We’ll help you choose between the different platforms for lossless music streaming

The music source plays a significant role in overall sound quality when you’re enjoying music on a high-end audio system. Simply put, the better the source material, the better the listening experience. 

In the audio industry, CD quality is the pinnacle of sound reproduction. While streaming services are incredibly popular today, the convenience of listening to thousands of songs on your mobile phone no matter where you are comes at a price — audio files must be compressed to stream easily without lagging and buffering. 

But a new type of streaming is on the rise: high-res audio. High-resolution audio (or lossless audio) uses specific file formatting to shrink large files into manageable sizes without sacrificing the data that gives songs richer, fuller, more dynamic sound. High-res audio promises listeners better-than-CD quality for their favorite songs and albums.

Several streaming services are available if you’re interested in listening to high-res audio at home in Passaic, NJ. Keep reading for a comparison of the most popular four services on the market. 

SEE ALSO: Listen to All Your DigitalMusic in Near-Perfect Fidelity With dCS

 

Tidal

Lossless formats: FLAC, MQA

Tidal has long been considered the champion of high-res music streaming. A monthly hi-fi subscription lands you access to over 70 million tracks of CD quality and better streaming. Additionally, you can listen to Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) studio-quality streams, Sony 360 Reality Audio, and Dolby Atmos surround-sound tracks for an even more exceptional listening experience. Tidal is pricier than the competition, but it’s worth the money for unlimited access to a vast music collection, exclusive releases and backstage content, radio mixes, music videos, artist interviews, and livestream concerts.

Price as of October 2021: Subscribe to the hi-fi tier for $20/month (30-day free trial available to new members)

Qobuz

Lossless formats: FLAC

Qobuz is another great choice for audiophiles looking for a stellar high-res streaming experience. The service offers over 70 million tracks to stream in a variety of genres, as well as access to 240,000 albums to listen to or download. A Qobuz subscription is more affordable than Tidal but doesn’t include exclusive content like music videos and livestream concerts.

Price as of October 2021: Subscribe to the Studio Premier plan for $13/month or the Studio Sublime plan for $180/year (30-day free trial available to new members)

Amazon Music HD

Lossless formats: FLAC

Amazon HD is setting itself up to be a solid competitor to more established platforms like Tidal and Qobuz. You can listen to millions of podcasts, 75 million songs in high-definition streaming, and millions of songs in Ultra-HD streaming, which delivers even more impressive resolution. Additionally, HD tiers support immersive 3D audio formats like Sony 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos. The clencher for Amazon HD is that it’s included for free with an Amazon Music Unlimited subscription, easily making it one of the most affordable streaming services on the market.

Price as of October 2021: Access Amazon HD with an Amazon Music Unlimited subscription — $8/month for Prime members, $10/month for non-Prime members (90-day free trial available to new members)

Apple Music

Lossless formats: ALAC

Apple lovers, rejoice! Along with Amazon, Apple has recently joined the ranks of services offering lossless streaming. You can listen to a library of 75 million tracks in CD-quality sound using Apple’s proprietary lossless codec, Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC). Additionally, you can enjoy spatial audio with support for Dolby Atmos surround sound. Apple’s lossless tier is included for free with an Apple Music subscription, making it an excellent choice if you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Price as of October 2021: Access lossless tracks for free with an Apple Music subscription — $10/month (90-day free trial available to new members)

Electronic Concepts is your trusted hi-fi audio dealer in Passaic, NJ, and surrounding areas. Visit our showroom to listen to a demo of high-res music on speakers from leading brands like Bowers & Wilkins, Meridian, Magico, and McIntosh. Call us, fill out an online form, or start a chat online to schedule a no-obligation consultation with our experts.