Hi Res Audio

Definition of Hi-Res AUDIO (Announced on June 12th 2014)

1. Basically, the term "Hi-Res" was defined by a group called JEITA in Japan back in 2014. They set the standards for what qualifies as high-resolution audio.
2. “Hi-Res” applicable products JAS defines to fulfil the following specifications on the recording, reproduction and signal transition process

   • (1) Microphone response performance: 40 kHz or above during recording
   • (2) Amplification performance: 40 kHz or above
   • (3) Speaker and headphone performance: 40 kHz or above

   • (1) Recording format: Capability of recording using the 96kHz/24bit format or above
   • (2) I/O (Interface): Input/output interface with a performance of 96kHz/24bit or above
   • (3) Decoding: File playability of 96kHz/24bit or above (FLAC and WAV both required)
     (In the case of self-recording equipment, FLAC or WAV file is required as a minimum condition)
   • (4) Digital Signal Processing: DSP processing of 96kHz/24bit or above
   • (5) D/A conversion: Digital to analog conversion processing of 96 kHz/24 bits or above

3. The listening evaluation process is to be organised.
   • (1) The listening evaluation process is added, and the final decision on the Hi-Res Audio product must be proven according to each company’s sound evaluation standard.

What does Hi-Res audio mean?

First off, let’s discuss the meaning of high-res audio. Regular MP3s ripped from CDs or downloaded online are typically compressed. While this may not affect casual listeners, trained ears can easily distinguish the difference.

Hi-Res audio doesn't have just one special way it sounds. It's when the music is high quality and sounds way better than normal. This means the music has more details and sounds clearer and crispier. So, even though the technical stuff might be confusing, you'll notice the difference when you listen to it!

There are different types of high-quality audio formats, such as FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WAV, and DSD. FLAC is the most popular one among people who care about sound quality. However, to be considered high-res audio, the bit depth and sampling rate must be better than what you get on a regular CD. So even if a file is in FLAC format, it won't be considered high-res if the sampling rate is lower than 44100 Hz.