Apple Music is adding Hi-Res Lossless Audio to tvOS, alongside the standard Lossless tier it already offers. The limit is hardware. Apple says Hi-Res Lossless on Apple TV is available only on Apple TV 4K (3rd generation or later). Apple’s documented setup connects that Apple TV 4K to an AV receiver over HDMI, with audio quality chosen in the Music settings. This is a format and compatibility change. It does not guarantee a dramatic audible difference, and it does not mean every song in the catalog is available in Hi-Res Lossless.
What Apple announced
In June 2026 Apple said Apple Music is bringing Hi-Res Lossless Audio to tvOS, in addition to standard Lossless Audio. Apple said subscribers with compatible external speaker outputs can hear the highest audio quality directly through Apple TV 4K. The same announcement said AutoMix would become available on Apple Music on tvOS and on HomePod. Apple described these as features arriving in a free software update this fall. Apple Support published its current setup instructions and model eligibility on September 28, 2026.
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These are two separate changes. AutoMix affects the transitions between songs. Hi-Res Lossless affects how the audio is encoded and what resolution it carries. Apple’s sources do not explain how the two interact, so enabling one should not be assumed to change the other.
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Apple’s support article names one eligible model for Hi-Res Lossless: Apple TV 4K (3rd generation or later). Older Apple TV models are not listed for Hi-Res Lossless. The cited Apple material does not state Apple TV model eligibility for standard Lossless, so check Apple’s current support pages before assuming it applies to your device.
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| Format | What it is (Apple’s stated specification) | Apple TV requirement | Output Apple documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Lossless | 16-bit at 44.1 kHz (CD quality) up to 24-bit at 48 kHz, per Apple’s 2021 launch announcement | Not stated by model in the Apple support material cited here | AV receiver connected by HDMI |
| Hi-Res Lossless | Up to 24-bit at 192 kHz, per Apple’s 2021 launch announcement | Apple TV 4K (3rd generation or later) | AV receiver connected by HDMI |
| Dolby Atmos | Separate spatial audio format with its own content and setup requirements | Not a Hi-Res Lossless requirement; Apple TV 4K selects the highest format supported by both the setup and the content | Atmos-capable TV, soundbar with a compatible TV, Atmos AV receiver, or one or two HomePod speakers |
The Hi-Res row describes the format ceiling Apple gave in 2021. It is not a statement about how many current tracks are available at that resolution.
Setting up Hi-Res Lossless on Apple TV 4K
- Update Apple TV 4K to the latest version of tvOS.
- Connect Apple TV 4K to an AV receiver using an HDMI cable.
- On Apple TV, go to Settings > Apps > Music > Audio Quality.
- Choose the streaming audio quality you want. Hi-Res Lossless is available only on the eligible model described above.
Apple’s instructions describe this HDMI-to-receiver arrangement as the documented lossless setup. The support material cited here does not describe other output paths for Hi-Res Lossless.
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Data use and storage
Apple says higher-resolution streaming uses more data than lower resolutions. Downloading lossless audio uses significantly more storage. Apple’s support page does not give a per-hour data figure, so if you stream on a limited data plan, check your own usage after a listening session rather than relying on an estimate.
Dolby Atmos is a separate setup
Dolby Atmos is a different capability from Hi-Res Lossless, and it has its own requirements. Apple’s Dolby Atmos guide lists these possible configurations: one or two HomePod speakers, an Atmos-capable television, an Atmos-compatible soundbar with a compatible television, or an Atmos-enabled AV receiver. HomePod mini does not support Dolby Atmos.
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Apple also describes a setting called Continuous Audio, which uses a Dolby MAT connection to make transitions between formats seamless. Apple warns that older receivers may show an Atmos indicator while the original audio plays as intended. The same setting may also affect an older receiver’s ability to tell stereo apart for upmixing. An Atmos indicator on a receiver therefore does not show that a particular track is an Atmos mix, and it should not be read as a Hi-Res Lossless signal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the launch-era figures do and do not tell you
Several numbers circulating around this update come from Apple’s May 2021 launch announcement, not from the 2026 tvOS material:
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- 16-bit at 44.1 kHz: described by Apple in 2021 as CD-quality Lossless Audio.
- 24-bit at 48 kHz: described by Apple in 2021 as the upper end of its original standard Lossless tier. This is a launch specification, not a description of every current track or output path.
- Up to 24-bit at 192 kHz: described by Apple in 2021 as the maximum for Hi-Resolution Lossless.
- More than 75 million songs: the catalog size Apple gave at its 2021 launch. It is a dated figure and not a current catalog count.
Apple’s 2021 announcement included quotations from Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats, dated May 17, 2021. He said, “Apple Music is making its biggest advancement ever in sound quality,” and “Apple Music as we know it is about to change forever.” Those remarks describe the 2021 launch, not the 2026 Apple TV update. The phrase “studio-quality sound directly through their Apple TV 4K” comes from Apple’s own June 2026 announcement. It is Apple’s description, not an independent test result.
What is not established
- No controlled listening test in the official material shows how much typical Apple TV listeners will hear a difference between Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless.
- No current count of Hi-Res Lossless tracks, or a track-by-track availability check, is provided.
- Apple’s material does not confirm how particular receiver models handle Hi-Res Lossless or Dolby Atmos.
- No per-hour data or storage figure for lossless streaming or downloads is published.
Do you need to buy anything?
Most people with a compatible setup do not need new hardware for this change. If you already own an Apple TV 4K (3rd generation or later) and an AV receiver with an HDMI connection, the update is a software and settings change. If your Apple TV is an older model, Apple’s support material does not list it for Hi-Res Lossless, so an upgrade to a qualifying Apple TV 4K would be required for that format. Apple’s documented instructions call for an HDMI connection but do not call for a premium cable tier. Dolby Atmos speakers, televisions, and receivers are optional, separate purchases for an Atmos setup, not requirements for Hi-Res Lossless.
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