For those seeking HD audio today, the amount of source material can be a determining factor. In my search for HD audio, I've found more current blu-ray audio releases than any other format. Check out the selection at Elusive Disc and Amazon. https://elusivedisc.com/music/digital/blu-ray-audio/
Recent super deluxe releases from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, and others are providing HD music content. And many are offering lossless FLAC downloads as well. Those downloads can be played on blu-ray players via the USB port or burned to disks on DVDs and Blu-rays.
When it comes to high-fidelity audio formats, Blu-ray Audio, SACD (Super Audio CD), and XRCD (Extended Resolution Compact Disc) each have their own characteristics and advantages. Here's a breakdown to compare them:
1. Blu-ray Audio
Audio Quality: Blu-ray Audio can offer very high audio quality, as it supports up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution. This is significantly higher than standard CDs (16-bit/44.1kHz). Blu-ray discs are capable of lossless formats like Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation).
Capacity: Blu-ray discs have a much higher data capacity compared to CDs and SACDs. A standard Blu-ray disc can hold 25GB or more, which allows for high-resolution audio tracks along with additional content (like music videos or album artwork).
Surround Sound: Blu-ray Audio supports multi-channel audio formats, meaning it can handle 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, providing an immersive experience for home theater enthusiasts.
Compatibility: You'll need a Blu-ray player or a compatible device that supports Blu-ray Audio discs. However, not all Blu-ray players are equipped to output the highest-quality audio formats.
Popularity: While the audio quality is top-notch, Blu-ray Audio discs haven't seen as much widespread adoption as other formats like SACD or vinyl, partly due to the cost and the fact that most people use Blu-ray for video, not audio.
2. SACD (Super Audio CD)
Audio Quality: SACD uses DSD (Direct Stream Digital) encoding, which is a very high-quality format known for its natural, analog-like sound. SACDs can offer up to 5.1 surround sound in high resolution (up to 24-bit/176.4kHz or DSD64).
Capacity: SACDs are typically single-layer discs (or hybrid with both SACD and CD layers). The disc capacity for SACD is about 4.7GB, which allows for high-quality stereo and surround tracks.
Surround Sound: SACD supports multi-channel audio (typically 5.1 surround), and the DSD format is often praised for its transparency and dynamic range in stereo and multi-channel formats.
Compatibility: SACDs require a specialized SACD player to fully appreciate the format. Many standard CD players won't be able to read SACD discs, although hybrid SACDs will include a CD layer that can be played on regular players.
Popularity: SACD was developed as a premium audio format by Sony and Philips, and it has a dedicated following among audiophiles. However, it has not seen widespread mainstream adoption. Many of the best SACDs are classical, jazz, and high-end audiophile releases.
3. XRCD (Extended Resolution Compact Disc)
Audio Quality: XRCD is a mastering process, not a physical format. It's designed to extract the best possible sound quality from standard CDs. The technique involves careful mastering using higher-quality analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) to improve the clarity and detail of the final product. The resulting CDs are still standard 16-bit/44.1kHz in terms of the audio data format.
Capacity: XRCD discs are regular CDs in terms of storage capacity (about 700MB), but the enhanced mastering results in a more detailed sound than a standard CD.
Surround Sound: XRCD is a stereo-only format. It does not support multi-channel audio or surround sound.
Compatibility: XRCDs are playable on any standard CD player, as they follow the same physical format as regular CDs.
Popularity: XRCD is less well-known than SACD or Blu-ray Audio but is respected among audiophiles for its sound quality improvements over standard CDs. It’s often used for classical, jazz, and other high-fidelity releases.
Which is Best for You?
Blu-ray Audio is the top choice if you're looking for the best in terms of audio resolution and surround sound, but it requires specific hardware and hasn't been widely adopted for audio-only purposes.
SACD is ideal for audiophiles who want the highest quality in terms of stereo and surround sound, particularly in DSD format, but you'll need an SACD player.
XRCD offers an improvement over regular CDs in terms of mastering quality, but it’s still limited to standard CD quality and doesn't support surround sound.
If you're not invested in a home theater system and want excellent stereo sound, SACD or XRCD might be your best options. However, if you're after something that supports both high-quality audio and a variety of formats, Blu-ray Audio could be the way to go—just be prepared for the higher cost and the specialized equipment needed.
