DTS Play-Fi now Supports Amazon Music HD
Amazon Music HD is a new tier of premium quality music with more than 50 million songs in High Definition (HD) and millions of songs in Ultra High Definition (Ultra HD), the highest quality streaming audio available. At just $12.99/month for Prime members or $14.99/month for Amazon customers, Amazon Music HD makes high quality, lossless audio accessible to all music fans. Existing Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers (Individual or Family Plan) can upgrade to Amazon Music HD for an additional $5/month.
Amazon Music HD offers lossless audio in two quality ranges: HD and Ultra HD.
HD tracks are 16-bit audio, with a minimum sample rate of 44.1 kHz (16/44.1 is also referred to as CD-quality), and an average bitrate of 850 kbps. Ultra HD tracks have a bit depth of 24 bits, with sample rates ranging from 44.1 kHz up to 192 kHz, and an average bitrate of 3730 kbps.
In comparison, most standard streaming services currently offer Standard Definition (SD) with a bitrate up to 320 kbps. These audio files use lossy compression, where details of the original audio are removed in order to reduce the file size. By contrast, Amazon Music HD preserves the original recording information to deliver the highest quality sound available, more than 2x the bitrate in HD and more than 10x the bitrate at the highest Ultra HD bitrate. Amazon Music HD will always play the highest quality content available, based on network, device capability and your selected settings.
With DTS Play-Fi, you can stream Ultra HD content up to 24 bit / 192 kHz on all your favorite DTS Play-Fi audio products that support Critical Listening mode. Even without Critical Listening mode, you can enjoy multiroom audio in HD (lossless) quality on every DTS Play-Fi product across all brands. Save Playlists and Stations to Presets for quick and easy playback and management using DTS Play-Fi. Getting the best in audio quality has never been so easy.
Comments
Eric Gudmundson 11-01-19
Thank you!!!!
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G MURGAN 01-10-20
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Tom Meseck 08-14-22
search function on amazon music just stopped….. critical function… how to enable on google pixel 4 phone and audiolab 6000n? Been great up lit now
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Matthew Price 11-05-19
Is this update related to version 5.2 of the app that will fix the media servers issues?
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DTS Play-Fi 11-05-19
Hey Matthew,
This is actually available now, with no need to update the app, so as of 5.1 and onward. 5.2 is still in the works, and we’ll have more to say on that and its new features and fixes in the next few weeks.
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Matthew Price 11-05-19
Thanks for the clarification and quick reply Justin. Glad to hear 5.2 is nearing release.
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Cary 11-16-19
How do you check the bitrate/stream quality of the music. The now playing screen on my amazon music on play fi, only shows track length & time elapsed at the bottom, on regular or critical listening. On the actual amazon music app it shows HD or Ultra HD & bitrate info. Is there something in the play fi setting that I need to change. I am on android streaming to a quad vena play.
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Francesco 11-19-19
I am having exactly the same problem starting last Friday.
I used to be able to read the track bitrate and stream quality.
Now it does not show anything in the Play-Fi app when streaming amazon music. Please Help.
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Spark 11-19-19
I also have the same problem,there is no HD audio stream,please fix the problem as soon as possible.
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DTS Play-Fi 11-21-19
Hey Cary, Francesco, and Spark,
Sorry for the trouble. We were sorting out a few little issues after the launch. It should be up and running again, and you’ll be able to see the quality of the tracks in the Now Playing page when in Critical Listening mode.
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Cary 11-22-19
Great. Working fine now. Waiting for the transfer to device to become active. Would that be in the next update?
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Phil 11-27-19
Yes when will this be available?
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sonsan 11-23-22
I use Android 12 in combination with the Play-Fy app and I don’t see any bitrate and such. How can I see this in the app?
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VV 11-23-19
I have a paradigm PW Link, with amazon music HD, in critical listening mode and 96khz source material sampling rates I still only get 48KHz resampled bit-stream on the optical out of the paradigm. Wondering why I cannot get hi-res audio on the optical out.
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VV 11-26-19
Also, even when sending a 44.1KHz FLAC stream, the PW Link outputs at 48KHz, so resampling takes place somewhere. Wondering if the ML Unison which is a similar device does the same. I was hoping at least for CD quality to get bit perfect transmission. BTW ARC is turned off for the device.
