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High-res audio specs

Recordings are converted to digital audio through a series of waveform samples.

The term "bit depth" tells you how detailed each sample is. High-res files usually have a depth of at least 24 bits.

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The sampling frequency tells you how many samples were taken per second during the digitization process. More frequent sampling leads to smoother, more natural sound. High-res files have sampling rates up to 192 kHz.

 

Of course, all that extra information increases file size. A 24-bit/96kHz high-res music file, for example, is about three times bigger than a CD-quality file of the same music track.

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High-resolution audio file types — bigger and better

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It's important to know which high-resolution file types are compatible with your system.

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WAV

• Standard format for CDs

• Can be played on Windows® and Apple® computers

AIFF

• Apple’s uncompressed audio format

FLAC

• The most popular lossless compressed format

• Takes up about half the space of uncompressed files

• Not compatible with iTunes or Apple Music

ALAC

• Apple's lossless compressed audio format

• Takes up about half the space of uncompressed files

• Not always supported by non-Apple devices

DSD

• Processes the audio signal as a stream of single bits (vs. PCM’s multi-bit chunks)

• Most high-res players convert DSD files to PCM for playback

• Some players support native DSD playback

MQA

• An additional encoding process that makes PCM and DSD files small enough for streaming

• Preserves all file information for playback through audio components with an MQA decoder

• Backward compatible: MQA-encoded files can be played through any audio equipment

Learn more about how MQA makes high-res audio files small enough to stream.

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Where to find high-res music online

Here's a short list of some of the major sites offering high-resolution downloads and streaming:

HDtracks

• Offers the world's largest selection of high-res audio downloads

• File formats: WAV, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC

Acoustic Sounds

• Has a wide selection of audiophile recordings available for download

• File formats: FLAC, ALAC, DSD, Blu-ray, SACD

HighResAudio 

• Offers an extensive selection of music in all genres for downloading and streaming

• File formats: WAV, AIFF, FLAC

iTrax  

• Offers high-fidelity downloads in stereo or surround sound 

• File formats: MP3, Dolby Digital, DTS, WMA Lossless, FLAC, PCM, Blu-ray, DVD-Audio

Primephonic

• Offers classical music downloads and streaming

• Subscription streaming service uses 16-bit FLAC

• File formats: FLAC stereo and surround, DSD stereo and surround, WAV

Qobuz

• Three levels of subscription streaming services: FLAC 16-bit/44.1 kHz, FLAC 24-bit up to 192 kHz

• Digital album booklets for many titles

• Download file formats: FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WMA, WAV

TIDAL 

• premium subscription streaming service uses 16-bit FLAC with MQA encoding

Amazon Music HD

Amazon Music HD offers three sound quality options:

• SD — Bitrate:  320 Kbps

• HD — Bitrate: average of 850 Kbps; Sample rate: 16-bit/44kHz Ultra

• HD — Bitrate: average of 3,730 kbps; Sample rate: up to 24-bit/192kHz

If you're after a high-res download of a particular song or album, Find HD Music is a great site to search on.   

 

Reprinted from Crutchfield, Mar, 2020

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