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Tidal adds hi-res FLAC streaming for HiFi Plus subscribers
Music-streaming app Tidal has begun rolling out hi-res FLAC streams across the platform, according to CEO Jesse Dorogusker via a Reddit post. FLAC (free lossless audio codec) streams offer high fidelity audio up to 24-bit/192Hz. These files are on the larger side, taking up around four times the space of a standard MP3, which is why you rarely see the format on widely-adopted streaming platforms.
Spotify may finally be ready to debut a premium HiFi audio tier
Spotify may finally launch a high-fidelity plan called "Supremium" that would be its most expensive tier.
JBL's L75ms wooden speaker is built for high-res streaming
JBL has unveiled a wood-clad HiFi speaker, the L75ms, that melds high-end audio and a dash of style with support for the latest tech, including high-resolution streaming music.
Apple Music will offer Dolby Atmos and lossless streaming starting next month
Apple Music is adding Dolby Atmos and lossless streaming at no additional cost.
Sennheiser sells its consumer audio business to hearing aid specialist Sonova
Sennheiser has sold it's consumer electronics division to a Swiss company called Sonova that specializes in hearing care.
Huawei teams with Devialet on a $300 smart speaker for China
Huawei has unveiled the Sound X, a smart speaker it build in conjunction with bespoke French HiFi company Devialet. On top of the premium look, it packs a 60 watt double subwoofer and 360-degree sound, along with Devialet's speaker active matching (SAM) that eliminates distortion and push-push woofer vibration-cancelling tech.
Tidal is offering a hefty discount for first responders in the US
Like other music streaming services, Tidal was already offering military and student discounts. Now it's launching a "Community Heroes" discount for first responders. In the US, they'll receive 40 percent off the premium and HiFi plans. That makes the premium plan $5.99 per month and the HiFi plan $11.99 per month.
Amazon Music HD offers lossless streaming starting at $12.99 per month
Amazon is launching a new tier for its Music subscription service that will offer high quality, lossless audio streams and downloads, the company has announced. With Amazon Music HD, as the plan is called, Amazon says people are going to have access to over 50 million high-resolution tracks at CD quality and better, thanks to support for 16-bit files and sample rates of 44.1kHz and above. The service will also come with "millions of tracks in UHD," which includes hi-res audio streaming at up to 24-bit/48kHz (or 96 to 192kHz) -- in case you're a hardcore audiophile and need the absolute highest quality possible.
Smart speakers are being used to help measure inflation in the UK
Smart speakers are so popular the UK is using them to help calculate inflation. Every year, the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) adds top consumer products to its "basket of goods," a collection of goods and services that indicates how people are spending their money. Annually, popular items are added, and passé products tossed. So while smart speakers made the cut, hi-fi speaker systems got the axe.
Devialet shrinks its 'alien egg' speaker (and its price)
Even if you're not already familiar with French audio brand Devialet, you may instantly recognize its Phantom speakers, which are known for throwing a surprising punch from a relatively compact alien egg-like body. The problem is that as impressive as they are, these "implosive" speakers can be a bit too much for tiny spaces, plus prices start from $1,690 which isn't an instant grab for most people. As such, Devialet's team of 100 engineers spent the last three years repackaging the same acoustic technology into a more portable form factor. The result is the Phantom Reactor, a $999 wireless speaker that's four times smaller but still delivers "unreasonable sound."
How to buy a turntable
So you want to start collecting vinyl. Great! Record sales have been steadily climbing, and in March, physical music outsold downloads for the first time in six years. You might've even started buying vinyl already to get in on the action. But given how long the format has been around, picking out a turntable can be as daunting as building a home HiFi system to connect it to. It doesn't have to be. You can spend anywhere from $60 on a Crosley all-in-one at Target to more than $3,000 for an audiophile-grade deck, with plenty of options in between. But what's the difference between a budget turntable and something that costs more than a few months' rent? And do you really need to spend that much? What are the features you shouldn't go without? Let us give you a hand.
