HIGHRESAUDIO
HIGHRESAUDIO is a German private company that sells high-resolution 24-bit Studio Master music via subscription streaming and download e-commerce, serving audiophiles and HiFi enthusiasts globally through direct channels and OEM embedded partnerships with premium audio equipment manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersTiergarten, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What HIGHRESAUDIO does
HIGHRESAUDIO is a German private limited liability company (HIGHRESAUDIO UG, registered in Berlin) founded in 2010 by sound engineers, HiFi enthusiasts, and music experts to distribute high-resolution audio recordings as native 24-bit Studio Masters. The platform operates two product lines: HRA Streaming, a subscription music service offering access to over 950,000 handpicked albums in 24-bit quality, and HRA Download, an à-la-carte store with over 1,000,000 tracks delivered in 24-bit FLAC, DSD, DXD, MQA, and multichannel formats at starting prices of £4 per album. A bundled HRA Streaming + Downloads tier combines both with a 30% discount on album purchases, and a 7-day free trial serves as the primary freemium acquisition funnel.
The platform is built around proprietary R&D assets: P-MQS (Pure Master Quality Sound), an in-house streaming technology developed to deliver studio-quality audio through streaming, alongside a proprietary high-bit FLAC decoder that enables lossless transmission. Each new Studio Master is verified for authenticity by sound engineers using a documented testing procedure that confirms genuine native 24-bit sampling rates and excludes upsampled content from competing labels. The mobile app (HRA Streaming on iOS) supports wireless playback via AirPlay 2, DLNA/UPnP, and Bluetooth, and integrates Sonarworks True-Fi for headphone calibration; the VirtualVault digital locker extends purchased downloads to third-party playback software (Audirvana, JPLAY). Desktop downloads are managed through a cross-platform Download Manager (Windows, Apple, Linux).
Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring streaming subscriptions (6-month £69, 12-month £129, and the bundled 12-month £169 tier), one-time album downloads, and freemium-driven subscription conversion. Distribution combines direct e-commerce (highresaudio.com, iOS app), retailer/voucher partners, and OEM embedded integrations with premium audio hardware manufacturers including Burmester, NAD, Bluesound, AURALiC, and Cocktail Audio. Customers are primarily audiophiles and HiFi enthusiasts globally, supplemented by a Deutsche Telekom StreamOn zero-rated data channel in Germany. The company operates with 1-10 employees across Berlin and Hamburg, is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, and operates worldwide subject to territorial licensing restrictions.
HIGHRESAUDIO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HIGHRESAUDIO
- Legal name
- HIGHRESAUDIO UG
- Website
- https://highresaudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- HIGHRESAUDIO is a German private company that sells high-resolution 24-bit Studio Master music via subscription streaming and download e-commerce, serving audiophiles and HiFi enthusiasts globally through direct channels and OEM embedded partnerships with premium audio equipment manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HIGHRESAUDIO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- High-Resolution Digital Audio Streaming & Downloads
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Record Production and Distribution (512250)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- HiFi/Immersive & Premium Audio Streaming (MPAIACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hi‑Fi / Audiophile Components (DACs, Amps, Turntables, Streamers) (CRACANAI), On-Demand Music Streaming Platforms (MPAIADAA), Music & Audio Streaming Platforms (BPAMAJAC)
Keywords
Where HIGHRESAUDIO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tiergarten
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
HIGHRESAUDIO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Streaming Subscription: Recurring subscription revenue from HRA Streaming service with 6-month and 12-month plans. Subscribers get access to over 950,000 handpicked albums in 24-bit quality. Additional benefit of 30% discount on album downloads for Streaming + Downloads plan subscribers.
- Album Downloads: One-time purchase revenue from individual album downloads in various high-resolution formats (24-bit FLAC, DSD, DXD, MQA, Multichannel). Downloads start from £4.00 per album (or 9.00 GBP/10 USD as mentioned elsewhere). Loyalty points awarded with each purchase.
- Subscription Discount on Downloads: Streaming subscribers with the 'Download option' receive 30% permanent maximum discount on album purchases. This creates a hybrid revenue model where subscription drives incremental download revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | HRA Streaming 6-month subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | HRA Streaming 12-month subscription |
| Hybrid | Annual | HRA Streaming + Downloads 12-month subscription |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual album downloads |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | 7-day free trial |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
HIGHRESAUDIO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HIGHRESAUDIO operates a direct-to-consumer high-resolution audio platform that sells and streams native 24-bit Studio Master quality music. Customers can subscribe to the HRA Streaming service (6- or 12-month plans with a 7-day free trial) for access to over 950,000 curated albums in 24-bit quality, or purchase individual album downloads in lossless formats (24-bit FLAC, DSD, DXD, MQA, Multichannel) starting from £4 per album via the HRA Download store. The platform is targeted at audiophiles and HiFi enthusiasts and is supported by proprietary P-MQS streaming technology, a sound-engineer-led quality testing process, and OEM integrations with premium audio manufacturers.
Product overview
HIGHRESAUDIO operates a dual-service high-resolution music platform comprising HRA Streaming (subscription music service) and HRA Download (a la carte digital download store), unified by the company's focus on 24-bit Studio Master quality audio. The HRA Streaming + Downloads bundle combines both services with a discount incentive. Supporting infrastructure includes the Download Manager for desktop file management, the HRA Streaming App for mobile access, and VirtualVault for streaming purchased downloads via partner audio software.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- HRA Streaming exceeds CD quality by 7x and MP3 by 29x
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use HIGHRESAUDIO
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
HIGHRESAUDIO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature5 records
HIGHRESAUDIO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BurmestercoreEarly partnership integration of HIGHRESAUDIO service into Burmester audio devices, allowing convenient music download and streaming without external computer. Burmester is a premium German audio manufacturer, validating HIGHRESAUDIO's quality positioning.