Blu Ray 4K UHD players are my new standard for playing audio. The below 3 models from LG, Samsung, and Sony offer UHD 4K video upscaling, 24-bit/192kHz resolution audio DAC, USB input, and Wi-Fi streaming from Netflix, Pandora, and YouTube. They also offer superior cable connections via HDMI ports. They are readily available on Amazon and eBay. Put your library of FLAC audio and HD video on a 256GB USB drive, and you can listen and watch your entertainment library for days.
You can also find older similar models that have the same features. Samsung had the K8500. LG had the UBK8 series and UBK9 series. In side by side listening tests, I found the LG blu ray players had better sound, being more open and dynamic, with fuller bass. The Samsung sounded bright, bass was well defined, but thinner sounding.
In terms of audio technology, the 4K UHD blu ray player will have an updated DAC, able to handle all of today's music formats. Some may look for older CD or blu ray players players, but these are certified for UHD PCM audio files up to 24-bit and 192 khz resolution. The Sony also supports SACD audio CDs.
Managing a music library is getting more challenging with physical CDs taking up more and more room. So storing & burning FLAC files on DVDs, Blu Ray discs, or a file server, is more efficient. Look at FLAC files for preserving your music collection and you have a lossless music collection! Although I am reluctant on parting with my precious physical CDs like a lot of folks. What to do?
Below are some 4K UHD Blu Ray players that I have and can recommend: Enjoy.
LG UBK90 Streaming 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player with Dolby Vision
Ultra
HD Premium, Multi-HDR, 4K Blu-Ray Disc Playback, 3D Blu-Ray/ DVD
Playback, 4K Streaming Content, Built-in dual band WiFi, USB media input
Get the best out of your 4K TV
Since
I upgraded to my LG OLED 4K TV, everything I watch looks better. But I
geek out the most over shows and movies in true 4K. They just seem to
pop off the screen. And the LG UBK90 4K Blu-ray player will play Ultra
HD Blu-ray discs with Dolby Vision — the absolute best-quality video
source available today.
Ready for the best HDR formats
Ultra
HD Blu-ray discs with HDR (High Dynamic Range) allow compatible TVs to
display extremely bright and dark black picture content together within
the same image. HDR content makes for serious eye candy on my new OLED
TV — it stands out even among other, stellar-looking 4K videos.
And
this player supports the required HDR 10 format, and the more
sophisticated Dolby Vision format. Dolby Vision is one of the reasons I
ended up going with the LG OLED. Dolby's dynamic system can adjust
brightness and color levels on a scene-by-scene basis.
Netflix
has a bunch of shows in Dolby Vision, and some of them look so realistic
and vibrant that it actually adds to the storytelling. Take the brutal
Western show Godless: the beautiful yet nightmarish landscape is
practically one of the characters. Watching sunlight peek over a
mountain and spill over the dusty terrain with true-to-life shading is
truly a sight to see.
Top movie sound formats and flexible connections
This
player has built-in support for the highest-quality surround sound
formats, like Dolby® TrueHD and DTS Master Audio™. It also plays Dolby
Atmos®-encoded discs. You simply set the HDMI audio output to
"bitstream" when connected to an Atmos-capable receiver.
There
are two HDMI outputs: one for sending audio to your home theater
receiver and one for video directly to your TV. That means you can still
play sound through receivers that don't have a free HDMI input that's
HDCP 2.2 compatible. You can also use an optical digital connection to
get surround sound from the player to your receiver.
Dual-band Wi-Fi means smooth 4K video streaming
Along
with playing discs, you can use the UBK90 to stream Netflix® and
YouTube. These are the two video services that offer the most 4K
content available right now. And this player's dual-band Wi-Fi gives you
the strong connection needed for streaming 4K. (We recommend having an
internet speed of 20Mbps or faster for 4K streaming.)
