What Is Certified Hi-Res Audio?
The sound quality of a device is one of the most important factors that drive a buying decision. Similarly, your choice of music streaming app can also change based on the compression methods and certifications the app supports.
However, one certification becoming increasingly popular, especially on the hardware side, is Certified Hi-Res Audio. But what does it mean, and what makes a pair of headphones or earbuds “certified” for better-sounding audio?
What Is Hi-Res Audio?
Simply put, hi-res audio generally means that the music you’re listening to has a higher sampling frequency and bit-depth as compared to CD audio. In terms of specifications, that means your music sounds better than 16-bit/44.1 kHz audio.
The 16-bit in the aforementioned specification indicates the bit-depth of the audio file. A higher number of bits makes the audio signal more accurate, meaning better audio quality. 44.1 kHz indicates the sampling frequency, which is the number of times signal samples are taken per second during analog to digital conversion.
Unlike HD video, there’s no universal standard for hi-res audio. Commonly used specifications for hi-res audio include 24-bit/96 kHz and 24-bit/192 kHz, both of which transmit 3.2 and 6.5 times the data as compared to a CD.
The only real downside here is the file size. Hi-res audio files are generally much larger, making them cumbersome to transfer locally and difficult to stream online. Lossless audio formats like WAV, FLAC, and ALAC can run 10-15 MB per minute, meaning audio files become significantly larger to store and stream.
What Does “Certified Hi-Res Audio” Mean?
The hi-res certification is a design proposed and defined by Sony, which is recognized by the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) and the JAS (Japanese Audio Association). To be certified for hi-res audio, your hardware must be able to convert 24-bit/96 kHz digital signals into analog audio for playback.
This means that when you see a pair of headphones, earphones, speakers, or just about any audio equipment with the “Certified Hi-Res Audio” badge, it means that that particular device can accurately reproduce digital 24-bit/96 kHz media files into acoustic signals that you hear.
As you can probably guess, this is important for several reasons. Not only does audio at this specification sound better than the old 16-bit/44.1 kHz standard, but it’s also closer to how the artist originally intended the recording to sound. Provided all parts of your listening setup support it, the resulting sound usually has greater detail and texture and sounds richer overall.
What to Look for When Buying Certified Hi-Res Audio Equipment
While there’s a huge number of audio equipment on the market that can help you listen to hi-res audio, there are certain things you need to keep in mind if you’re looking to make the best out of your listening experience.
In addition to a certified pair of listening hardware, you’d also need a streaming service or any other source that provides hi-res audio in the first place. Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music provide music quality roughly on par with a CD, with bitrates ranging from 256 kbps to 320 kbps thanks to lossy compression.
This is great for a commercial product that streams hundreds of thousands of tracks to millions of users every day. However,high-res audio streaming services like Tidal and HDtracksuse lossless compression, which generally provides hi-res audio streaming straight to your device.
Overall, there are a few things you need to keep in mind toget the best audio experience possible.
Up Your Audio Game
Using better audio hardware can significantly enhance your listening experience and make you appreciate your music better. It also delivers the audio the way the artist intended to, and that just adds that extra oomph to your listening experience.
Just make sure you have the right equipment and sources, streaming or local, and you’re off to the races.
Searching for a music player that supports hi-res audio? Here are the best hi-res music player apps for Windows.
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