Hi-Res Audio: Once obsessive audiophiles spent all their extra cash on the best headphones and expensive Tidal subscriptions, the best-sounding music is just getting a little more accessible thanks to Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited. Both companies have announced that they will bring hi-res audio to their streaming platforms at no additional cost to subscribers, in a surprising move that is sure to shake up rivals like Spotify, Tidal and Deezer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a music streaming service has offered high-resolution sound without paying additional fees, and in Amazon's case, it has made its existing high-resolution tier more expensive (Amazon Music HD). free for all subscribers. So will the other big streaming services follow? We believe that it is time.
What is Hi-Res Audio?
High-Resolution Audio is lossless sound capable of reproducing the full range of sounds from recordings that have been mastered from higher-quality music sources than CD. In other words, high-resolution music files faithfully reproduce the sound created in the studio at the time of recording, revealing much more detail and clarity in music than "lossy" formats like MP3. While Hi-Res Audio is gaining in popularity, it's not a new concept. However, it is becoming much more accessible than before, with a growing number of music streaming services offering 24-bit/192kHz files transferred at a speed of 9216kbps. However, these streaming services often hide their high-resolution audio files behind expensive subscription prices; for example, Tidal Premium costs $9.99 / £9.99 / £11.99 per month, while Tidal HiFi costs a lot more at $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$23.99 per month. All of that could be about to change with the latest announcements from Amazon and Apple, as the two tech giants bring Hi-Res Audio to all subscribers, at no additional cost.
What's next for streaming services?
The Apple and Amazon announcement comes shortly after Spotify announced the introduction of a new streaming tier, Spotify HiFi. Launching later this year, Spotify HiFi is set to stream CD-quality files to the world's most popular music platform. While it will offer lossless audio at over 1411 kbps, Spotify has yet to commit to high-resolution audio. Also, Spotify HiFi is expected to cost more than a regular Premium subscription, but Apple and Amazon's delivery of Hi-Res Audio at no extra cost could force the streaming giant to offer the service for free to existing subscribers. It could also cause problems for Tidal, which has traditionally marketed itself as a high-end alternative to Spotify, with its collection of high-res Tidal Masters. If Apple and Amazon can offer the same service for free, why would anyone pay for a subscription to Tidal HiFi? It seems like there's no real reason to make high-res streaming more expensive than the lossy files we've grown accustomed to. Over the past decade, storage has become more affordable, playback equipment has gotten faster, and mobile and broadband downloads have become more affordable. In short, Hi-Res Audio is more accessible than ever, and music streaming prices should take that into account. Of course, there are other costs associated with high-resolution music. To fully enjoy higher-quality music files, you'll need a good pair of headphones or speakers, and you might even want to invest in an external DAC for your phone or PC to get the most out of your music. However, making high-resolution streaming less expensive is the first step in democratizing high-quality music and making it more accessible to casual listeners. High-resolution audio is no longer the preserve of audiophiles, and Apple and Amazon are the first companies to recognize it. Hoping the other major streaming services will follow soon.