The Top 5 Hi-Res Music Streaming Services

With the rise of high-fidelity (hi-res) music, many streaming services have started offering a better-quality sound experience. Hi-res music has a higher sampling rate and bit depth than standard music, which means it can translate more detail and nuance in the recording. In this post, we'll take a look at the top 5 hi-res music streaming services currently available.

Tidal

Tidal is one of the most popular hi-res streaming services, with a library of over 60 million tracks in CD-quality and over 170,000 tracks in hi-res. Tidal's hi-res streaming uses the MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) format, which allows for lossless compression of hi-res audio files. Tidal's hi-fi plus plan costs $19.99 per month, but you can also opt for their hi-fi plan, which costs $9.99 per month.

What sets Tidal apart from other streaming services is its focus on exclusive content. Tidal has partnerships with several high-profile artists, such as Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Kanye West, and offers exclusive access to their music, videos, and live performances. In addition to its hi-res streaming, Tidal also offers a range of other features, such as curated playlists, music videos, and behind-the-scenes content. In our opinions Tidal is the only Hi-Res platform that has that “playlist” quality on par with Spotify and iTunes.

Qobuz

Qobuz is another popular hi-res streaming service that offers a library of over 70 million tracks, with over 2 million tracks available in hi-res. It offers hi-res streaming in FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) format, which allows for lossless compression of hi-res audio files. Qobuz's hi-res plan costs $24.99 per month, but they also offer a standard plan for $14.99 per month.

What sets Qobuz apart from other streaming services is its focus on editorial content. Qobuz offers in-depth reviews of albums and tracks, as well as interviews with artists and industry experts. It also offers a range of playlists curated by its team of music experts, as well as a feature that allows you to create your own playlists based on your listening history.

Qobuz is making a strong effort to be a major player in the hi-fi audio community. So far, they are doing a pretty good job.

Amazon Music HD

Amazon Music HD is a relatively new player in the hi-res streaming market, but it has quickly become one of the most popular options. Amazon offers a library of over 70 million tracks, with over 7 million tracks available in hi-res. It uses FLAC format for its hi-res streaming, and its hi-res plan costs $14.99 per month, which is cheaper than most other hi-res streaming services.

What sets Amazon Music HD apart from other streaming services is its integration with Amazon's other services. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can access Amazon Music HD at no additional cost, making it a great value proposition. Amazon Music HD also integrates with Alexa, Amazon's voice assistant, allowing you to control your music hands-free.

Deezer

Deezer is another hi-res streaming service that offers a library of over 73 million tracks, with over 36 million tracks available in hi-res. It uses the FLAC format for its hi-res streaming, and its hi-res plan costs $14.99 per month. It also offers a standard plan for $9.99 per month.

What sets Deezer apart from other streaming services is its focus on personalization. Deezer uses AI to analyze your listening habits and make personalized recommendations based on your tastes. Deezer also offers a range of features to help you discover new music, such as its "Flow" feature, which creates a personalized radio station based on your listening history.

Tidal Masters

Tidal Masters is a special version of Tidal that offers hi-res streaming in the MQA format. It has a library of over 170,000 tracks, all of which are available in hi-res. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can also opt for the standard Tidal plan, which costs $9.99 per month.

Tidal Masters also offers a range of features to help you get the most out of your hi-res audio, such as its "Master Quality Audio" playlist, which features some of the best-sounding tracks on the service. Tidal Masters is included with the $19.99 a month plan from hi-fi plus.

There are several hi-res music streaming services available today, each with its own unique features and benefits. Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music HD, Deezer, and Tidal Masters are all great options for anyone looking to enjoy high-quality, lossless audio streaming. With so many options to choose from, it's easy to find the perfect hi-res streaming service that meets your needs and budget. Pair any of these services with the SwitchOne speakers and you will be set.