Audiophiles must try these 5 iPhone apps

If you want the sound quality on your iPhone to reach a more refined level, the application suggestions below will help you open up a new experience.

For many iPhone users, subscribing to Apple Music or Spotify comes naturally. But you don’t have to pay monthly to get quality sound. The problem lies in the way these applications compress and play music. By default, Spotify prioritizes data savings and download speed over quality, playing music through “lossy” codecs like AAC. Apple Music supports ALAC lossless, but it is not enabled. Additionally, Bluetooth on the iPhone uses AAC, another lossy codec, so no matter how good the headphones are, you still won’t hear real sound quality over a wireless connection.

Normal lossy formats sound fine, but if you are someone who pays attention to every detail, from chords, bass, to the separation of each instrument, then lossless like ALAC or FLAC will really respect your ears.

Below are 5 apps on the App Store for those who want to get the most out of their headphones and iPhone.

Apple Music

Look no further, Apple Music is available on iPhone and meets the needs of most users. With over 100 million songs, the app supports Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless up to 24-bit/192kHz via ALAC codec, equivalent to CD quality and more. You also have Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, creating a vivid 3D sound space when using AirPods Pro or AirPods Max.

To enable Lossless: go to Settings > Music > Sound qualitythen turn on Lossless for both Wi-Fi and mobile data. You can also download songs in Lossless format for offline listening.

However, note that AirPods and most Bluetooth headphones use AAC, so you won’t get true lossless listening over a wireless connection. If you want a true experience, use wired headphones.

At $10.99/month, Apple Music competes directly with Tidal and Amazon Music HD, the interface is smooth, easy to use, and high quality.

Qobuz

Qobuz is for people who are really “fastidious” with sound quality. Every song is played at CD quality FLAC (16-bit/44.1kHz) or higher, and many albums are also available at studio master quality 24-bit/192kHz — that’s the studio-quality, uncompressed, lossless master.

The app also has exclusive editorial content like reviews, artist interviews, and higher licensing fees than Spotify or Apple Music. Minimalist interface, you can choose audio version like original master, remaster or high-res reissue.

There are two main packages: Studio Solo ($10.83/month) and Sublime Solo ($14.99/month). Both have full access to hi-res libraries, but Sublime offers up to 60% off music downloads from the Qobuz store.

Minus points: smaller library than Apple Music and Spotify, some niche genres may be lacking, and no Dolby Atmos.

Tidal

If you’ve invested in a high-quality IEM or wired headset, Tidal is the app to help you get the most out of your hardware. The application provides lossless and hi-res, with Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio. Large library, exclusive content, early album listening and livestream concerts.

Highlights: Tidal can send original audio files directly from iPhone to DAC via wired connection, bypassing iOS processing. This helps the DAC properly receive hi-res files, delivering outstanding detail and dynamics.

For 230,000 VND/month, the personal package supports FLAC up to 24-bit/192kHz, the top choice for true audiophiles.

Neutron Music Player

Neutron is for those who not only want to listen to high-quality music, but also want to control every aspect of their sound. The app offers flexible equalizer, compressor, surround effects, crossfeed, and pitch and tempo adjustment.

Special point: Neutron uses its own sound engine, bypassing iOS processing to maintain the original quality. The app supports nearly every hi-res format: FLAC, ALAC, WAV and is one of the few iOS apps to fully support USB DAC.

Price 399,000 VND (one-time purchase). The interface can be a bit complicated for new users, but if you take the time to learn, Neutron is a great tool.

Foobar2000

Have you ever wanted to listen to a song, opened the app and discovered it disappeared from your library due to copyright issues? At this time, the best solution is to build a personal music library.

If you’ve taken the trouble to build a collection of high-quality music, Foobar2000 is an indispensable application. Free, no ads, no registration. Minimalist interface, supports many formats: FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WAV, DSD.

Because hi-res files are quite heavy, you can create a home server and play music over Wi-Fi instead of saving it all to your iPhone. Simple, clean, exactly what an audiophile needs.

Are you in need of a genuine headset from Apple? Check out the latest AirPods lines now at Minh Tuan Mobile