If you’ve been looking for an app that offers high definition music, then you’ve come to the right place. Several apps out there have HD options, such as Amazon Music HD, Apple Music HD, Tidal, and Qobuz. These services have different features, and you’ll need to choose one that works best for you.

Amazon Music HD

Amazon Music HD is a high-quality streaming service that specializes in lossless audio. It is one of the first “big three” streaming services to offer this kind of service.

Amazon Music HD works with a desktop application, iOS, and Android. You can also stream the service using a web browser. The interface is very functional and easy to use.

The app comes with a set of curated playlists. The user can also create their own. For those who love music, it’s a great way to listen to music on the go. If you like, you can also download songs to play on your phone or computer. However, you can’t export the content to other applications.

With Amazon Music, you can access a catalog of more than 70 million songs, in 320kbps, Lossless, or Ultra HD quality. Compared with other streaming services, it has a lower cost. Also, it has a much more extensive catalog of music.

Amazon Music HD can be played on Sonos speakers, Fire TV, and other devices. If you own an Echo device, it can also be controlled by voice. When playing music through the Echo speaker, you can choose from a list of playlists.

For those who want higher-quality streams, you can also invest in an external DAC. But, you’ll need to make sure that the DAC is capable of processing 24-bit files.

If you prefer, you can purchase a DAC that supports Ultra HD. Most iPhones and iPads are capable of supporting a sample rate of 24 bit and 48 kHz.

Amazon Music HD is available on Echo and 2nd generation Fire TV Cubes. The app is also supported on Fire tablets, and some Android devices.

In the past, Amazon Music HD was a separate subscription plan. Now, it’s included in the Amazon Music Unlimited subscription. And, it’s free for standard Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers.

Amazon Music HD competes with other streaming services, like Tidal and Spotify. But, the quality of the audio isn’t as good as it is with Tidal. Nevertheless, it’s still a solid choice. This is especially useful if you’re traveling or don’t have data plans.

Apple Music

Spotify and Apple Music are two of the largest music streaming services in the world. Both are free, ad-supported, and offer millions of songs. They are available in a wide variety of countries and languages. There are a few differences, however.

Both services use an algorithm to suggest songs you may like. The algorithm includes suggestions based on past listens. However, Apple Music offers more timed-exclusive album launches. It also features more radio stations.

Both services have the capability of listening offline. Spotify supports Google Wear OS wearables, Fitbit, and Samsung devices. In addition to listening, you can create personalized playlists and save songs to your library.

Unlike the other two services, Apple Music does not allow you to add songs live to playlists. This feature is useful for people with large libraries. You can also follow what other users are listening to.

While Apple Music isn’t as well-integrated as Spotify, it does have some useful extras. For example, the iCloud Music Library lets you play and re-listen to songs in lossless audio.

Likewise, the Apple Music Browse page displays content sorted by genre, context-based playlists, and constantly updated charts. As you browse, the app will display other interesting things such as the most popular songs in your area and the latest release.

However, the best part is that the iCloud Music Library was actually a very useful feature. Previously, it was hampered by collection-distorting bugs.

Luckily, Apple has since fixed this issue. Now, you can access AAC 256kbps tracks through the iCloud Music Library.

Apple has also announced a new feature, Beats 1. It’s a radio station that promises to be “always-live” and feature exclusive interviews with artists and DJs.

Overall, Apple Music is a more well-rounded service. The company offers a vast array of audio formats, and you can use it with other Apple products such as the iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV. Plus, you can share your favorite playlists through iCloud.

With Apple Music, you’ll also get access to exclusive radio shows, podcasts, and videos. And, with an upgrade, you’ll get an even better music experience.

Tidal

Tidal is an audio streaming service that provides its users with a better music experience than competitors. It’s part-owned by hip-hop star Jay-Z and a variety of other high-profile artists.

The app is available for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. A 30-day free trial is offered.

It features music recommendations based on users’ listening habits. It also has a charts section that shows users if a song is on trend. Moreover, it offers playlists that are tailored to different subgenres.

If you have a compatible device, you can enjoy streaming Tidal’s high-resolution audio. However, it requires an MQA-certified DAC to play these songs. Also, a good set of speakers is a must.

Tidal features a variety of subscription levels. They include a free plan, a Premium tier, and a Hi-Fi option. All of them come with 1411Kbps sound quality, as well as 10% royalty payments to the artists. In addition, you get ad-free music and a curated collection of songs and albums.

While you can use it on any device, the app is best suited for those with a high-end home stereo. Users can download tracks for offline use. Moreover, they have a radio feature.

On top of that, you can create a personalized playlist that you can share with your friends. You can even post it on Twitter or Instagram.

Spotify, on the other hand, is better for showcasing new and trending artists. It’s also easier to navigate. And it hosts a large number of podcasts.

Tidal offers some quality options that are superior to Spotify, such as the ability to stream songs in hi-fi and download songs for offline listening. But, the app is limited. Plus, it can be expensive to use, depending on the amount of data you consume.

For now, Tidal has an edge over Spotify when it comes to exclusive releases. Some artists release material on the platform first. Meanwhile, others like Deadmau5 and Nikki Minaj have signed deals with Tidal.

While it’s not as popular as it once was, Tidal has a solid user experience and is worth considering. With a free plan, you can access up to 80 million songs.

Qobuz

Qobuz is a music streaming service which specializes in lossless high-resolution audio. It is a competitor to Spotify and Tidal.

Qobuz started out in 2007 in France and has since expanded to the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. The company offers a free trial. But a subscription is necessary to access the full features of the service.

The company’s catalog includes over 60 million songs, and they claim that by 2022 they will have over 80 million songs. Their focus is on the audiophile crowd, but they also stock new releases. They are compatible with desktops and smartphones.

Qobuz is the first to offer hi-res streams. Rather than using special hardware to decode HD audio, the service uses extra metadata provided by record companies. This allows for better quality and a higher number of tracks.

Qobuz also has a library of over two million hi-res tracks. Most music streaming services use compressed audio formats, which result in lower quality sound than CDs.

However, Qobuz is the only service to offer high-res streaming. Users can buy the music in FLAC 24-bit up to 192kHz format. They can also download purchased files in AIFF and ALAC format.

Qobuz is a good choice for serious audiophiles. Their library includes an array of classic albums in high-res. And they have a deeper catalog in classical, jazz, and older rock. Unlike other streaming services, they don’t limit their selection to the top artists.

In addition to streaming and downloading, Qobuz has a robust editorial library. The site features articles on individual artists, as well as how-to guides, news, and other information. For example, the site includes articles on the history of the blues, the history of jazz, and how to listen to bossa nova.

However, Qobuz lacks social networking and sharing features. Users can create playlists, but they are not allowed to follow other users on the database.

In other words, Qobuz is more like visiting a record store. You can browse by artist, record label, or genre. If you want to find out more about a song, you can click its name and view its details.