Product highlights:
Plays Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, 3D and standard Blu-ray discs, DVDs, CDs and rewriteable discs full 4K resolution video for use with Ultra HD TVs 4K video upscaling for standard Blu-ray and DVDs HDR (High Dynamic Range) for extended picture contrast and brightness on compatible TVs supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision Dolby Vision adjusts brightness dynamically for premium shading and depth supports lower resolutions when used with non-4K TVs plays Region A Blu-ray discs and Region 1 DVDs
Wireless Features and Technical Specs:
-Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi for smooth wireless streaming from Netflix and other video streaming apps -HEVC for watching streamed 4K content from Netflix (requires internet speed of at least 20Mbps) -Selectable video resolution up to 3840 x 2160 pixels -Built-in audio decoding for Dolby® Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS®, and DTS-HD Master Audio -Can pass Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks when HDMI output is set to "bitstream" for decoding by a compatible receiver
-Plays high-resolution digital music files via USB storage device; PCM files up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution
-BD-Live and BonusView support for added bonus features with compatible discs (requires external USB storage device)
Connections and General Info:
Front-panel USB port to play music, movies, and images from external hard drives, thumb drives, or Android phones 2 HDMI outputs for separating audio and video signals
HDMI 1 output is HDMI 2.0a (connected 4K TV and/or receiver must have
an HDCP 2.2-compatible HDMI input, and must have HDMI 2.0a to support
HDR) HDMI 2 input does not output video signal (audio only) optical digital audio output dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Ethernet port for downloading firmware updates remote control 16-15/16"W x 1-13/16"H x 9-3/8"D warranty: 1 year
4K
Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc playback provides the ultimate in audio/video
quality with a stunning 4K picture and state-of-the-art audio. Pop in a
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc and prepare to be transported 4K streaming
content - this internet-ready LG device is capable of delivering an
uncompromising Ultra HD 4K streaming experience. (Additional
subscriptions services may be required) High pressure audio playback - this UHD Blu-ray DVD player Supports high Resolution audio HDR
playback - this LG Blu-ray Disc player is HDR compatible with Dolby
Vision and HDR10. (HDR/Dolby Vision TV sold separately and required for
Dolby Vision playback) Blu-ray & DVD backward compatible - this
LG UHD Blu-ray Disc player is backward compatible supporting both of
these popular legacy standards.
Samsung UBD-M8500 4K Blu Ray Player
If your new 4K TV just arrived, you're probably chomping at the bit to see its best picture. Place an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc into the Samsung UBD-M500 4K Blu-ray player's tray, and savor your movies in true 4K resolution — a staggering 3840 x 2160 pixels. This player delivers an incredibly sharp, realistic picture, even when you sit up close.
The Samsung UBD-M8500 features a sturdy disc drive to prevent vibration. Beautiful, lifelike picture contrast
I think High Dynamic Range (HDR) is the most exciting aspect of Ultra HD Blu-ray. It allows compatible TVs to display extremely bright and dark black picture content together within the same image. (Think tiny stars peeking through the pitch-black night sky.)
This also has Hollywood buzzing. It's given directors a brilliant visual palette to play with — subtle, delicate lighting, sparks of brightness, and true-to-life shading and shadows. Samsung gives you more 4K viewing options — yep, including Netflix®
Have you ever seen the vibrant Colombian landscapes of Narcos in 4K? It is really something else. And the deeper shading and detail make scenes in small cafés feel even more claustrophobic.
When you connect this player to your home network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, you get several 4K streaming options including Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and M-Go. Plus, you can watch 4K video clips on YouTube. Don't throw out your old discs!
You can still enjoy all your old standard Blu-rays and DVDs on this player. Samsung made 4K upconversion a top priority for the UBD-M8500. Their UHD Upscaling automatically upconverts any signal to 4K resolution. All of your movies and shows will look better than ever. QLED TV
Find out how great the picture is on your new QLED TV (sold separately) with the Samsung UBD-M8500
Impressive sound and music options
Along with the state-of-the-art picture, your movies will sound amazing too. The Samsung UBD-M8500 has built-in support for the highest-quality surround sound formats, like Dolby® TrueHD and DTS Master Audio™. It also plays Dolby Atmos®-encoded discs (just set the HDMI audio output to "bitstream" when connected to an Atmos-capable receiver).
