[superkrups20056]

Yes, we all know that sound quality is worse when you are using iDrive Bluetooth when compared to iDrive USB. The mids and highs clip, and the bass isn't as strong. This isn't BMWs fault as there are bandwidth issues with Bluetooth in general. It is well known.

My question pertains to Wireless Carplay. With the new BMWs, wired Carplay is not an option. I am under the impression that the phone communicates with the BMW via Wifi signal, so the audio quality should be perfect (as if it was wired). I just wanted to confirm that is the case? I don't think it uses Bluetooth because there is way too much data (phone, map, apps open, messages, etc.). It makes more sense that it uses WiFi. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I have the Bowers and Wilkens Diamond Surround System and I just want to make sure I am getting the best sound. I live in Tennessee and BMW maps are just plain embarrassing over here (constantly takes the long routes and puts me on dead end roads) so I want to switch to using CarPlay exclusively if possible. Plus, Waze is free traffic cam info + mobile cops too It is sad I will lose the HUD directions but I guess its not the end of the world. The main decision maker here will be sound quality. If someone could answer the question, I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

[TurtleBoy]

CarPlay uses Bluetooth to set up the connection between the phone and the vehicle and then it switches to use the WiFi for the actually functionality.

[superkrups20056]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

CarPlay uses Bluetooth to set up the connection between the phone and the vehicle and then it switches to use the WiFi for the actually functionality.

Does this include streaming music to the cars sound system? Or does that continue to use Bluetooth.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by superkrups20056

Does this include streaming music to the cars sound system? Or does that continue to use Bluetooth.

All CarPlay traffic is wireless as far as I know. Bluetooth does not have enough bandwidth to support the CarPlay traffic.

[aesop_tortoise]

CarPlay uses wifi to steam from your phone but is limited to CD quality audio (16bit/44.1kHz); still higher than Bluetooth quality. If you want the best audio quality for your system, you'd need to play music at 24bit/192kHz. That can only be achieved by using a USB to play directly from or to add your music to the car hard drive. Only FLAC and ALAC files support this. Hope that helps.

[superkrups20056]

Originally Posted by aesop_tortoise

CarPlay uses wifi to steam from your phone but is limited to CD quality audio (16bit/44.1kHz); still higher than Bluetooth quality. If you want the best audio quality for your system, you'd need to play music at 24bit/192kHz. That can only be achieved by using a USB to play directly from or to add your music to the car hard drive. Only FLAC and ALAC files support this. Hope that helps.

This is the answer I was looking for, thank you. I have a bunch of ALAC (converted from FLAC) files on my phone. 24/192 is achievable via USB iDrive you mean, correct? Also, mind showing me the source on this? I looked everywhere.

[Frenetic]

If I connect my phone directly to the USB or USB-C port, will that supersede the wireless connection?

I don't believe it does, but I couldn't confirm it when I tested it out myself. I think once your phone is connected to wireless CarPlay then you plug your phone in, it maintains that wireless connection. Can anyone confirm?

[bforbrian]

Originally Posted by Frenetic

If I connect my phone directly to the USB or USB-C port, will that supersede the wireless connection?

I don't believe it does, but I couldn't confirm it when I tested it out myself. I think once your phone is connected to wireless CarPlay then you plug your phone in, it maintains that wireless connection. Can anyone confirm?

Yes my experience leads me to believe this is true.

[aesop_tortoise]

HiRes audio files higher than CD quality cannot be played wirelessly in the car. If your phone has those types of files, chances are you're not actually listening to them at that quality as you would need a HiRes DAC to plug into your phone. The same applies in the car (ie using wireless CarPlay or having it wired will give you the same max output at CD quality).

The only ways to get the file playing in your car uncompressed is to:
1. Plug your phone with a HiRes DAC.
2. Play directly via USB plugged into the car.
3. Transfer the files to the car HD since the car can play uncompressed files (FLAC etc).

I don't really have one source as this is just from me learning it over time but the most comprehensive source I've found is this: https://www.whathifi.com/us/advice/h...u-need-to-know

[superkrups20056]

Originally Posted by aesop_tortoise

HiRes audio files higher than CD quality cannot be played wirelessly in the car. If your phone has those types of files, chances are you're not actually listening to them at that quality as you would need a HiRes DAC to plug into your phone. The same applies in the car (ie using wireless CarPlay or having it wired will give you the same max output at CD quality).

