening, while offering advantages in discovery, playlists, device switching, and Spotify Connect.
Quick verdict
| Listener or setup | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Wired headphones or speakers with a suitable DAC | Apple Music |
| Android phone with wired headphones and an external DAC | Apple Music, subject to app and device support |
| AirPods or ordinary Bluetooth headphones | Technically close; neither delivers intact lossless Bluetooth playback |
| Spotify Connect-compatible speakers or receivers | Spotify may be more convenient |
| Dolby Atmos and immersive audio | Apple Music |
| Discovery, playlists, and device switching | Spotify |
Apple Music wins on maximum technical quality. Spotify has closed much of the gap by adding lossless audio to eligible Premium plans, but its published ceiling remains 24-bit/44.1 kHz rather than Apple Music’s 24-bit/192 kHz.
What “better sound quality” means
Streaming quality is not determined by one number. Several parts of the audio chain matter:
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- Codec: the format used to encode audio, such as AAC, Ogg Vorbis, ALAC, or FLAC.
- Bitrate: the amount of data delivered per second.
- Bit depth: the theoretical dynamic range of a recording.
- Sample rate: how frequently the analog signal is sampled.
- Lossy compression: compression that removes some data to reduce file size.
- Lossless compression: compression that preserves the original audio data.
- Mastering: the production choices made for a particular recording or release.
- Playback chain: the app, phone, operating system, DAC, amplifier, headphones, speakers, and connection.
A larger specification does not automatically produce an audible improvement. A 24-bit/192 kHz file may be technically superior without sounding clearly different from a lower-resolution version, particularly through Bluetooth, inexpensive equipment, noisy surroundings, or a recording whose mastering is the dominant factor.
Spotify vs Apple Music: current audio specifications
| Feature | Spotify Premium | Apple Music |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless format | FLAC | ALAC |
| Published maximum lossless resolution | Up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz | Up to 24-bit/48 kHz |
| Published maximum hi-res resolution | 24-bit/44.1 kHz ceiling | Up to 24-bit/192 kHz |
| Lossless included with standard paid music subscription | Yes, for eligible plans and supported markets | Yes, where available |
| Dolby Atmos | Not the central differentiator in this comparison | Available for thousands of tracks |
| Ordinary Bluetooth lossless | No intact lossless end-to-end transmission | No intact lossless end-to-end transmission |
Sources: Apple’s lossless-audio support page, Apple Music, Spotify’s lossless announcement, and Spotify support.
Apple Music audio quality
Apple Music offers lossless audio in Apple’s ALAC format at up to 24-bit/48 kHz, plus Hi-Res Lossless at up to 24-bit/192 kHz. The catalog is available at different resolutions, so not every recording should be assumed to have the same format.
Apple’s maximum resolution is most relevant to people using wired headphones or speakers and a compatible external DAC. Apple says Hi-Res Lossless generally requires additional equipment such as a USB DAC. A wireless connection cannot deliver the original 24-bit/192 kHz stream intact.
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Apple Music also supports Dolby Atmos on thousands of tracks. This is a separate immersive format rather than simply a higher-resolution stereo file. An Atmos mix may sound wider or more enveloping, but it can also sound quieter or less natural than the stereo mix. It should be judged as a different mix, with volume matched.
Apple’s details are available in its lossless-audio guide and Apple Music feature page.
Spotify audio quality
Spotify Premium now offers lossless FLAC audio up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz in supported markets and on supported hardware. Spotify announced the rollout in more than 50 markets, including the United States, in 2025. Availability and device support can still vary by country, account, app version, and playback equipment.
This makes Spotify a legitimate lossless alternative rather than merely a 320 kbps lossy service. Nevertheless, Apple Music retains the higher technical ceiling because it offers Hi-Res Lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
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Spotify’s lossless setting must be enabled manually and can be configured separately for Wi-Fi, cellular data, and downloads. Spotify Connect hardware may also support the feature, depending on the device. See Spotify’s setup instructions and its audio-quality support page.
Can you hear the difference?
Sometimes, but not always. Lossless describes how the data is preserved; it does not guarantee a dramatic audible improvement in every recording or setup.
Standard lossy quality
At their higher lossy settings, both services are designed to sound good. Do not rank Spotify’s historical 320 kbps Ogg Vorbis and Apple’s AAC bitrate solely by the number. Codec efficiency, encoder implementation, the source master, and the playback chain also matter.
Lossless stereo
If both services use the same master and the listener uses a wired, transparent playback chain, their lossless versions should be much closer than older comparisons suggest. Differences may instead come from different masters, remasters, album editions, loudness, EQ, or playback settings.
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Hi-Res Lossless
Apple Music clearly wins on published specifications. Whether the difference is audible depends on the recording, the equipment, the listener, the listening environment, and the test method. Hi-res audio is not automatically a better master.
Why Bluetooth changes the answer
Ordinary Bluetooth headphones and speakers do not receive a lossless stream intact. The audio is converted for transmission using a Bluetooth codec such as AAC, aptX, aptX HD, or LDAC, depending on the devices and operating system. Even higher-quality Bluetooth codecs are not the same as a bit-perfect wired connection.
Apple explicitly states that Bluetooth connections do not support Apple Music lossless audio. This means AirPods, most wireless Beats headphones, Bluetooth car systems, and Bluetooth speakers cannot demonstrate Apple Music’s full 24-bit/192 kHz capability.