- NADcoreNAD has integrated HIGHRESAUDIO download and streaming services into their audio devices, providing customers with direct access to high-resolution music.
- BluesoundcoreBluesound integrates HIGHRESAUDIO streaming service into their wireless high-res audio systems, enabling seamless access to the music catalog.
- AURALiCcoreAURALiC streaming devices provide integrated access to HIGHRESAUDIO download and streaming services.
- Cocktail AudiocoreCocktail Audio network players integrate HIGHRESAUDIO services for direct music access.
- AudirvanacoreVirtualVault feature allows HIGHRESAUDIO purchased downloads to be streamed via Audirvana software, creating a digital locker experience for purchased content.
- JPLAYcoreVirtualVault feature allows HIGHRESAUDIO purchased downloads to be streamed via JPLAY software, enabling high-quality playback of purchased content.
- Deutsche Telekom (StreamOn)minorStreamOn is a free mobile phone option from Deutsche Telekom allowing subscribers to use HIGHRESAUDIO streaming without consuming high-speed data volume. Available with Magenta Mobil M / Magenta Mobile M Young plans.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HIGHRESAUDIO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Qobuz: French hi-res music streaming and download platform offering FLAC and hi-res catalog to audiophiles globally. Operates the same subscription-plus-downloads model as HIGHRESAUDIO and is its closest direct competitor in the 24-bit streaming niche.
- Tidal: Squid-owned hi-fi music streaming service with lossless and hi-res tier (Tidal HiFi/Max) targeting audiophile users. Competes directly on studio-quality streaming and download-to-own functionality that overlaps with HIGHRESAUDIO's core offering.
- HDtracks: US-based pioneer in hi-res audio downloads for audiophiles, offering FLAC, DSD, and other studio master formats. Closely comparable as a download-store peer with overlapping target audience and editorial positioning.
- Napster: Long-running music streaming service offering subscription plans with high-quality audio formats. Operates in adjacent hi-fi streaming positioning with overlapping consumer audience of premium music listeners.
Others
- Audirvana: High-end audio playback software that integrates with HIGHRESAUDIO via the VirtualVault feature, allowing users to stream purchased downloads. Functions as both a complementary ecosystem partner and adjacent player in premium audio playback.
- Sonos (Sonos Radio HD): Premium multi-room wireless audio hardware ecosystem with Sonos Radio HD offering lossless streams. Relevant adjacent player competing for the same HiFi hardware-driven listener, and a potential future OEM integration partner for HIGHRESAUDIO.
Broad incumbents
- Deezer: Global music streaming service offering FLAC tier (Deezer Hifi) to mainstream users. A broader incumbent that competes for the same premium-audio consumer segment HIGHRESAUDIO targets.
- Apple Music Lossless: Apple Music's lossless and hi-res lossless tier bundled into the broader Apple Music subscription. Represents the mainstream incumbent that has entered the hi-res streaming space, applying downward pricing pressure on niche players like HIGHRESAUDIO.
- Amazon Music Unlimited HD: Amazon's lossless and 'Ultra HD' (24-bit) tier included with Amazon Music Unlimited. A broad incumbent now offering genuine hi-res at no premium, raising the competitive ceiling for premium audiophile services.
Emerging players
- 7digital: B2B-focused music and audio platform providing white-label streaming and download infrastructure. Comparable in the B2B/white-label audio distribution space, an area where HIGHRESAUDIO could expand through its OEM partnerships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HIGHRESAUDIO social profiles
Digital presenceHIGHRESAUDIO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HIGHRESAUDIO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HIGHRESAUDIO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HIGHRESAUDIO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HIGHRESAUDIO
What does HIGHRESAUDIO do?
HIGHRESAUDIO operates a direct-to-consumer high-resolution audio platform that sells and streams native 24-bit Studio Master quality music. Customers can subscribe to the HRA Streaming service (6- or 12-month plans with a 7-day free trial) for access to over 950,000 curated albums in 24-bit quality, or purchase individual album downloads in lossless formats (24-bit FLAC, DSD, DXD, MQA, Multichannel) starting from £4 per album via the HRA Download store. The platform is targeted at audiophiles and HiFi enthusiasts and is supported by proprietary P-MQS streaming technology, a sound-engineer-led quality testing process, and OEM integrations with premium audio manufacturers.
Is HIGHRESAUDIO a public or private company?
HIGHRESAUDIO is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HIGHRESAUDIO founded?
HIGHRESAUDIO was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is HIGHRESAUDIO based?
HIGHRESAUDIO is headquartered in Tiergarten, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does HIGHRESAUDIO make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Streaming Subscription is the primary driver. The others are album Downloads and subscription Discount on Downloads.
Who are HIGHRESAUDIO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Qobuz, Tidal, HDtracks and Napster. Others are Audirvana and Sonos (Sonos Radio HD). Broad incumbents are Deezer, Apple Music Lossless and Amazon Music Unlimited HD. 7digital is listed as an emerging player.
Does HIGHRESAUDIO have an API?
No public API is recorded for HIGHRESAUDIO.
What industry is HIGHRESAUDIO in?
HIGHRESAUDIO's product category is High-Resolution Digital Audio Streaming & Downloads. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIACAD, HiFi/Immersive & Premium Audio Streaming, with a secondary code of CRACANAI, Hi‑Fi / Audiophile Components (DACs, Amps, Turntables, Streamers). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 7372.