Share on Facebook Tweet this Share The shift from MP3s to high-resolution music that exceeds CD quality may have never taken the dramatic turn into the mainstream that, or nerdy audiophiles wanted it to, but regardless of Spotify’s takeover, those with high-end gear and high-class ears are always on the lookout for quality digital music to add to their collection. Although more and more and even some are emerging with top-notch digital-to-analog converters on board, finding high-resolution audio files has remained a difficult task. The issue stems from a lack of digital recordings at the high sample rates and bit depth (starting at 48kHz/24 bit and up) needed to produce crystalline sonic quality. If you want to own the music for all eternity — rather than “rent” it monthly — you do have options. If you’re looking to stream music in the highest possible quality, one of your only solid options is the Tidal music service. Despite its quirks, Tidal allows subscribers to stream at up to 24 bit/96kHz quality, which is far and away the highest resolution of any. Best of all, many modern receivers have network connections, making it easy to pair up a Tidal account with your hi-fi setup. But if you want to own the music for all eternity — rather than “rent” it monthly from a service like Tidal — you still have options. There are quite a few online stores out there that offer a wealth of music to add to your catalog, if you know where to find them. To help you on your quest, we’ve compiled this list of some of the best websites to satisfy your hi-res audio fix. Check out our list below, and let the music loose. File Formats: WMA, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC Highest resolution: 24 bit/192kHz The veritable Mac Daddy (or is it Daddy Mac?) of online stores, HDtracks has one of the most extensive collections of high-resolution pop, rock, classical, and jazz music on the web. David Chesky, a noted composer, musician, and producer, co-founded and chairs the site, and continues to develop its catalog. Virtually all of the files on the site are available in multiple formats, with resolution rates that reach up to the highest industry standard, though many are only available at CD quality. You’ll find a host of your favorite artists here, from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley, Rush to Marvin Gaye — but don’t look for any Beatles tunes. If you’re looking to amass a big hi-res audio collection quickly, this is a great starting point. File Formats: FLAC, WMA, and WMA Pro Highest resolution: up to 24 bit/96kHz For those purists who absolutely must have natively recorded HD music — meaning every note and cymbal crash was recorded at high sample and bit rates — iTrax is your mecca. Founded by Dr. Mark Waldrep — one of the chief pioneers of high-resolution audio — the site offers a respectable selection of around 700 HD audio files and 200 HD video tracks. ![]()
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January 2019
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