This Ultra HD player's no slouch when it comes to music, either. You can play music from a CD or stream tunes from services like Pandora® or Spotify®. You can even wirelessly connect to a compatible networked PC via DLNA technology and play songs from your computer. Samsung's smart hub is smarter than most
This player's brain is a super-speedy eight-core processor — the same found in Samsung's latest high-end TVs, Galaxy phones, and tablets. It lets you do serious multitasking. You can browse the web without having to interrupt your movie, or use one app while downloading another. Plus Samsung's on-board selection of apps is pretty stacked — streaming video, sports leagues, music, games, you name it. Project images to your screen
While newer phones are getting harder to cram into pockets, sometimes the screens still aren't large enough for certain tasks. Maybe you want to share a video or picture with a group of people. Wirelessly "push" the display to your TV's big screen through the Samsung UBD-M8500. Allshare™, Samsung's take on Miracast™ technology, mirrors the screen of your compatible mobile device, tablet, or computer screen for everyone to see. READ LESS
Product highlights:
Plays Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, standard Blu-ray discs, DVDs, CDs and rewriteable discs (no 3D playback) full 4K resolution video for use with Ultra HD TVs 4K video upscaling for standard Blu-ray and DVDs supports lower resolutions when used with non-4K TVs HDR (High Dynamic Range)-ready for extended picture contrast and brightness on compatible TVs supports HDR10 format plays high-resolution digital music files via USB storage device; PCM files up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution this player accepts Region A Blu-ray discs and Region 1 DVDs
Wireless Features:
Dual-band Wi-Fi for streaming video and music (subscriptions required for some services) streaming video services: Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu, and more streaming music services: Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn HEVC for watching streamed 4K content from sources like Netflix, Amazon Instant, or YouTube (requires Internet speed of at least 20Mbps) Samsung's Smart Hub lets you scroll through apps and menu while you watch a disc AllShare lets you stream content and mirror screens from compatible Samsung smartphones and tablets Multiroom Link for syncing wirelessly with Samsung Shape wireless speakers on-board web browser
Technical Specs and General Info:
Selectable video resolution up to 3840 x 2160 pixels built-in audio decoding for Dolby® Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS®, and DTS-HD Master Audio can pass Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks when HDMI output is set to "bitstream" plays AAC, AIFF, ALAC, , FLAC, MP3, WMA, and WAV audio file formats front-panel USB port for use with external storage devices 1 HDMI output HDMI 2.0a (connected 4K TV and/or receiver must have an HDCP 2.2-compatible HDMI input, and must have HDMI 2.0a to support HDR) Anynet+ simplifies control of compatible Samsung components via "MAIN" HDMI connection (HDMI-CEC) optical digital audio output remote control Ethernet port for wired network connection 16"W x 1-7/8"H x 8-15/16"D warranty: 1 year
Sony UBP-X700 review: More 4K HDR Blu-ray goodness for less money-CNET
4K Blu-ray is growing up. Current players offer better performance
and cheaper prices than their predecessors. The latest batch of UHD players are available for between $100 and $200 and offer things the early adopters couldn't, including compatibility with Dolby Vision discs.
The Good
The Sony UBP-X700 is a compact powerhouse that offers similar
performance and better features than the X800 for a $50 discount. The
player includes a host of streaming options, and Dolby Vision support is
forthcoming.The time it takes for the player to load Netflix is
insanely fast.
The Bad
Only supports streaming 4K HDR from YouTube. Both cheaper
competitors and Sony's own X800 offer better DVD performance.
The Bottom Line
The Sony UBP-X700 is at the cutting edge of 4K Blu-ray
technology and rewards with a solid performance at a reasonable price.
With a software update available later this year,
the Sony X700 will work with Dolby Vision-encoded discs, lending owners
of DV-equipped TVs a sense of future-proofing.
Unlike the cheaper
LG
UP870 and the
Oppo
UBP-203, which are strictly disc players, the
Sony
UBP-X700 offers the best of both disc media and streaming. It's
relatively fast, offers all of the apps you need, and its picture
quality is top notch.
"But what about the Sony X800?",
you might say, especially as that one's not going away.
Performance-wise it's a wash between the two Sony players -- the main
benefit to the more expensive model is a nicer-looking box and
marginally better DVD performance. At a $50 saving and with the promise
of Dolby Vision in the future, there's no real reason not to buy the
X700. Don't need streaming, though? Save some money and get the equally
impressive LG UP870.
The Sony UBP-X700 is available for $199, £269 or AU$349.
Design and features
In terms of design, the X700 sits somewhere between the up-market, book-like X800 and compact HD models like the BDP-S3700 The
X700 measures a foot across and boasts a two-tone finish, but it lacks a
display on the front panel -- all you'll find there are play and eject
buttons. To the left of the front panel is a drop-down drawer that hides
the disc mechanism.
