Apple Music Streaming Vs Apple CarPlay - WOW!

[GRIZZLYCOMA]

Hey guys,

So I have the subscription that enables you to stream music to the truck and besides setting it up and did not paid any attention to it. So this last weekend, I got to make an errand and I forget my phone. No problem, just go to the music and start streaming music with the truck's infotainment.

I was shocked!

Not only the volume (loudness) is noticeably louder than regular, the soundstage, the clarity, how the bass is handled is so much better. When I'm using CarPlay I have my audio set at 50 Vol because it needs it, but streaming audio I am so happy around 35-40.

Worth checking out if you have the subscription. I was so underwhelmed with the JBL speakers until this moment.

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[The Dude]

Sounds like a “source level” issue between the two. CarPlay is wireless using the 5G in your phone, and the streaming through the HU should be 4g. It sounds like Toyota, not that they’ve ever done something like this before, screwed up the levels.

As for perceived quality, I can’t speak to that. I don’t get that function in Canada.

 

[JayTech]

Sounds like a “source level” issue between the two. CarPlay is wireless using the 5G in your phone, and the streaming through the HU should be 4g. It sounds like Toyota, not that they’ve ever done something like this before, screwed up the levels.

As for perceived quality, I can’t speak to that. I don’t get that function in Canada.

Carplay communicates with the truck through Bluetooth and/or WiFi not your carriers 5G network. While it is a source level issue, it isn't necessarily Toyota setting it up wrong as some signals just have different output levels and use different digital processing which leads to some signals having less volume/clarity. These are usually more or less hardware/processing constraints and can not be tuned to be exactly equal. Though it could also be due to signal compression as carplay will compress the signal even if only a bit.

 

[The Dude]

Carplay communicates with the truck through Bluetooth and/or WiFi not your carriers 5G network. While it is a source level issue, it isn't necessarily Toyota setting it up wrong as some signals just have different output levels and use different digital processing which leads to some signals having less volume/clarity. These are usually more or less hardware/processing constraints and can not be tuned to be exactly equal. Though it could also be due to signal compression as carplay will compress the signal even if only a bit.

Sorry, I didn’t explain myself properly. You’re right, CarPlay initializes with the truck through Bluetooth, then switches to wifi because of the data heavy nature of the signal. What I meant was the standard CarPlay signal is basically “phone —> stereo” instead of using the cell signal of the truck directly.

 

[aaudiholic]

I had the opposite experience

 

[JayTech]

Sorry, I didn’t explain myself properly. You’re right, CarPlay initializes with the truck through Bluetooth, then switches to wifi because of the data heavy nature of the signal. What I meant was the standard CarPlay signal is basically “phone —> stereo” instead of using the cell signal of the truck directly.

Ok yea that makes more sense. The head unit at that point isn't restricted by digital compression and would only be limited by signal strength. So as long as the head unit has a strong cellular signal, it can stream in the highest quality available which Apple Music is supposed to be lossless vs Carplay which will experience audio signal loss.

 

[maxx075]

Anybody else find it insane and annoying at how connected all this is any more?

Like in this case, the man just wants to listen to music at a reasonable level.

 

[OminousSkitter]

Ok yea that makes more sense. The head unit at that point isn't restricted by digital compression and would only be limited by signal strength. So as long as the head unit has a strong cellular signal, it can stream in the highest quality available which Apple Music is supposed to be lossless vs Carplay which will experience audio signal loss.

I had a reply about how this explanation doesn’t make sense. Then I did a quick reality check search, and it still doesn’t make sense.

TIL wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are can be lossy (see edit), so even if you’re streaming lossless to your phone, the phone-to-car link will might compress it. This shouldn’t be an issue in wired CarPlay or Android Auto, and potentially Toyota’s service direct to the headunit allows lossless.

Edit: WiFi has more than enough bandwidth. Lossy codecs aren’t needed at all. It’s all down to what the headunit negotiates with CarPlay or Android Auto. I’m guessing Toyota might reserve lossless music for their subscriptions to nudge people to subscribe. It’s perfectly within the capabilities of CarPlay, WiFi, and the headunit to support lossless.

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