The only ways to get the file playing in your car uncompressed is to:
1. Plug your phone with a HiRes DAC.
2. Play directly via USB plugged into the car.
3. Transfer the files to the car HD since the car can play uncompressed files (FLAC etc).

I don't really have one source as this is just from me learning it over time but the most comprehensive source I've found is this: https://www.whathifi.com/us/advice/h...u-need-to-know

When you say "2. Play directly via USB plugged into the car" do you mean a USB stick, not a phone? If I play an lossless ALAC through the music app on my iPhone, connected via USB and playing via iDrive, I would need a DAC if the song was recorded in better than CD quality sound. Correct?

[aesop_tortoise]

Yes, you would need to play through a USB stick.

The lightning connector the phone uses does not play higher than CD quality. So a DAC is required to play any HiRes song from your phone.

[superkrups20056]

Originally Posted by aesop_tortoise

Yes, you would need to play through a USB stick.

The lightning connector the phone uses does not play higher than CD quality. So a DAC is required to play any HiRes song from your phone.

Any suggestions of a good in car DAC?

Also, most CD Quality FLACS are 16/44.1 anyways right? So lightning cable should be fine.

[aesop_tortoise]

For the car, you're better off getting a USB stick (cheaper than DAC) and loading your songs on there. Either play them directly or transfer them to the car (which is what I do) and then you have your HiRes collection always available.

Most DAC only support a 3.5mm output (like a headphone jack) and so you couldn't use those. They're mainly used for listening to music on headphones.

Yeah the file type doesn't matter in the case where the quality is only at CD level. The lightning connector or wireless CarPlay will play up to that quality.

[superkrups20056]

Originally Posted by aesop_tortoise

For the car, you're better off getting a USB stick (cheaper than DAC) and loading your songs on there. Either play them directly or transfer them to the car (which is what I do) and then you have your HiRes collection always available.

Most DAC only support a 3.5mm output (like a headphone jack) and so you couldn't use those. They're mainly used for listening to music on headphones.

Yeah the file type doesn't matter in the case where the quality is only at CD level. The lightning connector or wireless CarPlay will play up to that quality.

Am I able to format a portable hard drive (5 TB) and keep it in the center console hooked up to the USBC port with all my music for maximum fidelity? And if I can, is this music still playable with CarPlay enabled?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by superkrups20056

Am I able to format a portable hard drive (5 TB) and keep it in the center console hooked up to the USBC port with all my music for maximum fidelity? And if I can, is this music still playable with CarPlay enabled?

Things may have changes with the recent updates but there was a maximum for the USB drives that could be used, I think it was 256GB but I'm sure someone will update if incorrect.

CarPlay would not have any effect on playing music from the X5's drive of a USB drive.

[aesop_tortoise]

I don't see a reason why the size of a hard drive would impact playability via USB. The car's DAC is not related to what hard drive you use to play music. You can use a 1gb hard drive or a 5tb one and theoretically it shouldn't matter.

This has nothing to do with CarPlay which plays music directly from your iPhone wirelessly.

[superkrups20056]

Originally Posted by aesop_tortoise

I don't see a reason why the size of a hard drive would impact playability via USB. The car's DAC is not related to what hard drive you use to play music. You can use a 1gb hard drive or a 5tb one and theoretically it shouldn't matter.

This has nothing to do with CarPlay which plays music directly from your iPhone wirelessly.

BMW might have a USB size limit.

[ramparts]

Carplay uses ALAC for media streaming

[superkrups20056]

Originally Posted by davidoff86

Carplay uses ALAC for media streaming

Do you have a source?

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by superkrups20056

Do you have a source?

It's in the car play sdk docs from the Apple developer portal

[superkrups20056]

Originally Posted by davidoff86

It's in the car play sdk docs from the Apple developer portal

So if you try to play lossy music it packages it into an ALAC container, sends it over to the BMW and plays it? So there's no quality loss of the original track? Because ALAC over WiFi should really mean lossless streaming over CarPlay.

I have a bunch of FLACs that I converted to ALAC via DBPoweramp. This should be equivalent to streaming via USB cable (provided the original track is 44/16)?

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by superkrups20056

So if you try to play lossy music it packages it into an ALAC container, sends it over to the BMW and plays it? So there's no quality loss of the original track? Because ALAC over WiFi should really mean lossless streaming over CarPlay.

I have a bunch of FLACs that I converted to ALAC via DBPoweramp. This should be equivalent to streaming via USB cable (provided the original track is 44/16)?

Yes exactly!

This is also how their AirPods work, Alac is used as the transport medium