Apart from the design, what is the difference between the X700 and the $250 X800? Two words: Dolby Vision.
No one likes a format war, but Dolby's baby is one of a handful of HDR
technologies vying for your attention. While support isn't coming till
mid-2018, the X700 also includes the more widespread HDR 10, so you'll have most of the bases covered.
Connectivity is identical to the X800's with two
HDMI
ports -- one for audio and video and a second for decoding audio
from an older, non-4K-sporting AV receiver. The player also comes with a
coaxial digital port, which is a bit unusual, as most
TVs
and
sound bars
support optical, plus it offers a USB connection.
The
menu is sensibly laid out and pretty much identical to the X800's, plus
the X700 has most of the apps you can ask for, including
Netflix
, Amazon Prime Video, Panora, Spotify and Hulu. The player also supports 4K streaming from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, but only the latter in HDR. Lastly, If you somehow still need it the player includes Miracast for streaming your mobile device's screen to your player as well as DLNA.
The remote control is compact and fun with easy access to most of the functions you'll need.
Performance
There's
a reason Sony players are so popular -- in our testing they have proven
to be consistently good performers -- and the X700 again acquits itself
quite well. We found it was equally comfortable with HD discs, 4K
Blu-ray and YouTube HDR streams. Compared to the X800 though, the
more-expensive player was a little bit better at playing DVDs, with less
moire on the edges of the buildings in our Star Trek test disc. The
X700 gives you a choice of two different settings for upscaling -- Auto1
(2K) and Auto2 (4K). As Auto1 (2) was better than Auto2 with this test,
which indicates that the scaler in our LG OLED TV was taking over the
heavy lifting to bring it to 4K. By contrast, we found both the LG UP
X870 and Sony X800 to do a better job of reproducing DVDs with less
jaggies.
So
the X700 put in a good show picture quality-wise and in terms of speed
it was equally adept. Most surprising was how quickly the player loaded
Netflix -- at only 1.89 seconds it's the fastest a player has ever
performed this test. It felt instantaneous. While we would always
recommend a dedicated
Roku
box instead of a Blu-ray as your main streamer the X700 is a very
good alternative. That said, the X800 is no slouch either -- since we
first looked at the X800, its loading times have also improved, and on
the disc side it is now the second-quickest at loading the Batman versus
Superman 4K BD.
Loading times
Load times (s)
LG UP870
Oppo UDP-203 (discontinued)
Microsoft Xbox One S
Samsung UBD-K8500
Sony UBP-X700
Sony UBP-X800
Netflix (until menu)
N/A
N/A
10.01
7.64
1.89
4.26
MI:III | player on | disk tray open
9.36
14.81
22.87
10.00
12.56
12.41
Batman vs. Superman UHD | player on
21.2
39.3
37.69
28.78
30.72
24.05
Finally,
we watched a number of HDR discs, both in HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. Why
Dolby Vision when it's not supported yet? We had some troubles last year
with the
Xbox One
overblowing HDR highlights on the Dolby-sporting Despicable Me 2
test disc and wanted to see if the X700 did the same. The answer is, no;
it simply read the HDR 10 layer and relayed it without issue.
Likewise, Mad Max Fury Road looked lovely, with a much more natural palette when played through the LG OLED55C8P TV
than we'd seen previously. When you first see the procession of
vehicles as they chase the war-truck (Chapter 2 17.00), the ultra-red
details of the flaming exhausts and the blind guitarist's velour outfit
"pop" but don't look completely unrealistic.
Should you buy it?
For
your extra 50 bucks, what does the X800 give you? The most obvious
answer is a premium build -- while the X700 looks like something you
keep in a motorhome, the X800 more befits a home AV system. The other is
that the X800 is a little faster with 4K load times. But things can
change drastically in 12 months, for while the X800 was the best player
at this time last year, that is no longer the case. In its place we
present two alternatives: for the shttps://www.cnet.com/reviews/sony-ubp-x700-review/treamers, this X700 is the best
option, while for people who strictly want a disc player, the LG UP870
is shaping up to be a budget superstar. Look out for a full review of
the LG player soon.
Spotify and Apple Music are great music apps that support CarPlay, but they cost money (excluding Spotify's mediocre free tier). For some, it’s worth paying that price, but that money can add up. Plus, you might not be using most of the features that you’re paying for.