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DTS Play-Fi 11-26-19
Hey VV,
In looking at the PW Link we have on site, it would seem their latest MCU software for the unit outputs everything at 48 KHz from our source. A previous MCU software payload would play in either 44.1 or 48, depending on what the direct conversion was.
I don’t know why they do this, or if there’s a maximum output of the unit, but you may want to ask them. In our software, I can confirm that we are sending the correct audio data all the way through to their board, but I also double-checked using partner products from Arcam and AudioLab (both with SPDIF), and they showed the correct sample rates all the way through, all of our hardware and software the same.
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VV 01-02-20
Justin, thanks for checking, I will follow up with them.
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Matthew Price 11-24-19
Hi Justin, just wondering if there is any update on the release schedule for 5.2, really wanting to get the media server capability back?
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Dietmar Kremmrl 11-27-19
Amazon Music Unlimited is nice but is completely the wrong priority. It is a pitty and hard to understand why it is with play-fi not possible to queue music as the amazon app is able to do so. When having a party it is a desaster to select each track manually and not beiing able to create a queue list. In general I like play-fi but I consider to change the system due to this deficiency. Please fix this issue soon!
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hpp8140 12-29-19
I agree, but you can create a playlist in the Browser or Amazon Music app before hand.
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Dietmar 01-02-20
Yes, I know. But this doesn’t solve the issue. How do I know in advance what the guests want to hear? It is hard to understand why this essential feature isn’t implemented so far. With e. g. the Sonos system you have no worries at all ... When the amazon app can do so, why can’t there be a proper implementation of the app within play-fi?
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audi242 07-28-20
Agreed !
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Jh 10-27-20
Yes at the very least you should be able to shuffle your playlist. Your can’t even do that in the Play-Fi app with amazon music.
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Justin dabreu 11-28-19
I’m with amazon HD’s but using Play-Fi app the jhdplus music not showing, if I go to amazon app it shows hd music
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Mike Comrie 12-04-19
Any timeline for Amazon music in Canada? (the ‘unlimited’ version, we Canadians are still waiting for HD). Thanks
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Bryan Dearlove 01-01-20
Any option of amazon music for Canada would be great. Doesnt work correctly on my PW-600 and doesn’t work at all through thePlay-Fi app on any device because I’m in Canada.
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Randy Donovan 07-29-20
I am getting no where trying to find critical listening mode? What to do?
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DTS Play-Fi 07-30-20
Hey Randy,
You’ll find more info on Critical Listening mode here:
https://play-fi.com/faq/entry/critical-listening-mode
Suffice to say, it’s enabled when you’re building a brand new zone, and then it will be the default for the next time you connect as well.
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Paul McBride 12-12-19
I recently switched from Tidal to Amazon Music in part to avoid the MQA support issue when using the Critical Listening mode. I never had any issues with Tidal (recognizing that Play-fi can’t further unfold the File), but when I use Critical Listening with my Paradigm PW speakers, tracks played through Amazon Music are severely distorted (completely unlistenable). When the same track is played normally with Play-fi, there’s no problem. I realize that Amazon’s deployment of Ultra HD as part of its service is still new - Is this a known issue or is my experience an anomaly? If I’m not alone, is the trouble on the Play-if side or is there an update that Paradigm needs to make?
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DTS Play-Fi 12-12-19
Hey Paul,
I believe you just need to update the Paradigm units with the Anthem Room Correction Genesis app:
https://www.anthemarc.com/arc-genesis/index.php
When we originally worked with Paradigm, we didn’t have a Critical Listening Mode, and our first iteration of it, didn’t go as high as it does now, but they’ve since put out updates to correct that. This will also update and MartinLogan products that may experience the same issue.
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Ian Rodriguez 01-19-20
I pretty much bought an audiolab 6000n with play-fi - so I could use the Amazon Ultra HD music service.
In critical listening mode it works fine up yo 24/44.1 and occasionally up to 24/88-96 but always falls over at 24/192.
I am using a high spec Huawei p20 pro phone to tun the play-fi android app - that is almost doing nothing else -
and is optimized before play.
