Want to build your own digital music library of high-resolution quality but don't know where to start? Whether you've only just taken the plunge into hi-res audio, or are wondering what other online stores have to offer, we've rounded up some of our favourite hi-res download websites.
In its simplest terms, hi-res audio refers to music files that have a higher sampling frequency and/or bit depth than CD (16-bit/44.1kHz), giving the potential for better sound quality – with the appropriate listening equipment, of course.
With major music labels such as Sony, Warner and Universal making their extensive music catalogues available to these hi-res download services, there's a huge variety of genres, file formats and download options available for fans of high-resolution audio.
We've focused on the biggest and most popular download sites that let you buy and download single tracks and full albums in various hi-res formats. Each has its own distinct flavour, bitrates and features to offer.
You may ultimately end up with a favourite go-to site, but even then, it's worth checking across the different sites for the same album or track, too, as some stores can offer better prices than others.
Of course, if you'd rather stream hi-res than purchase and download it, you can do so via Tidal, Amazon Music HD, Qobuz and now Apple Music.
HDtracks
• Hi-res sampling rates available: 24-bit/44.1kHz to 24-bit/192kHz
• Hi-res file formats available: FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, DSD 2.8 and 5.6MHz
HDtracks is one of the more established hi-res download stores, and it's never been stronger.
We've knocked HDtracks in the past for shunning more current or popular music in favour of jazz, classical and dad-rock, but glance at the home screen and Bestsellers tab now includes the likes of Billie Eilish, Halsey, Muse and more.
You can't really buy individual tracks and hi-res albums can be pricey, but the interface is fuss-free and easy to navigate, and you can sample 30 seconds of any album track before you buy.
Another plus is the format and bitrate selection on offer. Where other download sites often offer FLAC as default (and in some cases, only FLAC is available), HDtracks lets you choose between FLAC, WAV, AIFF and ALAC formats – and the sampling rates within each – before downloading. There's a selection of tunes in DSD and double DSD, which is great for audiophiles, and also new to the store is the addition of MQA files.
One issue is that HDtracks restricts purchases to certain countries, but that shouldn't prove too difficult to work around with one of the best VPNs.
Qobuz
• Hi-res sampling rates available: 24-bit/44.1kHz to 24-bit/192kHz
• Hi-res file formats available: FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC
The download store attached to the Qobuz hi-res streaming service gets full marks for music discovery and front-end intuitiveness.
Both the website and dedicated app are easy to navigate. Hi-res albums are clearly labelled, and you can search by genre or new releases, which can be sorted by sample rate. Hi-res albums in 5.1 surround sound are available too. While there will always be a strong Francophile, classical and jazz focus, the hi-res catalogue is much more popular-leaning than before across all genres – latest releases from Kae Tempest and YUNGBLUD sit alongside Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young.
It's worth noting that you choose the file format and sampling rate you want to download your hi-res album in after making your purchase, and you can now also buy individual tracks.
Pricing is competitive, and if you opt for the hybrid streaming-and-download Sublime plan (£15/$15 per month or £180/$180 per year) you can get up to 60 per cent discounts on hi-res albums.
Read our full Qobuz review
7digital
• Hi-res sampling rates available: 24-bit/44.1kHz to 24-bit/192kHz
• Hi-res file formats available: FLAC
With a strong catalogue of hi-res music from all genres and a website that makes buying music easy, 7digital is a good all-rounder.
A helpful search bar runs across the top of the interface to help you find exactly what you're after and the website is simple to navigate. You can easily spot hi-res recordings thanks to a yellow '24-bit FLAC' badge on an album or song's thumbnail, and there's also a dedicated hi-res section for some focused browsing. You can preview 30 seconds of a song before buying it, too.
One drawback is that it only offers hi-res downloads in the FLAC format. While it's possible to select 'MQA' and 'MQA Studio' as filter options, there are no tracks that turn up in those formats. Prices are affordable, though, and you can buy individual tracks as well as full albums – something that not every site offers.
View the 7digital downloads store
Native DSD
• Hi-res sampling rates available: DSD64 (2.8 MHz/64fs), DSD128 (5.6 MHz/128fs) DSD256 (11.2 MHz/256fs)
• Hi-res file formats available: DSD, DXD, WAV, FLAC
If you recently purchased a portable music player from the likes of Astell & Kern (plus an SD card to boost its storage) and you're primarily looking for classical music, this site may well become your new one-stop shop. As the name suggests, Sony's proprietary mid-90s – but now very much back in fashion – Direct Single Digital (DSD) format is the focus here, but there's a decent catalogue of WAV and FLAC files too.
Those who want tracks to play on iTunes may have to shop elsewhere, and don't expect to find Kanye West's latest work here – Native DSD's best-sellers include Beethoven, Vivaldi and lots of jazz – but search around and you can even download some complimentary 'Starter Pack' selections, in two and five channels, in FLAC and standard DSD64.
Not sure if your DAC can play quad DSD, aka DSD256? There's a helpful DAC checker – and if yours comes up short, you can even buy one from Native DSD's gear tab.
View the Native DSD downloads store
MORE:
Prefer streaming? See Hi-res music streaming services compared: which should you sign up for?
Confused? You need high-resolution audio: everything you know
...and how to play hi-res music on your iPhone
Further reading: What is DSD audio? How it works, where to download files, and more
