Dolby Atmos and lossless audio are different premium music technologies: Atmos creates a three-dimensional soundstage by placing individual sounds around and above the listener, while lossless audio preserves more of the original recording data. Atmos is likely to make the more immediately noticeable difference in everyday listening, whereas lossless chiefly improves fidelity when the equipment and connection can support it.

Most streaming Atmos tracks use lossy Dolby Digital Plus, so listeners generally cannot receive Atmos and true lossless quality simultaneously; lossless formats such as FLAC and ALAC retain the original data. True lossless playback normally needs a wired connection, as standard Bluetooth codecs compress audio, although Qualcomm aptX Lossless is a limited exception requiring compatible Android devices and headphones. CD-quality lossless is 16-bit/44.1kHz, while higher-resolution files can reach 24-bit/96kHz or 24-bit/192kHz and may require an external DAC.