Naxos Introduces Lossless Classical Music Streaming With ClassicsOnline HD•LL
To the average music consumer, the loss in sound quality created by buffering is virtually undetectable – but to the classically trained ear, the difference detectable when streaming music can be shocking. Naxos has countered the problem by introducing ClassicsOnline HD•LL, a lossless streaming service for classical music worldwide.
The streaming service on ClassicsOnline HD•LL employs the use of adaptive bitrate technology – allowing subscribers to listen to classical music at the highest possible sound quality available on their home or mobile networks without loss of signal due to buffering.
Upwards of 60,000 albums are available to subscribers from over 500 leading independent classical record labels with options to download at 16- and 24-bit lossless formats, as well as in the MP3 format. ClassicsOnline HD•LL isn't stopping there – the service will expand it's offering daily moving towards the release of the Sony Classics catalogue in late Spring of 2015.
ClassicsOnline HD•LL clearly caters to Naxos' key demographic, classical music connoisseurs and the musicians themselves. Naxos released further details regarding the streaming services and how it would serve their audience in a press release regarding it's launch:
An advanced search engine crafted specifically for classical music provides users unprecedented search options, allowing them to discover new repertoire and recordings. Liner notes, libretti, and composer/artist information are provided for most recordings. After using the sophisticated search, the user can stream in lossless or high-definition sound quality ranging from 24-bit, 44.1 kHz all the way up to 24-bit, 192 kHz depending on the available network capacity, user devices, and equipment. 24-bit technology achieves a much broader dynamic range and increases the amount of detail the human ear can hear, especially during quieter passages of music.
Naxos founder Klaus Heymann stated, "Naxos has never been afraid of making classical music available online, starting with www.naxos.com in 1996 and www.naxosmusiclibrary.com in 2002, long before subscription streaming services became fashionable. The new platform is proof of our commitment to making a wide range of classical music available in state-of-the-art sound with a sophisticated search capability utilizing the vast data base of our various classical music services.”
Key features of ClassicsOnline HD•LL include:
* Adaptive bitrate streaming in lossless and high-definition
* Advanced search engine designed specifically for classical music
* Liner notes, libretti and composer/artist information available
* A wide range of repertoire from over 500 classical record labels
* Genre and artist radio programming
* Easy playlist creation
* Off-Line listening on mobile devices
Yes, sound-quality reduction is one of the dirty secrets of streaming. This sort of solution should be available for all genres of music, although classical (and other acoustic music with a large dynamic range) benefit the most.
It’s not the buffering, it’s the compression.