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Amazon launches lossless high-res music service!

amirm

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Wow, it happened!

https://press.aboutamazon.com/


Amazon Music Introduces Highest Quality Audio for Streaming with Amazon Music HD

September 17, 2019 at 9:01 AM EDT

Amazon Music HD lets customers access and stream more than 50 million songs in High Definition (HD) audio and millions of songs in Ultra HD, the highest quality streaming audio available, giving listeners a new way to elevate their sound

Subscriptions start at $12.99/month for new subscribers; Current subscribers to Amazon Music pay $5/month plus their regular plan fee
For a limited time, Amazon Music subscribers in the US, UK, Germany and Japan can upgrade to Amazon Music HD for 90 days at no additional cost, and new subscribers can receive a 90-day free trial


SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 17, 2019-- (NASDAQ: AMZN) Amazon Music today announced the launch of Amazon Music HD, a new tier of premium quality music with more than 50 million songs in High Definition, and millions of songs in Ultra High Definition, the highest quality streaming audio available. At just $12.99/month for Prime members and $14.99/month for Amazon customers, or an additional $5/month for current subscribers (Individual or Family Plan), Amazon Music HD makes high quality, lossless audio accessible to all music fans. Amazon Music HD is now available to stream in the US, UK, Germany, and Japan. New subscribers to Amazon Music can receive a 90-day free trial, and current subscribers can try Amazon Music HD at no additional cost for 90 days at amazon.com/music/unlimited/hd.

“We spoke with many artists while developing Amazon Music HD, who were excited about the potential for fans to be able to stream their favorite music, and hear it as it was originally recorded,” said Steve Boom, VP of Amazon Music. “From rock to hip-hop to classical and pop, we believe listening to music at this level of sound will make customers fall in love again with their favorite music and artists. As we usher in a new listening experience for our customers and the industry, we’re combining the convenience of streaming with all of the emotion, power, clarity and nuance of the original recordings.”

Amazon Music HD will always offer customers the best quality recording available for streaming, providing an unparalleled listening experience. Legendary albums including Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors and Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue become revelatory new experiences, almost as if the listener is sitting in on these storied studio sessions. Songs like Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” and St. Vincent’s “Digital Witness”, are also now available in Ultra HD, revealing nuances that were once flattened in files compressed for digital streaming.

“Earth will be changed forever when Amazon introduces high quality streaming to the masses,” said rock icon Neil Young. “This will be the biggest thing to happen in music since the introduction of digital audio 40 years ago.”

Amazon Music HD offers customers more than 50 million lossless HD songs, with a bit depth of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44.1kHz (CD quality). In addition, customers can stream millions more songs in Ultra HD (better than CD quality), with a bit depth of 24 bits and a sample rate up to 192 kHz.
Amazon Music HD will play the highest quality audio the customer’s device and network conditions will support, and is compatible with a wide variety of devices, including desktop, mobile (iOS & Android), select Echo devices, Fire TV, and Fire Tablets. Amazon Music HD is also compatible with many third-party devices, including most products from Denon and Marantz with HEOS Built-in, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, Sonos, McIntosh, Sennheiser, and many more. To learn more about Amazon Music HD, visit amazon.com/music/unlimited/hd.

About Amazon Music
Amazon Music reimagines music listening by enabling customers to unlock millions of songs and thousands of curated playlists and stations with their voice. Amazon Music provides unlimited access to new releases and classic hits through multiple streaming tiers. With Amazon Music, Prime members have access to ad-free listening of 2 million songs at no additional cost to their membership. Listeners can also enjoy Amazon Music Unlimited, which provides access to more than 50 million songs and the latest new releases. Amazon Music HD, a new tier of the highest quality streaming audio, offers more than 50 million songs in High Definition, and millions of songs in Ultra High Definition. Customers with Echo devices also have free access to an ad-supported selection of top playlists and stations on Amazon Music. Engaging with music has never been more natural, simple, and fun. For more information, visit amazonmusic.com or download the Amazon Music app.
 
Will Spotify or Apple respond?
Will it be watermarked?
 
Yeah... that's big...
Was this expected?
It's been talked about for a while, same as it's talked about for the other services, without happening. I'm sure the others have plans in place for one of the others doing this.

Price cut from tidal and qobuz soon?
 
Don't see a Classical section. i guess this is just another Tidal.Rap hip-hop etc.
 
I already had Amazon Music Unlimited, so I upgraded. It is working with BlueOS, showing the HR icon. I was using AMU to fill holes in the Deezer catalog. Now I will turn it around and see if Deezer seems to be needed to fill holes in the Amazon catalog.
 
Also, the samples Amazon allows you to listen to are 30 seconds long. BAD Amazon!!!!
The font size is also too small:facepalm:. Hell, even Apple does this better. Now how to find a Cancel button.
 
50 million songs at Red Book fidelity for the low price of $150/yr? :)

Admittedly, this is significant news because Amazon is a big player and has incredible marketing reach.

FWIW, I'll continue to add to my ~5000 songs on lowest compression/highest DR CDs for critical listening at home and free Prime Music for my workouts (when the need for high fidelity is lower than the need for more oxygen).
 
The power of Amazon HD is that it can stream digitally to my DAC from my FireTV. And I can call up the song I want with my voice. Hopefully they will do it so that I can use my echo dot to play the music on my firetv like I do tv shows.
 
Is Amazon HD browser based only or can you download a desktop app like Tidal and Qobuz?
 
Amazon Music is app-based. I'm not seeing an Amazon Music HD out yet, so perhaps the regular app gives access to the HD library when you upgrade your subscription...
 
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