The world's first planar magnetic wireless earphones don't come cheap
Planar magnetic headphones are the HiFi tech du jour via impressive (but pricey) recent models like the Blue Ella and Audeze Sine. Now, RHA has brought the tech down to a tiny new size with the CL2 Planar earphones. Not only are the buds very compact, thanks to a 10mm transducer and 16 micrometer diaphragm, but they're the first ever planar magnetic wireless headphones, says RHA.
What you need to know before building a HiFi system
The process of building a stereo can be overwhelming. Should you buy new gear or trawl the local stereo shop for vintage equipment? Do you need a subwoofer for music? Are high-end speaker cables really going to make a difference in sound? It's no wonder, then, that smart speakers have become so popular: They're available in a variety of sizes and, when paired with a music streaming subscription, are a simple way to access a world of music. But the trade-off for that convenience is sound quality. While an Echo or HomePod is perfect for listening to podcasts, it can't stack up to the power and fidelity you get with a traditional stereo. If you're looking to upgrade, rather than ponying up $500 for a single Google Home Max, consider an alternative solution: building your own stereo HiFi system. While the initial setup and research are more intensive than simply telling Alexa to order more Echo Dots, after it's done you'll have a much more versatile -- not to mention better-sounding -- way to listen to music at home.
Google's high-quality Home Max speaker goes on sale for $399
Google launched its high-quality Home Max speaker with Google Assistant in October, and the last we heard (via a Best Buy leak), it was set to arrive on December 11th. That date was spot on, it turns out, as the Home Max has indeed gone on sale at both Best Buy and Verizon. It's also live on Google's own online store.
Deezer brings lossless audio to the desktop with a new app
Music streaming service Deezer moved beyond Bose and Sonos speakers a couple of months ago in US markets, expanding its subscription offerings to pretty much everyone via a mobile app. Around the same time, Deezer opened up its HiFi tier to any speaker with Chromecast built-in. Now, the company is bringing exclusive video content and a free trial of Deezer's $20 per month HiFi service to a new desktop app for macOS and Windows.
Deezer now streams high-quality audio to more than just Sonos
Deezer Elite brought high-quality music streaming to Sonos speakers back in 2014, but until now, the service wasn't available on audio gear from other companies. Starting today, you can access the renamed Deezer HiFi tier from Chromecast Audio or any speaker that has Chromecast built-in. That opens up the options to devices from the likes of Sony, Samsung, Bang & Olufsen, Onkyo and Pioneer -- just to name a few.
Sprint pushes Tidal again with six months of free HiFi streaming
We've been wondering why Sprint bought a third of music streaming service, Tidal. While the respective companies didn't discuss details at the time, the team-up is starting to make a bit more sense. Sprint is currently offering all of its customers six months of Tidal's HiFi top of the line streaming tier for no extra charge. Tidal usually charges $20 per month in the US for this service.
Technics has a new high-end HiFi setup, and it won't be cheap
Last year Panasonic resurrected the Technics brand and its legendary SL-1200 turntable. Now, the company wants to be your one-stop solution for all things HiFi, with a new model of the SL-1200, a pair of speakers and an integrated amplifier.
Sony would love you to buy its $3,200 gold-plated Walkman
At IFA 2016 in Berlin today, Sony CEO Kaz Hirai reminded rich audiophiles not to forget about Sony. He unveiled the new "Signature Series" reference devices, including the NWM1Z and NWM1A Walkman, MDR-Z1R headphones and TA-ZH1ES headphone amp. The $3,200 (£2,500) NWM1Z Walkman is literally gold-plated, which not only makes it bling, but supposedly reduces "contact resistance and oxidation," according to Sony.
I tried to identify high-quality audio samples and failed miserably
High-resolution audio is getting a lot buzz as of late thanks to the efforts of Tidal, Neil Young and others. While Tidal had a test of its own, NPR set up another quiz to see if you can tell the difference between MP3s and uncompressed WAVs. I couldn't, and I listened to the samples through a pair of B&O H6s routed through an Apogee Groove DAC/headphone amp. In fact, the only track out of the six in which I was able to accurately identify the uncompressed audio was Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" (oddly enough, I'm a big KP fan). For reference, 320kbps MP3s, which are the mid-grade option here, are what streaming services like Spotify, Rdio and others use for their catalogs.
