Photo Credit: Apple
Apple announces plans to bring lossless audio and low-latency audio to AirPods Max headphones using the included USB-C cable.
On Monday (March 24), Apple announced its plans to bring lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio to AirPods Max headphones when using the included USB-C cable.
The update next month will unlock 24-bit 48 kHz lossless audio to maintain the quality of original recordings. Lossless audio will also extend to Personalized Spatial Audio to provide a “more sonically accurate, uncompressed, and immersive experience.” Users will be able to listen to over 100 million songs in lossless audio in Apple Music.
Meanwhile, the company says the AirPods Max will be better suited for music production with the ultra-low latency audio functionality. Using the USB-C cable, AirPods Max users can listen to music artists have mixed with Personalized Spatial Audio and head tracking. That means, according to the company, artists can record and mix music without losing audio quality.
“Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio enable music creators to fully utilize AirPods Max throughout their entire professional workflow on Logic Pro and other music creation apps,” the company says.
“Using the USB-C cable, AirPods Max will become the only headphones that enable musicians to both create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking. By delivering lossless, high-resolution digital audio with low latency, artists can seamlessly record and mix with AirPods Max without compromising fidelity.”
Ultra-low latency audio also benefits gamers, who will experience lower audio latency in their games using the AirPods Max with their USB-C cable.
Both lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio will be available in a free firmware update next month for iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4. The new features will be available exclusively to AirPods Max using USB-C, and not the Lightning version of the headphones.
AirPods Max are available in five colors — midnight, starlight, blue, purple, and orange — for $549 each, while the USB-C to 3.5 mm cable is available for $39. Using the cable, users can connect AirPods Max to 3.5 mm audio sources, like the audio-out port on an airplane. They can also connect their iOS or iPadOS device to 3.5 mm audio ports, like those in car stereos and other speakers.
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.