If you're using Spotify or Apple Music for podcasts, audiobooks, or discovering new music, know that there are plenty of free alternatives that still work with CarPlay, so you can continue jamming without draining your wallet.
iHeart Radio
Sometimes, I want to listen to the classic radio so I don't have to think about what to play. In these cases, I go with iHeart Radio. While most cars still have FM radio, iHeart works with cellular data, so you can listen without the static noise. And like FM radio, iHeart is free.
You can also listen to any radio station in any city without having to be there. That way, I can keep up with my favorite station in my hometown while living 800 miles away. It's also great if you're listening to a station with commercials, as you can switch to one actively playing music. With CarPlay, iHeart Radio allows you to save your favorite stations so you can quickly navigate between them.
Aside from the traditional radio stations, iHeart also has curated playlists similar to those on Spotify. You can listen to newly released songs, a specific genre, or music from any decade with ease. I find the playlists more diverse and exciting than Spotify, making it a great alternative.
As the years went by, Spotify and Apple Music took over, while Pandora remained largely unchanged. When Spotify got rid of its radio feature, I re-downloaded Pandora to see if it was as good as I remembered. Thankfully, it was even better. As I continued to use Pandora, I found that many of the stations are, again, better than Spotify. Link: https://www.pandora.com/
While Spotify does have artist radio, Pandora Radio does a better job of surfacing new music. For example, Pandora will learn your music taste based off your skips and likes and also give you stations based on decades, sub-genres, and moods. Pandora also hides songs you don't like, so they don't come up again.
Comparatively, Spotify's radio plays songs by the artist you select and closely related artists. There will be a lot of overlap, and likes and skips also do not help tailor the radio to suit you. If you want a sub-genre station or a station based on moods, you have to listen to a user-made playlist, which can be hit or miss.
Pandora is also still free, with limited skips—but I’ve found that I rarely need to skip, as the stations are good, rarely have repeat songs, and even include lesser-known artists. Pandora is also better than Apple Music and Spotify at listening to stand-up comedy, if that’s your thing.
For me, the best feature of Pandora is that you can change the stations with your voice. This makes it a great driving companion. After all, Spotify and Apple Music don’t support that unless you use Siri (or Spotify's AI DJ), and it isn't as well integrated as Pandora's voice control.
TuneIn
Typically, sports fans don’t use Spotify or Apple Music, as there isn’t much for them. However, if you’re ditching one of those apps anyway and want to have something they don’t offer, you should consider TuneIn.
TuneIn is essentially a live sports radio app. It might be the only reliable one that you don't have to pay for. Whether you love the MLB or the NFL, you can listen to sports anytime, anywhere. If you have a favorite team, you can also listen to their live games, as well as pregame and postgame commentary.
TuneIn also features music and podcasts. Although it doesn't have as extensive a library as other apps, you can still enjoy music while listening to sports, and it has a better radio feature than Spotify. TuneIn also features news radio, political commentary, and investigative journalism, which replaces the need for most traditional news podcasts found on Spotify and Apple.
Overcast
Many people use Spotify for listening to podcasts, as it has every major show and even provides video for some. While Spotify allows free users to listen to podcasts, it tacks on extra ads on top of the traditional podcast ads. This is why many podcast fans are switching to Overcast. Overcast launched over a decade ago, and it continues to be user-friendly and free. Many users love how, over the years, the app has just improved without taking away features or making you listen to more advertisements. Link: https://overcast.fm/
When I re-downloaded Overcast, I was surprised at how similar and nostalgic it felt. When you download an app like Overcast, you start to see how apps like Apple Music and Spotify add a lot of unnecessary features. Personally, while driving, I prefer to keep my phone screen clutter-free and easily access podcasts when I'm safely stopped.
If you find yourself not able to ditch Spotify out of fear of missing your favorite podcast episode, consider downloading Overcast. After all, if you're paying for Spotify just for podcasts, you are overpaying. And if you're listening to podcasts for free on Spotify, you're getting unnecessary ads.
Libby
If you like audiobooks, you probably know about Libby. In fact, Libby is a great app to help you read more. It continues to add new titles and improve its interface, and the developers even resolved the app's former CarPlay issues, making it the best free audiobook app.
