Why Apple Don’t Support FLAC-in-OGG for Lossless Streaming

If you’re an audiophile tuning in on Audiophile.fm from an Apple device, you might be noticing that the audio quality isn’t labeled as lossless and might be wondering why? Let’s break it down for you and explain what we’re doing to bring the best internet radio experience to everyone.
What is FLAC and Why Does It Matter?
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a format that preserves every detail of a song without any compression loss. It’s like hearing the music as the artist intended—every nuance, every note, perfectly intact. For audiophiles, FLAC is the gold standard of music streaming.
Meanwhile, an OGG container is a way of packaging audio data, including FLAC, to make it streamable over the internet. Many internet radio stations, including the ones on Audiophile.fm, use this combination because it balances quality and compatibility across most devices.
The Apple Browser Challenge
Here’s where things get tricky: Safari on macOS and all browsers installed on iOS don’t support FLAC audio playback when it’s stored in an OGG container. This is because Apple mandates that all iOS browsers use the WebKit engine, which does not include support for OGG containers. As a result, while FLAC itself is widely compatible, its use in OGG containers remains unsupported on Apple devices.
This is why, if you’re using Safari or an iOS browser, you’re getting lossy playback instead of lossless.
Why Apple Doesn’t Support FLAC-in-OGG
The big question is why Apple has taken this approach. While Apple hasn’t publicly explained their reasoning, there are a few likely factors:
- Focus on proprietary formats: Apple has its own lossless codec, ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec), which it naturally prioritizes.
- Licensing and ecosystem control: Supporting OGG containers might not align with Apple’s strategy of tightly controlling its ecosystem.
Whatever the reason, the end result is the same: FLAC-in-OGG streams don’t work natively on Apple browsers at the moment of this writing.
What Are We Doing to Fix It?
At Audiophile.fm, we’re experimenting with a solution to bridge this gap. Our approach involves manually decoding FLAC streams in real-time, using modern tools and libraries, and then converting them into a format Apple devices can understand—all while you listen seamlessly.
This experimental process is already being tested and could allow Apple users to enjoy lossless internet radio stations on our platform. While it’s not a perfect solution yet, we’re committed to refining it.
Why Not Switch to a Lossy Format?
You might wonder why we don’t simply switch everyone to a lossy format like AAC or MP3. The answer is that at Audiophile.fm we want to preserve the integrity of lossless audio for internet radio stations that support it. However, for Apple users, we do switch to the highest possible lossy quality available. This ensures that you can still enjoy your favorite internet radio stations, even if the playback isn’t in full lossless quality.
Our commitment to high-quality audio means providing the best experience possible within the technical limitations of the platform you’re using.
How You Can Enjoy Lossless Radio Today
If you’re looking to enjoy lossless audio on Audiophile.fm, here are a few tips:
- Use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge on a desktop.
- Switch to an Android device with a compatible browser for mobile streaming.
These platforms fully support FLAC-in-OGG playback, so you can hear your favorite stations in the highest CD-quality or Hi-Res audio.
Conclusion
At Audiophile.fm, we’re passionate about bringing lossless audio to everyone, including Apple users. While the lack of FLAC-in-OGG support on Apple browsers is a challenge, we’re working on innovative solutions to overcome it. Stay tuned as we continue experimenting and improving the listening experience for all audiophiles.
Thank you for being part of our community and sharing our love for high-quality, lossless internet radio music!