DAC Apple Music - fully lossless streaming to the ZD3

[newfosi]

For those who might be interested - it is possible to play lossless Apple Music through the ZD3. As far as I know, there is no dedicated streamer that can stream Apple Music other than via Airplay, which is not lossless. There's a Darko video that showed the essentials, but just wanted to confirm that it works on the ZD3.

1. Connect a USB-C to USB-B cable to the iPad (if your iPad has a lightning port you'll need a different cable).
2. Connect the USB-B end of the cable to the ZD3.
3. Turn on lossless audio in the iPad settings

That's it. Apple Music plays lossless in different bitrates, and I was able to see the accurate bitrate on the ZD3 screen. The ZD3 can handle Apple's highest lossless resolution, 192khz.

Supposedly you can control the iPad via the iPhone using the Control Nearby Devices setting. It has to be turned on for both devices. I haven't tried that yet. Assuming that is true, then you would be able to use your phone as a wireless remote for lossless Apple Music, and see your iPhone screen on your tv if you have an Apple TV box, since the box can mirror the iPhone.

 

[newfosi]

FYI, I used a usb-c hub and the usb-a to usb-b cable that came with the zd3, rather than a usb-c to usb-b cable. Either one should work. But the usb-c hub adds a PD port, so the iPad can be powered at the same time it streams audio. I have not done this yet, but it's supposed to work. I will try it and update the thread.

 

[newfosi]

Tried the Control Nearby Devices and mirroring. Not great. Will have to find another way to control the iPad.

 

[newfosi]

I haven’t found a good solution to controlling the iPad remotely but for now this is the best I can do.

1. Use the “control nearby devices” setting in my iPhone and connect it to the iPad. There is no need to, or ability to, turn on the same setting in the iPad. As long as both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, I only need to connect it on the iPhone.
2. Volume is controlled by the ZD3 remote.
3. Play pause forward and back are controlled on the iPhone in the control nearby devices setting.
4. Selecting music is controlled via Siri. To avoid confusion between calling up Siri on the iPhone vs the iPad, there is a Siri button in the control nearby devicessetting. When I press that button Siri on the iPad becomes active and then I can use my voice to tell it what music I want to listen to.

It sounds more complicated than it is. Essentially just control volume on the ZD3 remote, and select music, pause, play, etc. on the iPhone.