Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. I don't think you understand my question. Perhaps I didn't ask the question clearly enough.

I use CarPlay about 100% of the time. I have the Amazon Music app playing in CarPlay almost all of the time and I love it. I downloaded HD and Ultra HD music to my iPhone and listen to it in offline mode. I navigate CarPlay/Amazon Music using the touchpad. The other app I use a lot is Google Maps. In CarPlay, it's very easy to toggle between Amazon Music and Google Maps using the touchpad. I purchased a refurbished iPhone 6s to use exclusively in my new 2019 ES. My regular phone is Android.

Sometime I leave the iPhone in my car in the center console box and sometimes I unplug it and take it inside. When I get in my car, sometimes the iPhone continues playing music where it left off and sometimes I need to restart it to play music. When I restart it, I use My Music >> Songs >> Shuffle. That puts all of my downloaded songs in one playlist and plays them in random order. If I'm not in the mood for the song that comes up, I hit next button until I find a song I want. It's the best procedure I've found so far and I'm happy with it.

I'm wondering how other users chose music to play. For example, it would be nice if you could call up a list of your downloaded songs and scroll through that list to choose the next song. You can do that on your iPhone, but in CarPlay/Amazon Music, it's cumbersome and constricted. To view a list of songs in CarPlay/Amazon Music, you have to first select the letter of the alphabet of the first letter of the song name. Also. if you try to scroll while driving, it freezes up as a safety measure.

So, my question is --- does anyone have a different way that they select the order for music playback in CarPlay/Amazon Music?

 

Unfortunately theres not really any other way

 

I prefer to listen to my playlist since each one has hundreds of songs. I have also ended my subscription with Tidal. My family prefers to use Amazon since most of their songs display the lyrics while listening to the song. We even have a karaoke night since we can listen to Amazon on the Apple tv. Also, I noticed Amazon has started to add 3D audio tracks.

 

I recently purchased a Denon receiver which was a considerable upgrade from my last Denon receiver. Now I can listen to FLAC songs without any downsampling directly from Amazon music HD/Tidal by using the HEOS app, which makes me extremely happy!

 

Hi Kalel, Please explain in greater detail. Thanks.

 

Not sure what more he could add. Check it out for yourself, here. I've been using HEOS for a couple years now. The addition of high res Amazon Music has been awesome!

 

Since we are talking about Home audio in the last 3 posts, have any of you tried Qobuz Studio Premier? The first month is free and after that its $14.99/month till they hit 100,000 subscribers in the US. When you listen to hi-res (24 bit) it sounds better than what you hear on Tidal and Amazon Music HD. It should not be any different as the files should be identical, but it appears to sound better. However you will need a Bluesound Node 2 connected to your Denon/Marantz amplifier to decode the music as Heos doesn't support Qobuz as yet. Their IOS app is also much better than the Amazon Music HD app.

 

Better you say, I just might give that a try, thanks for the info!

 

It is my understanding that my iPhone 8 restricts the datastream coming out of the lightning connector to 24/96. Does anyone know how if there is a way to increase the resolution beyond that? I've searched on line but have not found a solution. Thanks!

 

No there's no way to do that. Honestly I thought it was limited to 24 bit/48 Khz. And even if it goes higher than 48 Khz I have no idea if the Lexus head unit can go that high.

 

Ooops, you're right. That was typo. It does shows the "device capability" as 24/48 when playing a higher resolution track through Amazon HD Music.

 

I enjoyed reading everyone's experience. I gave up on Sirius/XM years ago and use Amazon Music in the offline mode through an old iPhone that I keep in the center console storage area. It meets my needs even though I experience the same issues mentioned in previous posts. My 2017 ES 350 lease is coming to an end and I have started to look at the 2020 ES. I see that Lexus has moved the "connecting" USB ports out of the storage area to a location by the front cup holder. Now, I can keep my iPhone and wires out of sight and out of the way in the storage compartment. I am wondering how I can do that in the 2020. I want to use CarPlay so I can't use a Bluetooth connection. Thought about using the rear connections, but they are only "charging" ports. Has anyone come up with a great solution to hide the phone and cables? Personally, I think this is a poor design change by Lexus. My wife just got a 2020 RX 350, and these ports are still in the storage area.

 

This cable is what many of us are using.

Cable from NewEgg: https://www.newegg.com/p/16J-0064-000Z6

 

I’m using the cable listed above and while not entirely hidden, It is much less obvious. I then place my phone on the wireless charger (not charging since it’s plugged in).

 

Here's another option for running the cable so only a relatively small amount is visible. The lid will close completely and sits flat even though it doesn't look that way in the photo.