That does not mean the source quality is irrelevant. A higher-quality source can still influence the signal before wireless encoding. But the final connection is not lossless, so the technical advantage is greatly reduced. For Bluetooth-only listeners, the choice may depend more on the master, volume normalization, headphones, device, and app features than on the advertised maximum resolution.
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See Apple’s explanation of Bluetooth and lossless audio.
How to enable the best quality
Apple Music on mobile
- Open Apple Music.
- Tap the More button.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Audio Quality.
- Turn on Lossless Audio.
- Choose quality separately for Wi-Fi, cellular data, and downloads.
- Select Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless where available.
Use a wired connection for intact lossless playback. Hi-Res Lossless may require an external DAC capable of the selected resolution.
Apple Music on PC
- Open the Apple Music app.
- Open Sidebar Actions.
- Select Settings, then Playback.
- Turn on lossless audio and choose the desired resolution.
Apple provides the current instructions at support.apple.com.
Spotify
- Open Spotify.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Media Quality.
- Set Wi-Fi, cellular, and downloads to Lossless.
- Repeat the setting on each device as needed.
- Look for the Lossless indicator in Now Playing or the Connect Picker.
If the option is missing, check the Premium plan, country availability, app version, device compatibility, and internet connection. Spotify’s web player does not provide the same quality controls as its mobile and desktop apps.
How to compare the services fairly
- Use the same album and exact same track version.
- Use the same headphones, DAC, amplifier, and device.
- Use a wired connection rather than Bluetooth.
- Standardize EQ and loudness normalization.
- Compare stereo with stereo, or Atmos with Atmos.
- Match volume carefully; louder often sounds better in casual comparisons.
- Test several passages, genres, and recordings.
- Use blind or level-matched testing before making strong claims.
Spotify says lossless changes sound quality rather than loudness, while loudness normalization may continue to balance tracks. A difference you hear may be caused by the master, remaster, album edition, stereo-versus-Atmos mix, EQ, or volume rather than the streaming codec itself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which service suits your equipment?
AirPods and wireless earbuds
Choose based mainly on convenience, ecosystem, catalog, discovery, and app features. Apple Music’s hi-res source cannot be transmitted intact over ordinary Bluetooth, so AirPods do not unlock the full benefit of Apple’s 24-bit/192 kHz tier.
Wired headphones
Apple Music is the stronger choice if your headphones are connected directly to a capable device or DAC. Spotify’s lossless quality can still be excellent, but Apple offers the higher ceiling.
USB DAC and desktop audio
Apple Music is the clear technical choice for listeners who specifically want Hi-Res Lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Confirm that the app, operating system, DAC, and headphones or speakers support the selected output.
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Bluetooth car audio
The services are much closer in practical terms because the wireless connection is the limiting stage. Spotify’s device integration or Apple Music’s ecosystem may matter more than maximum source resolution.
Spotify Connect speakers and receivers
Spotify may be the more convenient choice if you frequently move playback between compatible speakers, receivers, and other devices. Confirm the specific hardware’s support for Spotify lossless rather than assuming every Connect device can deliver it.
What each service is best for
Choose Apple Music if you:
- Want the highest published technical resolution.
- Use wired headphones or speakers.
- Own or plan to buy a suitable USB DAC.
- Want Hi-Res Lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
- Care about Dolby Atmos.
- Use Apple devices or already subscribe to Apple One.
- Want lossless audio included in a standard paid subscription.
Choose Spotify if you:
- Prioritize discovery, playlists, social features, or device switching.
- Use Spotify Connect extensively.
- Mostly listen through Bluetooth.
- Want lossless up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz without needing hi-res above that ceiling.
- Already rely on Spotify’s library, integrations, or free tier.
Common problems and fixes
“I enabled lossless, but it still sounds compressed.”
Check whether you are using Bluetooth, an unsupported speaker or receiver, the web player, automatic quality adjustment, or a device that resamples the signal. Also verify that the specific track is available at the selected resolution.
“Apple Music sounds quieter.”
Check whether you are hearing a Dolby Atmos mix, using loudness normalization, comparing different masters, or applying a different EQ or volume limit. Loudness is not the same as fidelity.
“Spotify shows Lossless, but my hardware cannot play it.”
The app may be decoding a lossless source while the final connection converts it to another format. Distinguish lossless at the source from lossless end-to-end playback.
“Hi-Res Lossless sounds no better.”
That is a valid result. Audible differences depend on the recording, mastering, headphones or speakers, room, hearing, listening volume, background noise, and whether the comparison is level-matched.
Final verdict
Apple Music offers better sound quality on paper and in the best wired setups. Its 24-bit/192 kHz Hi-Res Lossless tier and Dolby Atmos support give it the broader technical range.
Spotify is no longer a meaningful lossless laggard. Its Premium lossless offering reaches 24-bit/44.1 kHz, which is enough for many listeners, especially those who primarily use Bluetooth or value Spotify’s discovery and device ecosystem.
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Choose Apple Music for maximum resolution, wired listening, and spatial audio. Choose Spotify if convenience, Spotify Connect, discovery, or Bluetooth listening matters more. For many people, the biggest audible upgrade will come not from switching apps, but from using a better master, matching volume, improving headphones or speakers, and choosing the right wired playback chain.
Quick Recap
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