Definition of High-resolution audio
High-resolution audio is a term for music files with bit depth greater than 16-bit and sampling frequency higher than 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz used in CD and DVD formats. The Audio Engineering Society (AES), Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and Japan Audio Society (JAS) set 24-bit/96 kHz as the minimum requirement to fulfill the standard. The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing also cites 24-bit/96 kHz as the preferred resolution for tracking, mixing and mastering audio. In 2011, the Library of Congress chose 24-bit/96 kHz as the "international standard" for archiving and preserving its collection of historical recordings. It is supported by media formats such as DVD-Audio, DualDisc and High Fidelity Pure Audio, download stores like Bandcamp, HDtracks and Qobuz, and streaming platforms including Apple Music, Amazon Music and Tidal. Research into high-resolution audio began in the late 1980s and recordings were made available on the consumer market in 1996.
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Frequently asked questions
What is High-resolution audio?
High-resolution audio is a term for music files with bit depth greater than 16-bit and sampling frequency higher than 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz used in CD and DVD formats.