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Amazon Music HD/UHD Confusion

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
June 8, 2022
54 replies
5588 views

I have Amazon Music Unlimited and a Sonos Connect Gen 2. I want to listen to the best quality stream (over my hifi), which is Ultra HD on many songs in Amazon. However, I can’t get a clear answer from Amazon or Sonos on how to do this, AND verify it’s actually happening. Going round in circles as they blame each other on support calls.

The situation is if I start a UHD song from the Amazon app on my phone and play it on the phone speaker it reports as UHD all the way through (when you click on the UHD badge and look at the stream>output page). So, ok...I am getting UHD and my network is up to the job. However, if I stream the song to the Connect then the same screen reports Audio Quality: Unavailable and also says “streaming quality is not available while casting”.

If I then look at the Sonos app now playing screen there is just the Amazon Music logo, no HD or UHD logo at all.

If I go the other way, and start a known UHD song on Amazon from the Sonos app then I do get a HD icon on the Sonos now playing screen, but no UHD icon. Sadly the interface is rubbish so it’s far from ideal. Plus, I want it to play UHD quality.

Naturally all my settings are set for best quality. Can anyone please advise on how to actually tell what quality the Connect is receiving (and playing out) on my hifi? It seems such a trivial request to know I’m actually getting what they both promise but for some reason neither can help.

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J

John B

For ultrasonics, yes. Do dogs also have a superhuman dynamic range?

No. Not range, just mange.

bockersjv

Local Superstar

Just to add that if you have a Gen 1 or 2 Sub attached to the speakers you will only ever get HD, despite what the compatibility page says. This is an open bug.

K

Kumar

As already noted, selecting music solely on the basis of whether it’s UHD vs HD makes no sense.

Not just that, there is also the uncalled for angst created by missing labels that comes in the way of enjoying the music.

I suspect that people carry over their experience of HD over DVD on the TV, where anyone can see and therefore desire the difference in quality to an extent that the labelling isn't even needed. But for audio, there is no audible difference brought in by the HD format over what has been delivered for decades now via CD quality. Or, in most cases, even by CD compressed down via codecs like Apple Lossy to 256 Kbps.

J

Jimmy C

Prominent Collaborator II

Just to add that if you have a Gen 1 or 2 Sub attached to the speakers you will only ever get HD, despite what the compatibility page says. This is an open bug.

Well, after several months Sonos got around to mentioning that the Gen 1 and Gen 2 subs are not compatible with UHD. Makes me wonder if they just gave up with trying to resolve it.

“Sonos products must be running S2 software in order to play Ultra HD audio and Dolby Atmos. Ultra HD audio playback is not supported on Connect:Amp, Play:1, Play:3, Playbase, Playbar, Sub (Gen 1), and Sub (Gen 2). Dolby Atmos playback is supported on Arc and Beam.”

https://support.sonos.com/s/article/3248?language=en_US

HT: Arc + Era 300s + Subs (G3/G2) + Sony A80L + Sony UBP-X800M2

Mr. T

Just to add that if you have a Gen 1 or 2 Sub attached to the speakers you will only ever get HD, despite what the compatibility page says. This is an open bug.

The compatibility page has been updated:

Ultra HD audio playback is not supported on Connect:Amp, Play:1, Play:3, Playbase, Playbar, Sub (Gen 1), and Sub (Gen 2).

Which is still technically incorrect as the older Subs will play Ultra HD when bonded with an Arc and possibly Beam, just not individual speakers or stereo pairs.

Support still said a fix was coming but on another thread here, it was stated it would never work.

ratty

But for audio, there is no audible difference brought in by the HD format over what has been delivered for decades now via CD quality.

In Amazon parlance ‘HD’ is CD quality.

(The same goes for Sonos Radio ‘HD’.)

B

boardmonkeyAuthor

Trending Lyricist I

Not just that, there is also the uncalled for angst created by missing labels that comes in the way of enjoying the music.

I suspect that people carry over their experience of HD over DVD on the TV, where anyone can see and therefore desire the difference in quality to an extent that the labelling isn't even needed. But for audio, there is no audible difference brought in by the HD format over what has been delivered for decades now via CD quality. Or, in most cases, even by CD compressed down via codecs like Apple Lossy to 256 Kbps.

I’m on that spectrum for sure. I ditched Play 3’s for a separates system and Connect just to get UHD. I was well sold to by Amazon, did the check with Sonos etc. Anyway, I accept I can’t hear the difference, probably. I just wanted to know if I’m getting what was promised on the shiny websites, and I’m not. Despite meeting all the criteria.

K

Kumar

I ditched Play 3’s for a separates system and Connect just to get UHD.

I just wanted to know if I’m getting what was promised on the shiny websites, and I’m not.

If it is any consolation, your new separates speakers may be giving you better sound quality if they are acoustically superior to the 3 units - as they are likely to be. And if you don’t think you are getting what these shysters promised there is the chance to revert to a “ordinary” streaming service if the monthly fee is lower. To be fair to some, there may not even be a higher price charged, to whom the shyster term may not apply.

K

Kumar

In Amazon parlance ‘HD’ is CD quality.

(The same goes for Sonos Radio ‘HD’.)

Oh yes, the lack of perceived difference allows these characters to now play fast and loose with even the definition of what is HD - Amazon pioneered that stunt, and Sonos copied them.

Can you imagine the uproar if DVD quality video was labelled as HD and sold for a higher price?

A

alfie1980

Lyricist II

there are 2 version of the Gen 2 Connect. Both are S2 compatible but only the newer version is compatible with Amazon Music Ultra HD . The Latest version of the Gen 2 Connect is the S15 version. B

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