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Aug 3, 2024 · Qobuz fancies itself as the home for true music fans. Its Studio plan ($12.99 per month or $129.99 per year) serves 24-bit FLAC music at up to 192kHz. Qobuz offers more than 240,000 high-res ...
- Lead Software Analyst
- Tidal. High quality audio with wide range of content. Cost: £9.99/mth or £19.99/mth (HiFi tier) | Quality: 320kbps, CD-quality streaming, 24-bit/96kHz | Files: FLAC, AAC | Library size: 60 million+, 170,000+ hi-res audio | Platforms: iOS and Android apps, desktop app, web player.
- Spotify. Easy to use and to discover new music. Cost: £9.99/mth, £4.99 (student tier), £14.99 (family tier) | Quality: 320kbps | Files: MP3, M4P, MP4 | Library size: 45 million+ | Platforms: iOS and Android apps, desktop app, web player, smart TV apps, connected speaker support, cars.
- Apple Music. An appealing streaming service with intelligent curation, a vast catalogue and good sound quality. Cost: £9.99/mth, £14.99/mth (family tier) £99 (12mths) | Quality: N/A | Files: AAC | Library size: 45 million+ | Platforms: iOS, desktop app.
- Primephonic. The go-to app for anyone interested in classical music. Cost: £8/mth, £80/yr (MP3-quality) / £15/mth, £150/yr (hi-res audio) | Quality: 320kbps, 24-bit | Files: MP3, FLAC | Library size: 1 million+ | Platforms: iOS and Android apps, web player.
May 5, 2023 · Today, the key to victory is ad-free, hardware-supported streaming in high-resolution audio quality – and, crucially, for the best price. Today's best Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Amazon Music HD deals. Apple Music Subscription. $4.99. /mth.
- What Do All These Numbers Mean?
- Tidal HiFi Plus: 9216 kbps
- Amazon Music Unlimited: 3730 kbps
- Apple Music (Lossless): 1411 kbps
- What About Spotify HiFi?
- The Best Tech Newsletter Around
As you're reading this article, you'll notice a few different units being used. The main one is "kbps" (kilobits per second), plus there's "bit" and "kHz" (kilohertz). Here's what you need to know.
•Kbps: The "bitrate" of the audio file. It's a similar concept to video resolution---the higher the number, the better it sounds. Kbps is mostly used as the metric for regular, compressed audio files.
•24bit: The bit depth of lossless file types (AAC, ALAC, FLAC, MQA, etc) and uncompressed file types (WAV). This measures the dynamic range of the file. The higher the number, the more depth there is. You can listen to it quieter without losing detail.
•kHz: This measures the sampling rate for lossy, lossless, and uncompressed filetypes. Essentially, it tells you how many samples of audio are taken per second. Higher numbers are not always better, but it's usually a good sign.
Tidal burst onto the scene in 2014, and it was one of the first streaming services to put a big emphasis on audio quality. It's still one of the best services if you care about audio quality.
There are three Tidal tiers, two of which offer high-quality audio. The "Tidal HiFi" plan is the best for most people. It serves up audio up to CD-quality, which is equivalent to 1411kbps. A step above is the "Tidal HiFi Plus" plan, which adds "Tidal Masters" lossless audio that goes up to 24bit / 192kHz, 9216 kbps. Tidal supports AAC, ALAC, FLAC, MQA.
A more affordable option for high-quality audio is Amazon Music Unlimited. It's $10 per month or $9 if you're a Prime subscriber. Prime Unlimited uses FLAC for high-res audio, which comes out up to 24bit/192kHz. For the best possible quality, look for tracks labeled "Ultra HD."
The majority of the high-res tracks are labeled "High Definition," which go up to 1411kbps. One advantage of Music Unlimited over some of the others is the desktop app is also capable of playing high-quality audio up to 3730 kbps. You're not just limited to your phone.
Apple Music is a sleeper pick if you're looking for high-quality audio that doesn't cost so much. Lossless audio can be enabled on the standard $10 per month plan. Apple uses its own proprietary codec (ALAC) and AAC for CD-quality streams.
There are some caveats if you want the best possible audio quality from Apple Music. First, the desktop app is capped at only 256 kbps. Second, lossless audio only works over wired headphones. If you meet the requirements, you'll enjoy 24bit/192kHz quality.
You may have noticed one of the biggest names in music streaming hasn't been mentioned yet. Spotify Premium's highest audio quality settings only goes up to 320 kbps. However, in early 2021, the company announced "Spotify HiFi."
As of October 2022, Spotify HiFi has still not launched. When it does, Spotify claims it will "deliver music in CD-quality, lossless audio format to your device and Spotify Connect-enabled speakers." That typically means 1411 kbps and 24bit/192kHz.
Spotify did not share whether this will be included for Premium subscribers or if it will require a new plan. Regardless, the leader in music streaming is lagging behind in this area.
Related: YouTube Music vs. Spotify: Which Is Better for Streaming?
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- Joe Fedewa
- Editor. Android And Streaming
- Apple Music. Best for Apple Device Integration. 4.5 Outstanding. Featuring lossless audio, Dolby Atmos support, a 100-million song catalog, radio stations, Siri compatibility, Hi-Res Audio, lyrics, and playlists, Apple Music offers excellent bang for your buck.
- LiveOne. Best for Curated Channels. 4.0 Excellent. The late, great Slacker Radio was absorbed by LiveOne, a steaming music service that combines the former’s curated radio listening with the latter’s shows and live performances.
- Spotify. Best for Podcasts. 4.5 Outstanding. Despite fierce competition from other feature-rich streaming services, Spotify remains the king of the steaming music hill.
- SiriusXM Internet Radio. Best for Satellite Radio. 4.5 Outstanding. By combining live radio, in-studio artist sessions, traditional streaming audio, and the ability to rewind streams, SiriusXM whipped up a recipe for success that few rivals can replicate.
Feb 8, 2024 · Still my favourite high res audio service, Qobuz offers premium audio quality without a punishing price tag in the form of a single monthly hi-res streaming subscription plan using the Studio tier. Music is streamed either in lossless CD-quality or High-Res (variable from 24-bit/44.1 kHz up to 192 kHz).
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Sep 11, 2024 · Reasons to avoid. Spotify is the best music streaming service for most people. In many ways, it’s not just a music streaming service but an entertainment hub, boasting 100 million tracks, 5 ...
