Enjoying good sound quality is comparable to enjoying a good plate of food. That is, it is not enough to have good food but also to have a cook who knows how to get all the flavor out of it. So even if there are music services that already offer Hi-Res audio, it is useless without a proper audio system. This is everything you need to know about Hi-Res players.
What is Hi-Res sound
Hi-Res stands for High Resolution . Therefore, Hi-Res sound or audio is nothing other than high resolution sound and with this the idea is to indicate to the user that the listening experience will be identical to the original recording. But it is still worth explaining before how a recording is made.
When you enter a studio to record, what takes place is an analog process that records the waveform of the different sounds that are produced. These can be those of a musical instrument, voices, etc. This process is captured by that wave completely without any compression or alteration of it.
So far so good, but to be able to enjoy this recording on devices that we use daily such as televisions, mobile phones and many other players, it is essential that it has been previously converted to digital format. That’s when all this Hi-Res sound quality kicks in.
When an analog wave is converted to digital, a process called sampling is carried out . What this does is divide it into small sections that correspond to different frequency ranges. Thus, the higher the sampling rate, the more faithful and precise the wave generated will be. To give you a better idea, imagine that they are like a bar graph. The greater the number of bars, the more faithful the shape it generates with respect to the analog wave.
Well, most of the audio that we capture with day-to-day tools allows us to reach sample rates of 44.1 kHz. That means that for every second 44,100 samples are generated. However, Hi-Res or Hi-Res audio increases that number to at least 96,000 samples or 96 kHz.
This increase logically implies a larger file size as well. And of course, that until not long ago was a problem. However, it is now much easier due to the capabilities of the new devices, the storage systems and something that is also key in all these products: compression.
Current compression algorithms allow these high-quality files to be much easier to manage and take up less space without affecting the final quality. So you can not only store several Hi-Res tracks on media that we have been using for the popular MP3, but also transmit over the internet if a connection with a significant bandwidth is needed.
So, combining the ability to capture audio at the same quality that was originally recorded with all these algorithms and technical improvements is how you get to services like Spotify, Tidal or Amazon Music HD that are capable of offering a very high sound quality.
Is there a real difference between normal and Hi-Res audio?
The answer to whether there are real differences between normal and Hi-Res audio is yes, of course there are. Although it should be noted that to appreciate this greater fidelity in the representation of each and every one of the frequencies, it is not enough to access a service with Hi-Res music or download it in the form of a file. Having a sound system consisting of a compatible player and headphones or speakers is a must.
Therefore, if you access the Hi-Res audio option of Spotify, Tidal or Amazon Music HD among others, you will need a player and a sound system capable of reproducing all those frequencies that allow you to enjoy many nuances that previously went unnoticed. . Or as they say, a much broader and richer sound scene.
And we have not commented on anything, but it is also important that you train your ear and take the necessary time to sit calmly to listen to those notes that you did not hear before or were not able to locate with the same precision that you could now do.
What is needed to listen to Hi-Res audio
As we have already said, to enjoy high resolution audio it is essential to have a player and a sound system (headphones or speakers) that are capable of reproducing all those frequencies that other devices do not due to technical limitations.
These devices are usually easy to identify as they have some type of seal or indicator that they are ready for Hi-Res audio . If not, if you have doubts about whether it is capable or not, then you will have to visit the manufacturer’s page and check the manufacturer’s specifications to see if it is so or not.
Once you have it, there are many services such as Tidal, Spotify or Amazon Music that offer the possibility of listening to Hi-Res audio via streaming. Although you can also do it through applications for your computer that are compatible with the different formats used for this type of recordings, as long as you have a compatible sound card.
Thus, for example, for Windows and Mac there are apps like Audirvana, Amarra, Fidelia, BitPerfect or Pure Music that allow it, although there are more. All of them must support the FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WAV, DSD DFF or DSD DSF formats, which are the ones that are usually used in most cases.
What to consider when buying a Hi-Res player
If you do not have any equipment with the capacity to process Hi-Res content or if you are looking for a more specific one to enjoy at home and even when you go on a trip, etc., you can purchase one of the many that exist in the market today. Although you must take into account some considerations :
- Compatible formats: as we said, at least it must have support for FLAC; ALAC, AIFF and WAV which are the most popular
- If it offers the option to connect to internet services, it must support those that you are interested in using, such as Spotify, Tidal or similar.
- Output connections to be able to connect speakers or headphones of different types as long as they also support Hi-Res sound
- Do you need portability? There are options as a portable player and other fixed ones, here it will depend on your needs
- Price: it is obvious, but the cost of players with Hi-Res support is usually higher than a normal one. But if you like to enjoy the highest quality, the investment is worth it in the long run.
The best Hi-Res players
Here is a selection of the best Hi-Res players on the market. With it we hope that you will find the ideal option according to your needs and even budget.
Cambridge Azur 851N
Cambridge is a well-respected brand in sound and their Azur 851N is one of the most interesting players on the market. It is a device to have at home, it is not a portable solution, but it offers a wide variety of types of connections for audio output such as XLR, RCA, coaxial or optical. The input signal is digital and among the services you can use to play high resolution audio is Spotify. To do this, you just have to connect the player by ethernet cable to the network and that’s it. To enjoy.
Technincs SL-G700
Like Cambridge, Technics is another of the industry’s classic brands. The Technics SL-G700 is a player that not only supports digital signals and supports services such as Spotify Connect, Chromecast, Tidal, AirPlay and other audio playback methods such as AirPlay or DLNA, but also the use of physical discs in CD or SACD format.
Pioneer N-50AE
Another great option if you are looking for a player with support for Hi-Res audio is the Pioneer N-70AE . This equipment also for use at home offers support for Spotify Connect, Chromecast, AirPlay, DLNA and a wide variety of output connections.
FiiO M11 Pro
Leaving aside the players that are or are designed to enjoy in the tranquility of home, let’s talk about portable solutions. Because if you like to enjoy the highest possible sound quality, that will be something you will want to do wherever you go. In that sense, the FiiO M11 Pro is a very good option, although its price is somewhat high (or not).
This player in the form of a small smartphone or MP3 player offers a touch screen with which to control the interface of the device, access to songs, lists, etc. Of course, it is a product to use with downloaded music (it offers 64GB storage) or through a WiFi connection .
Pioneer XDP-02U
Again Pioneer, but this time with a portable player whose price is somewhat more moderate (about 299 euros) and with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity options. In addition to having 16 GB of internal storage that can be expanded with microSD cards, it also has a 2.4-inch touch screen. An interesting solution for those looking for quality and an affordable investment.
Sony Walkman A100
Sony has a wide range of Hi-Res players, but this Sony Walkman A100 is one of the most emblematic and currently one of the most attractive options for its price. Obviously there are cheaper models and many more expensive ones, but this one has a very good balance.
The Walkman A100 allows you not only to play stored high-resolution music, but also to do it directly from different streaming applications thanks to the support offered by using Android as the operating system . A highly recommended option.
Other Hi-Res players to consider
These are some of the coolest Hi-Res audio players, but there are many more on the market. There are even solutions that allow you to enjoy this content through mobile devices that a priori do not support. And not because they don’t have the capability, but because onboard DACs are sometimes limited.
Therefore, external DACs connected through the Lightning connection in the case of the iPhone or USB C in Android terminals can offer that conversion from digital to analog that allows you to enjoy the highest quality. So everything is looking for what type of need you want to cover. Of course, the idea is always to enjoy all this sound quality from the tranquility of home, sitting comfortably and without thinking about anything other than what you are listening to.