I have a Cubox-3i Debian distro (volumio) dedicated audio only mini PC with BubbleUpnp dnla + a synology NAS/ Bubble server into an asynchronously clocked high res dac running over Ethernet and my hi-res local files up 192 work fine on that.
However when I am streaming over DNLA using the server and local files through the Audiolab / play-fi it ALSO falls over past 88.
So it has to be the audiolab/play-fi that is the cause of the issue….
Please can you let me have a workaround? ? Update on when this will be addressed?
The ability to change settings on the audiolab is very limited, and the issue is clearly due to the requirement for hi-res to be channeled through the phone.
many thanks!
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Ian Rodriguez 01-19-20
Audiolab also falls over past 24/88 in critical listening mode, when streaming locals files from the NAS server through the Play-Fi app.
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OMAR 01-20-20
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DTS Play-Fi 01-21-20
Hey Ian,
We’re looking at ways to optimize FLAC distribution for the upper tier of Hi Res files while still maintaining bit accuracy. Right now, what will help in the specific case of this level of Hi Res is connecting the 6000N via Ethernet.
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Ian Rodriguez 01-25-20
Hi Justin.
It is connected via ethernet. When i restart the phone, optimize it, and shut of the cellular connection it plays 24/88 fine but falls over at 24/192. Or if I actually do anything else on the phone.
The 5 year old cubox/volumio mini pc is also connected over ethernet and plays them fine.
My windows 10 computer is playing 24/192 flac and 1/2822 dsd over ethernet, all served by my NAS.
The stumbling block here is clearly the phone.
Why are you routing hi res audio files through a phone app?
There has to be a better solution.
NAS Server? more UPNP compatibility?
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Ian Rodriguez 01-25-20
Or .... and I know I’m going out on a limb here - how about having the device that I paid for, stream the music directly from the source without involving the phone directly - and just using the play-fi app as the control app?
You know like my 30 buck Chromecast Audio can with hi-res files, and google home?
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Ian Rodriguez 01-26-20
I may have found the workaround.
Assuming you have high end android phone and the Audiolab connected via Ethernet
Turn off everything on the phone bar wi fi.
Everything - Bluetooth, notifications - mobile date, the cellular signal and just have the play-fi app open. If you have an optimize function native to the phone. Optimize it. (closes running apps and so on)
Turn off wifi on the phone and turn on again.
Ideally have a playlist already set up on a different device / dedicated directory on the NAS.
The playlist needs to be 24/192 alternating with 24/88, and 24/44.
Set the device to play the play list or directory in critical listening mode. Turn the phone screen off.
The phone should now be capable of handling the high res with very little bit loss..
I know this all sounds like a great deal of effort but we are talking hi-fi - it’s par for the course.
Listening to hi-res files on the phone itself would be the equivalent of putting a race car engine with high octane fuel into a ride on lawn mower. Pointless
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Craig G 02-05-20
If you really want a dedicated device, you could probably buy an Android tablet along with a hardwired Ethernet adapter for it (some planning would be needed to be sure the Ethernet adapter is compatible with the tablet), and run the Play-Fi app from there (either have your music on the tablet or on the NAS). If you are an iOS inclined person, you could likely do the same with an iPad or iPod Touch and a lightning Ethernet adapter.
While that could get a little expensive, it would save you from having to reconfigure your phone every time you want to listen to hi-res audio, and everything could potentially go over a hardwired connection.
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Carlos G Motta 11-15-20
I totally agree with you. I have some issues at 24/192 and 24/96 too. About settings, that’s absolutely primitive. No options to create playlists and very poor browsing options. Right now the only relaxed way to listen music is via Spotify Connect. (Sadly, don’t seems Spoti is in the page of improve to Hi Res) and for that, I don’t need a streamer pr application. I hope those are things that Audiolab and Play-fi will improve soon, but the time is now….
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Max Watson 01-28-20
I can’t even see Amazon HD music in the services never mind actually play it. I am using the very latest version. Mind you, I’m in France so maybe that’s why?
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Ian Rodriguez 01-28-20
If and when Amazon Music appears as a service….
You’d have to be subscribed to Amazon Prime as a minimum for which you get the limited Amazon Prime music ‘free’ ie part of the Prime package.
