Lead Maestro

"The Beginner’s Guide to Hi-Res Audio"

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
December 7, 2021
92 replies
4122 views

The 13.4.1 S2 update added hi-res (Ultra HD) and Dolby Atmos audio support from Amazon Music Unlimited. With this update, Sonos released this great article about hi-res audio and how you can listen to it on Sonos. It’s a very detailed and well-written article:

https://blog.sonos.com/en-us/hi-res-audio-guide

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Jeffrey_35

Headliner III

So what audio quality do you get with a home theatre room setup where the rear speakers are not hi res compatible? For example, a Beam with Play:1s for surround. Does it matter if you are in full mode or not?

I am curious about this.

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”

Jeffrey_35

Headliner III

Also I am curious what the difference is with Amazon’s HD vs Sonos Radio HD or are they the same?

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”

Bumper

Also I am curious what the difference is with Amazon’s HD vs Sonos Radio HD or are they the same?

Sonos Radio HD streams in 16-bit/44.1 kHz

IIRC Amazon HD streams in up to 24-bit/192 kHz, but on Sonos it is 24/48.

Mr. T

So what audio quality do you get with a home theatre room setup where the rear speakers are not hi res compatible? For example, a Beam with Play:1s for surround. Does it matter if you are in full mode or not?

I am curious about this.

I can get Dolby Digital/Ultra HD where Play:3s are used as surrounds with an Arc and gen 2 Sub.

When Dolby Digital is playing, the full/ambient setting does not apply, but you can switch between them for Ultra HD songs and it plays under both settings without any issue.

melvimbe

Also I am curious what the difference is with Amazon’s HD vs Sonos Radio HD or are they the same?

Sonos Radio HD streams in 16-bit/44.1 kHz

IIRC Amazon HD streams in up to 24-bit/192 kHz, but on Sonos it is 24/48.

“HD” for Amazon sort of has two different meanings. HD is the name of the service level you can get within Amazon music. Within that service, you’ll have SD (Standard definition) tracks of the lower quality. HD tracks are 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD quality) and then there are Ultra HD tracks at 24 bit. There is also now the atmos music as part of this service. When playing Amazon music on Sonos, Sonos will have no label for SD, HD for HD, Ultra HD label, and Atmos label.

Danny

Mr. T

“HD” for Amazon sort of has two different meanings. HD is the name of the service level you can get within Amazon music. Within that service, you’ll have SD (Standard definition) tracks of the lower quality. HD tracks are 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD quality) and then there are Ultra HD tracks at 24 bit. There is also now the atmos music as part of this service. When playing Amazon music on Sonos, Sonos will have no label for SD, HD for HD, Ultra HD label, and Atmos label.

In the UK at least, Amazon has recently updated so HD/Ultra HD/Dolby Atmos are now all under the service “Amazon Music Unlimited”, there is no separate “HD” service.

The respective audio resolution badge only appears when initiating playback from Amazon Music, within the Sonos app. No badge currently appears when casting to Sonos from the Amazon Music app by airplay etc.

Bumper

Also I am curious what the difference is with Amazon’s HD vs Sonos Radio HD or are they the same?

Sonos Radio HD streams in 16-bit/44.1 kHz

IIRC Amazon HD streams in up to 24-bit/192 kHz, but on Sonos it is 24/48.

“HD” for Amazon sort of has two different meanings. HD is the name of the service level you can get within Amazon music. Within that service, you’ll have SD (Standard definition) tracks of the lower quality. HD tracks are 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD quality) and then there are Ultra HD tracks at 24 bit. There is also now the atmos music as part of this service. When playing Amazon music on Sonos, Sonos will have no label for SD, HD for HD, Ultra HD label, and Atmos label.

When comparing services, for me at least, it’s helpful to set aside the marketing speak, (SD, HD, Ultra HD) because the meaning varies on the context.

On Sonos if you don’t own an Atmos enabled product, Amazon Unlimited can stream in up to 24/48 (may vary depending on your location)

melvimbe

“HD” for Amazon sort of has two different meanings. HD is the name of the service level you can get within Amazon music. Within that service, you’ll have SD (Standard definition) tracks of the lower quality. HD tracks are 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD quality) and then there are Ultra HD tracks at 24 bit. There is also now the atmos music as part of this service. When playing Amazon music on Sonos, Sonos will have no label for SD, HD for HD, Ultra HD label, and Atmos label.

In the UK at least, Amazon has recently updated so HD/Ultra HD/Dolby Atmos are now all under the service “Amazon Music Unlimited”, there is no separate “HD” service.

The respective audio resolution badge only appears when initiating playback from Amazon Music, within the Sonos app. No badge currently appears when casting to Sonos from the Amazon Music app by airplay etc.

You’re right, it’s Unlimited in the US as well.

As far as the resolution badge, I think it’s in SD (no badge) when initiating playback from the Amazon app or Alexa because Amazon doesn’t know what resolution the specific Sonos room can play. That’s my theory anyway.

Danny

Mr. T

As far as the resolution badge, I think it’s in SD (no badge) when initiating playback from the Amazon app or Alexa because Amazon doesn’t know what resolution the specific Sonos room can play. That’s my theory anyway.

Yes, I also believe it is SD rather than the respective badge just not showing.

I’ve noticed whilst playing around with Ones, it takes a few seconds/attempts before Ultra HD appears. Sonos must do some monitoring of the network to establish what quality to play, although Dolby Atmos music plays straight away with the Arc. Hmmmm that’s maybe why I can’t get the paired Ones and Sub to play Ultra HD… Need to troubleshoot some more…

walkman666

Trending Lyricist I

In New York City….After Sonos made the hi-res announcement, I subscribed to.Amazon Unlimited. I am playing Rush -- Ultra HD on a new Beam 2 and my app says:

Tom Sawyer
Rush (with the Amazon “music” logo underneath) - Ultra HD Rush and
Dolby Atmos, to the far right.

Took a while, but an “HD” now appears where Dolby Atmos was when the playlist moved to another song, Limelight.

And now just switched to “Ultra HD” on far right...

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