1. HDtracks
Web: www.HDtracks.co.uk
Prices: variable. Bulletproof Picasso by Train is £17, Led Zeppelin's debut album is £24.50
Available formats: AIFF, ALAC, FLAC and WAV
Streaming / download: Download only
One of the early pioneers of HD downloads, US-based HDtracks, is now available in the UK. The content selection is broad, thanks to major label support from Sony Music Entertainment, Warner and Universal, and covers classic releases, such and the remastered Led Zeppelin collection, as well as more contemporary pop and esoteric classical recordings.
There's also a selection of downloads in Binaural+, CEO David Chesky's 3D surround audio format. Formats include Apple friendly ALAC and AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format), as well as FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) and WAV (Waveform Audio File Format). Resolution varies depending on original source material. Michael Jackson's BAD is a 24-bit 96kHz download, while Prokofiev's Chout (also known as The Buffoon) is 24-bit 192kHz.
When you register with the service and you receive a free 96 kHz /24-bit sampler, comprising of an assortment of jazz and classical tracks. The storefront itself is pretty approachable, with genres and new releases readily accessible to browse.
The downloads themselves can seem pricey. Wilco's The Whole Love (a combination of 96/24 and 44/24 tracks) is £24.50, while the deluxe edition of Oasis' (What's the story) Morning Glory, which consists of the band's remastered first album plus a comprehensive collection of b-sides and rarities, is £28.
2. Qobuz
Website: www.Qobuz.com
Prices (streaming): 16-bit/44.1kHz streaming service £19.99 p/m subscription, 320kbps service £20.
Prices (downloads): Variable. Bulletproof Picasso by Train is £11.99, Led Zeppelin's debut album is £19.64
Available formats: FLAC
Streaming / download: both
Qobuz is both a music streaming service and download store. Originally launched in France, it's now available in the UK, offering high-res Audio music streams in 16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC. The Qobuz hi-res subscription will set you back £19.99 per month, alternatively you could opt for a £9.99 320kbps service, although here it really fails to match the breadth of Spotify.
There are Qobuz apps for iOS and Android devices. The player is also embedded in Sonos, Samsung and Astell & Kern hardware. Overall audio quality is excellent.
Artist depth is also good, although a fair number of store downloads are only available in 16-bit resolution. Those downloads labeled as Studio Master releases are available in 24-bit 44.1, 48, 176.4 and 192Khz, depending on available assets.
Prices are on the right side of acceptable, but there are some real bargains to be had here. Big City Plans, by pop punks Guerilla Monsoon, is a mere £5.99 for a 24/96 FLAC download. American Idiot, by Green Day, is £14.69. While there are no samples to download, you can sign up for a free 15-day trial of the FLAC streaming service.
3. Linn Records
Website: www.linnrecords.com
Prices: Studio Master 24-bit album downloads, such as Clair Martin's Time & Space, are typically £18
Available formats: ALAC, FLAC
Streaming / download: Download
Linn Records is arguably the original Pioneer of high-res audio downloads. Part of the larger, high-end hi-fi Linn clan, the brand offers 24-bit Studio Masters downloads up to 192kHz. The label once offered a wide range of mainstream artists and albums in native 24-bit, but has now severed ties to charting studios and instead offers own label recordings.
While you may struggle to find artists you know, you can be sure the quality is immaculate. The library is a particularly good place to sniff around for jazz and classics, but you won't find too much with a hard edge.
It's worth looking out for the many and varied free download promotions that come along though, as these are a handy way of unearthing new talent. File downloads can be had as either as FLAC or ALAC. Prices vary from £18 for a new album to compilations for £7.50. The store itself is easy to navigate and the dedicated Download Manager works flawlessly.
4. Tidal
Website: www.tidalhifi.com
Prices: £19.99 p/m subscription
Available formats: 16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC
Streaming / download: Streaming with offline download functionality
The newest high quality music streaming service to launch is Tidal. What makes the service significant is that it's partnered with 16 audio hardware brands to ensure its platform is as accessible as possible from the get go. These include Sonos, HEOS by Denon, Bluesound, NAD and Meridian. With a launch catalogue of 25 million-plus tracks, Tidal clearly intends to make a big splash.
The service streams at 1411kbps, four times that of 320kbps rivals, and sounds terrific. If you need to reduce this to accommodate a more limited data service, it can be toggled to AAC at 320kbps or AAC+ at 96kbps, but the quality drop is significant. TIDAL also allows offline listening of albums or playlists on mobile devices – just look for the offline switch on any album or playlist page to store this content on your device.
The service offers a good deal of curation, with generic playlists and recommendations. It's also very slick to use. Tidal has a simple graphical way of creating playlists, just star the track you like, with drag and drop editing, to add tracks or change the order of your queue. There's also an extensive genre collection, and broad label support. The monthly subscription is £19.99. Apps are available for iOS and Android devices.
5. Bowers and Wilkins Society of Sound
Website: www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk
Prices: Annual membership £33.95, which entitles subscribers to two albums a month. Individual 24-bit album downloads are typically £15
Available formats: ALAC and FLAC
Streaming /download: Download
This subscription service from the renowned loudspeaker company is left field but interesting. With a library curated by Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios and the London Symphony Orchestra you're certainly not going to find Mike Read's Ukip Calypso here, but there are classics aplenty. Each month, two albums are added and two removed.
Annual subscriptions cost £33.95. B&W also operates a download store, which isn't related to the members club. The choice here is limited, but prices are keen. Current offers include the Maria Callas catalogue remastered in 24/96 FLAC (£15.99) or Apple Lossless (£13.99), or Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells in Studio Quality FLAC (£20 for both stereo and 5.1 FLAC mixes as well as a CD grade copy).
What else is available?
Neil Young's Pono hi-res music project has become synonymous with HRA since it was first mooted over three years ago. Quite how it will pan out remains to be seen (or rather heard), but at the very least the musician has become a highly creditable poster boy for 24-bit audio. Major label support is said to be coming from Warner, Sony and Universal. Releases will be in FLAC format.
Acoustic Sounds Super Hirez offers music downloads in a variety of 24-bit FLAC iterations from the Warner catalogue, as well as rare as hens teeth DSD downloads. The latter includes back catalogue gems as Michael Jackson's BAD, Beck's Mutation and Boston's More Than a Feeling, all created from the original Sony Super Audio CD cutting masters. Unfortunately, they're only available to residents of the USA and Canada (or those hiding behind a VPN).
Pro Studio Masters is another US-based hi-res audio store, which has a number of albums available in a variety of file formats, from PCM, AIFF, FLAC and DSD. The album choice is a little limited, although there are some intriguing back catalogue items, such as Sinatra and Swinging Brass, in 24-bit 192kHz.
Often vintage recordings sound more immersive than those from recent decades where the CD and or radio play seemed the main mixing criteria. If your tastes are more eclectic, then Blue Coast records is renowned for its own label recordings, which predominantly cover acoustic and folk. The good news is that there's a selection for trial downloads and the quality is superb.