Then subscribe to get the HD / Ultra HD level of the Amazon Music Unlimited service .
Or you can subscribe without Prime and, get charged a bit extra,
Prime is £7.99 a month gbp. Music unlimited is £7.99, or HD music £12.99
annual discounts and free trial offers are available.
non prime is £2 extra a month.
HD music is 16/44 flac/cd quality and Ultra HD flac 24/44 ;24/88 ;24/96 ; 24/192
https://www.t3.com/news/amazon-music-hd-review
It is way way way better than Tidal - Not sure about Qobuz but Amazon web Server run the internet pretty much so their steaming capacity will be far better than anyone else.
All in all it’s a massive bargain. I’m listening to stuff at 24 bit that is blowing me away. The 16/44 tracks are on a par with EAC ripped CDs or my CD player (The CD player is a bit better to be fair - but that because they are going though a Linn dac) but my collection of hi res on the NAS is piece meal .
Everything else is going though a hi res dac but the audiolab played Amazon HD tracks are a revelation even compared to the Hi-res collection on the NAS.
Punchier much crisper bass, the sound stage is a lot more distinct, & the detail in the music is just amazing.
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Choufane 01-31-20
Hello
my problem is serious. I have two onkyo speakers vc px30 . Since the installation and the update 5.2 I cannot have access to Alexa permanently. I have restarted and reinstalled several times but it is still the same problem. I have Alexa a few minutes after starting and then I no longer have access to Alexa. other services like radio and Spotify are working properly. I looked for the old 5.1 update but I can’t find it. can you send me a 5.1 update or newer to see if it can fix this problem.
Thank you
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Phil Dickinson 02-03-20
Hi Justin,
What bit rates can we get using Alexa Cast now? I have an Arcam Rplay and subscribe to Amazon HD?
Regards,
Phil.
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Andy 04-06-20
The Arcam rPlay is limited to 16/48 on its digital output, so that is all you could ever pass on digitally via the rPlay regardless of source. It appears to down-sample 24/96, 24/192 to 16/48.
Is there a list of Play-Fi units that can send 24/192 via digital out?
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Predrag Jeremic 04-24-20
Hi there, can you actually use Alexa cast to play on any DTS PlayFi device or…? Thanks!
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DTS Play-Fi 04-24-20
Specifically, you can Alexa Cast to Play-Fi products that support our Works with Alexa integration.
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Phil 05-26-20
Alexa cast appears to be limited to cd quality. Control of your play-fi device is a limited as well (in comparison to say using the Amazon app with headphones).
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Lardog54 06-01-20
With version 6 of android app, what is purpose of new amazon streaming quality setting..As in critical listening mode, you automatically get hd/ultra hd in ver 5.2, if that your subscription level. Does this affect regular listening quality somehow?
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EL415 08-11-20
Hi,
I have Amazon Music HD playing thru a MartinLogan Unison using the iOS Play-Fi App. When playing “Ultra HD” tracks via the Play-Fi app, the app says it’s at 16bits/44.1kHZ. But when playing the same track via the native Amazon Music App, the App says the track is available at 24bit/192kHZ.
Is it the limitation of iOS or the MartinLogan Unison, or is it a setting issue? What would you recommend if I want to play Ultra HD tracks without downsampling with Play-Fi?
Please advise.
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DTS Play-Fi 08-11-20
Hello,
There is a Settings option in the Amazon Music view of our app. Simply open our app, connect to the Unison if it doesn’t do so automatically, then select Amazon Music, and you’ll get the list of option, of which you’ll find Settings at the bottom. From there, you can change your maximum supported streaming type, and change it to Ultra HD.
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GPhoton 08-20-20
Is there a method to allow launching amazon music hd in critical listening mode with alexa? I can use alexa to start a regular quality stream and I can use the app to start a critical listening session with Amazon Music HD. Is there a way to have alexa start a critical listening session by vice command? Thank you. It sounds wonderful.
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sonsan 11-22-22
I use an Arcam rPlay with which I play Amazon Music (Ultra)HD with Play-Fi app, version 8.1.0.6407.
During playback I do not see the bitrate/stream quality of the music in the app. I saw that at Qobuz.
In the playback screen, I only see the track name and remaining time.
How can I see the sound quality in the app?
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