Digital audio formats with better sound quality than CDs, which is based on the sampling rate used when an analog music file or a live performance is converted to digital data. It also means "lossless" compression, whereby none of the music has been removed such as with MP3 and AAC. In 2014, the record labels formalized the major categories (see high-resolution audio categories). Early Attempts: SACD and DVD-Audio In 1999, SACD and DVD-Audio were two high-resolution optical disc formats, but neither took off (see SACD and DVD-Audio). However, the sampling method in SACD did survive (see DSD). High Resolution Via Download Today, high-quality music is no longer bound to physical media. HDtracks (www.hdtracks.com) pioneered high-resolution audio via download and offers music titles at CD quality and greater. In addition, music played from the computer's memory (RAM) is not subject to jitter caused by an optical platter that is not rotating 100% evenly.
high-resolution audio - Computer Definition

High-Quality Downloads
High-resolution music titles such as these are available from the HDtracks website. While sample size is 24 bits on these titles, note the different sampling rates in kHz. The files with 88/24 and 176/24 resolution were taken from DSD masters (see 88.2/24 and 176.4/24). (Images courtesy of HDtracks, www.hdtracks.com)
CD Quality and More
Resolution Audio's Cantata is a high-quality CD player as well as a USB analog-to-digital converter (USB DAC) that supports 24-bit samples at 192 kHz. (Image courtesy of Resolution Audio, www.resolutionaudio.com)
Smooth Out the Waveforms
Before conversion to analog, this high-end MOON Evolution CD player from Simaudio reconstructs the CD's 16-bit samples into 32-bit samples to smooth out the sound waves. The unit is also a USB DAC that supports 24-bit samples up to 192 kHz. In this example, digital input #2 is selected. (Image courtesy of Simaudio, Ltd., www.simaudio.com)
High-Resolution Players
Music lovers can also enjoy high-quality audio in portable players such as these from Pono (top) and Astell & Kern (bottom). For more information, visit www.ponomusic.com and www.astellnkern.com. (Image courtesy of PonoMusic.) See Pono.
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