Foo Fighters to work with Sony to promote hi-res audio

The deal will see the band become ambassadors for better-than-CD-quality audio and the idea of listening to your music "as the artist intended".

And it's this promise - with its similarity to the taglines that did the rounds with the launch of HD video and Blu-ray - that Sony says is delivered by hi-res audio.

And Dave Grohl seems convinced, declaring "I can hear the difference", in a video released to promote the partnership (see below).

A statement from the Foo Fighters adds: "Preserving the human element in the recording of music has been a huge part of Foo Fighters' mission and our commitment to High Resolution Audio is a major part of this.

"We've always wanted the flesh and blood and emotion of our songs to get through to every listener and Hi-Res Audio is the best way for our fans to hear the music as we want them to hear it: in its purest quality and truest form."

MORE: High-res audio - the science behind the numbers

Tomoaki Sato, project leader and senior electrical engineer at Sony, says that it's by combining hi-res audio and the necessary hardware "to reproduce exactly what the artist wants... that we can pursue our goal of bringing the listener as close as possible to the artist."

There remains some confusion between CD-quality audio, 16bit/44.1kHz files, and hi-res audio, which typically comes in the form of 24bit/96kHz or 24/192 files, however - something that Sony will have to continue to tackle.

Gavin Lursson, mastering engineer, says: "96kHz is kind of the current day standard of good Hi-Res. You start at that rate to really capture what is on an analogue signal. The audience might not understand it but they'll feel it."

Sony's flagship smartphones, such as the Xperia Z3, support hi-res audio, as well as its latest Walkmans, including the NWZ-A15, and hi-fi products such as the HAP-Z1ES streamer.

Expect to see various marketing initiatives around hi-res audio from the Foo Fighters and Sony in the near future, as Sony continues to bang the drum for upgrading your audio files.

MORE: High-resolution audio - everything you need to know

Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).

Latest in Streaming & Entertainment
Lucknow Super Giants' Marcus Stoinis plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match ahead of Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 Indian Premier League
DC vs LSG live stream: how to watch IPL cricket online, Delhi win toss and bowl first
Kolkata Knight Riders' Rinku Singh plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 9, 2023. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP) (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)
IPL live stream 2025: how to watch Indian Premier League cricket online from anywhere, teams, schedule
Qobuz
Qobuz reveals average payout per stream – and claims it is higher than rivals
George Benson Give Me the Night album cover
This Quincy Jones-produced disco tune has become my go-to test track – and taught me a valuable lesson about hi-fi, too
A woman flicking through stacks of vinyl records in a Rough Trade shop.
Vinyl records and music streaming both hit landmark highs – but the one growing faster in revenue may surprise you
Google TV Streamer video streamer
Google TV Streamer
Latest in News
iFi Valkyrie in gold with a laptop
iFi's flagship iDSD Valkyrie DAC/amp teases cutting-edge tech for a sound that's worthy of Valhalla
Sony Bravia Projector 8 home cinema projector
Terrible news: Sony is about to stop selling projectors in Europe, including the UK
Audiolab 6000A MkII amplifier in silver
Audiolab upgrades its five-star 6000A amplifier with a new DAC chip, enhanced circuitry and HDMI ARC
Qobuz
Qobuz reveals average payout per stream – and claims it is higher than rivals
Sonos Beam Gen 2
Quick! This five-star Sonos Dolby Atmos soundbar has dropped close to its lowest price
The Google Pixel 9a being held horizontally at waist-height so only the back is visible.
The Google Pixel 9a launches at £100 less than the iPhone 16e with a better screen