It seems audiophiles who use the Apple ecosystem have reason to celebrate, as one of the outstanding issues with the company's entertainment hub is finally about to be resolved. Apple plans to expand the Support for Hi-Res Lossless audio through the upcoming tvOS 27 version, an update that will arrive on our devices before the end of the year and promises to change the way we listen to music in the living room.
Until now, those seeking the highest fidelity have encountered an invisible barrier, as the current system limits sound reproduction to a maximum of 48kHz. With this move, the Cupertino company aims to eliminate that limitation. technical limitation of 48kHz to catch up with what the iPhone and iPad have been offering for some time, allowing the Apple TV to become a truly serious high-fidelity sound source.
The jump to 192kHz in the center of the home
The news, which spread like wildfire after development plans were leaked, confirms that the refresh rate ceiling will rise to 192kHz. This means the Apple TV will be able to output a signal bit-perfect to our sound equipmentThis is something audio purists have been demanding for years. However, it's not as simple as just pressing play and sitting back to enjoy, as the success of this improvement depends largely on how our home tech setup is configured.
If you have a traditional AV receiver, things will go smoothly. In this setup, the Apple TV connects directly to the receiver, which extracts the audio before sending the video to the TV. When using this direct HDMI connectionThe data flow reaches the amplifier in its entirety and the 192kHz remains real, without any external operating system interfering where it shouldn't to alter the quality of the original file.
The technical obstacles of current televisions
The real problem arises for most users who use the Audio Return Channel, better known as HDMI ARC or eARC. While it's a very convenient solution because it allows us to use a single remote for everything, the reality is that most Modern televisions resample audio 48kHz by default. It doesn't matter if Apple sends you a gem at 192kHz; if your TV decides that everything passing through its circuits must be output at 48kHz to comply with its video standards, you'll be missing out on a large part of the appeal of the device.
Even in high-end models boasting advanced features, the internal software is often the bottleneck. Unless the manufacturer clearly specifies that it allows raw signal pass-through, it's very likely that the internal processing of television It undermines Apple Music's high resolution. It's one of those slightly frustrating situations where, despite having the latest technology in the player, the rest of the system doesn't live up to expectations unless you choose your hardware very carefully.
Beyond resolution: intelligence and letters
Music fans don't live by hertz alone, and Apple has also taken the opportunity to tweak other features that make the experience more enjoyable. The lyrics translation tool will be enhanced, and will now be able to... manage seven new language pairsThis makes it easier for us to understand what that Italian or Korean song we love is actually saying. All of this relies on machine learning models that attempt to preserve the cultural nuances and original emotion of the lyrics, which is always appreciated to avoid losing context.
On the other hand, the function AutoMixThe feature, which is essentially like having a DJ working for you, will receive a major overhaul. Transitions between songs have been improved to make the transition from one track to another much smoother and less noticeable, using techniques of rhythm adjustment and temporary stretchingThis feature, which has already proven popular on other devices, will finally arrive on tvOS and HomePod, attempting to compete with the radio and artificial intelligence functions of its rivals.
The arrival of tvOS 27 represents a fundamental step forward in consolidating Apple TV as a top-tier music player, especially for those who already own a compatible external speaker systemAlthough full compatibility with high-resolution audio will remain somewhat complex due to the specifics of each television, the removal of software restrictions in Cupertino is the missing piece of the puzzle that will allow users to enjoy uncompromising sound quality in the heart of their homes.