When it comes to streaming music, there are plenty of options available. Among these are Amazon Music HD and Spotify HiFi. The latter is the most expensive option, but if you can get over the initial cost, you’ll find the benefits to be well worth it.
Amazon Music HD
Amazon has taken a big step forward with the introduction of Amazon Music HD streaming. The new service offers millions of songs in Ultra HD quality, but requires certain hardware.
First, an Echo speaker is required for the service. It can also be used on a Fire TV or Fire Tablet. Alternatively, you can use the desktop app. However, the streaming quality is not as good as that of other services.
Secondly, if you’re using an iOS device, you will need to download the Amazon Music App. You can find it on the App Store or Google Play.
Lastly, you will need a USB cable to connect your computer to your device. This is necessary to transfer music to your system. Also, it helps to use an external DAC, if your device does not have one. Most devices will support 24-bit, 48kHz audio, but some will need a higher sample rate.
Besides the hardware, you will need to have a steady Internet connection to enjoy the best Ultra HD streaming. The recommended bandwidth is 5 Mbps to 10 Mbps.
For the best playback, you will need the highest-quality headphones. Those certified with the Hi-Res Audio logo will have a more impressive frequency response. Some wireless headphones will work, but they are not always ideal.
There is a free trial for Amazon Music HD streaming. If you are not happy with the service, you can cancel your subscription. After 90 days, your membership will automatically renew. To cancel, go to the Amazon Music Settings.
If you’re looking for more music, you may want to sign up for Amazon Music Unlimited. In addition to the free trial, you will get 7 million songs in Ultra HD quality. Whether or not you decide to sign up for the service, you can still download playlists from other music streaming platforms.
Finally, if you’re an audiophile, you might prefer to use the new Amazon Music HD streaming app. Streaming through a mobile phone or web browser is not as good as the desktop app. But if you don’t have a data plan or you need to listen to music while traveling, it’s an option worth exploring.
Spotify HiFi
Spotify HiFi is one of the most sought after features by users of the streaming service. It’s a high-resolution audio feature that delivers CD quality sounds. Although it’s not yet available, it’s expected to launch soon.
Spotify supposedly will offer a free trial of the hi-fi feature. Users can check it out through the Spotify Connect feature. This allows users to stream music using wi-fi. During the trial, users will have access to 30 songs. Afterward, the music will be saved to the user’s library. During the trial, users can choose to remove the songs if they don’t want them.
The free trial isn’t available everywhere, however. Spotify usually launches new features in markets where it’s established, so users in certain countries might not get to try it out. Depending on the type of device they have, the HiFi tier may not be available.
While not all Spotify users can listen to lossless audio, the feature does provide a more immersive listening experience. Lossless audio compression algorithms include HD-AAC and FLAC. They’re more data-heavy than other formats, which can allow for more details in a song.
Although Spotify did announce its hi-fi audio tier in February 2021, it’s not clear when it will arrive. The company did say that it’s coming to select markets later this year. However, it’s been quiet on the subject since then.
Spotify will still be able to compete with the likes of Apple Music and Tidal, which are both offering higher-resolution audio streams. However, they’ve had to face some licensing issues along the way.
It’s possible that Spotify will cancel this feature, or delay its release. But a survey indicates that most users would prefer to hear hi-res music.
If Spotify is unable to deliver on its promised high-resolution audio, it might need to follow Apple’s lead. After all, Apple does not charge extra for improved sound quality.
As for other high-resolution features, it’s not yet clear if Spotify will have 360 Reality Audio tracks or support Dolby Atmos Music. Regardless, it seems like Spotify is ready to continue experimenting.
Filters in both services
The newest features in Spotify HD streaming, like the Liked Songs playlist, are designed to help listeners organize their collections. This means you can listen to new songs, and still listen to your old favorites. You can sort your Liked Songs playlist by artist or album to find the perfect track to play while you workout, or while you work on a project.
In addition to letting you search by genre, Spotify will also let you set your own filters to help you find what you’re looking for. For example, you can filter your library by mood. If you’re feeling a little down, you might want to search for a song that fits your mood.
It is also possible to report an explicit song. When you click on a song, you will see a popup window that gives you the option to add a “Filter” to the song.
To make your ‘Liked Songs’ collection a bit more organized, you can create a ‘Liked Song’ playlist that only includes music you’ve personally added. Once you’ve made the playlist, you can move it to a different tab, or pin it to the top of your ‘Your Library’ page.
With the latest redesign, you’ll also be able to browse through your saved tracks by genre. If you’re using Spotify Connect, you can also access your playlists from any HTML-enabled website.
There’s no word on how long these new filters will be available. However, you can expect them to be available to all English-speaking users in the coming weeks. So if you’re a premium user, or you’re in the market for a new music service, now’s the time to start exploring.
If you’re considering signing up for Spotify, it’s important to keep in mind its strengths and weaknesses. While it might seem like an amazing deal, it’s best to compare it to similar services and decide for yourself if it’s worth the cost. Also, remember to keep your playlists up-to-date. By doing so, you’ll increase the amount of streams you receive.
As for filters, the ‘Liked Songs’ and ‘Downloaded’ filters are free, and the ‘Magic’ filter requires a premium subscription.
Lossless audio formats
In the world of streaming, lossless audio is a hot topic. While most of the major streaming platforms have offered lossless formats for years, dedicated lossless services have been quite expensive. That may be changing.
Lossless music is better quality than the standard streaming audio. It allows listeners to hear the original audio as it was meant to sound. However, this is only noticeable to people who have high-end equipment. You can expect to pay a few dollars more for lossless streams on Spotify and other services. Whether you are buying music to support artists directly or for your own archival purposes, you should consider this option.
Some of the most popular lossy music formats are MP3, AAC, and Ogg Vorbis. These are all designed to minimize file size, while retaining detail in the music. This means the audio will still sound good when you play it, but it will take up less space on your hard drive.
If you’re not familiar with lossy compression, you should know that it’s a process where digital data is distorted. This can lead to unwanted audio artifacts. When the lossy compression process is done correctly, it reduces the file size while maintaining the highest possible resolution. However, there are some drawbacks.
Lossy compression is not recommended for audiophiles who have large amounts of storage space and high-speed Internet connections. Streaming lossy audio takes up more bandwidth, which can be difficult for mobile users to budget for.
Since the lossy compression process can damage the quality of the music, it’s important to know which codec will give you the best experience. Luckily, most of the top streaming services offer free trials.
Lossless audio is the ultimate choice for audiophiles who want the best quality. There’s no doubt it can be difficult to tell the difference between CD quality and high-resolution audio. The difference isn’t large, but it’s noticeable to those who have ears for it.
Lossless audio isn’t designed to be used on portable devices. You can still purchase lossless CDs, but you’ll have to find a way to connect them to your speakers.