For those who don’t know, Libby is essentially a free public library app where you can borrow audiobooks. This was a turnoff for some, as Spotify and Audible let you listen to audiobooks without a time limit. They also typically had more titles and no limits on how long you could access the audiobooks. However, the process is more streamlined on Libby than it used to be, making it easier than ever to listen to a free audiobook. With Libby adding more titles and improving its interface, it's worth considering.
Although I have limited time to listen to audiobooks before they need to be returned, I find myself enjoying this feature. Primarily, it helps me finish an audiobook without putting it off. I don't listen to audiobooks often, but when I do, I prefer not to pay $10 for a book. Instead, Libby offers every book I’ve wanted to listen to for free.
For CarPlay users, Spotify and Apple Music are the typical choices, but they don't have everything. Both Apple Music and Spotify are missing essential features, and they are subscription-based. This might be worth it to some, but I think you should give these free apps a try—you'll likely be pleasantly surprised.
Whether it’s music, talk, news, podcast, sports radio or just some
tunes to set the mood, the best internet radio stations are just a click
or download away.
With so many platforms providing free access to internet radio
stations around the world, your head might spin faster than the
records.
Let’s dive right in and explore the endless ocean of internet radio!
After digging through the web and trying many Internet radio websites, I
can say these these are the best online radio platforms.
Go ahead and try everything and let us which is your favourite and which one do you think is the top internet radio station.
TuneIn is the swiss army knife for all your listening needs.
If it’s local radio stations you’re after, they’re available from their
website or app no matter where you are. The service is easy to navigate
whether you’re looking for sports, news, music, or podcasts.
TuneIn is built into a handful of devices and can be accessed on over
200 of them including Smart Tv’s, gaming consoles, tablets, streaming
devices like Roku and Firestick, and more.
TuneIn has:
120,000 Live radio stations
400m monthly hours clocked
75M Listeners
197 countries tuning in
Free mobile app
Ad-free for a 9.99 one time fee
TuneIn also has an upgraded premium monthly subscription that grants
access to live NHL games, and more than 600 extra commercial-free music
stations for 9.99/month. TuneIN website is probably the top internet
radio station out there.
Pandora is one of the most used free online radio station
according to the Similarweb traffic data. Pandora.com allows you to
curate your own experience by selecting your favorite music and offering
suggestions based on your preferences all for free, all you have to do
is sign up.
If you’re the kind of person who wants their music to keep on coming non-stop this is a great service to do so.
What sets Pandora apart from competitors is they use a music
genome constructed by 30 music theory specialists that groups music
together based on 400 Different attributes, including rhythm, harmony,
composition and lyrics. Their genome learns your tastes and does a great
job of recommending new content to you.
While mostly geared towards music, you can also find podcasts in over 20 categories.
Pandora has:
40M Songs
250 Station Limit
60M Listeners
Free mobile app (40 hour monthly limit)
Premium services starting at 4.99/month
Even though Pandora internet radio offers a free radio, that comes
with commercials. They offer a basic ad-free service for 4.99/month or
an unlimited premium service that allows unlimited offline listening and
the creation and sharing of playlists for 12.99/month.
iHeartRadio is similar to Pandora, but offers sports, news, music,
talk radio, and podcasts as well on their free app. It’s almost like
Pandora and TuneIn had a baby. You can still curate your experience by
selecting your favorite artists and genres and the service will
continuously play songs that match your taste.
iHeart has a larger music library than Pandora and is preferred by many for it’s easy accessibility,
so if you want to jump right in and listen to some of your favorites
without jumping through any hoops, iHeartRadio is for you.
iHeart Radio has:
Estimated 275M Monthly listeners
15M Songs
850 Stations
Premium subscriptions starting at 4.99/month
The Plus version allows you to play any song, unlimited
skips, creation of playlists for 4.99/month and the All Access version
provides unlimited playlists, songs, and offline listening for
9.99/month. iOS users will have to pay an extra service fee but can be
bypassed by signing up for web billing through this link.
#4. vTuner – Best Commercial Free Internet Radio Station
vTuner online platform offers access to radio stations around
the globe. Its simplistic browsing feature allows you to select music,
sports, talk, news, and podcasts by location, genre, or language. The
services’ functionality is built into hundreds of home audio devices to
offer a hands-free experience.
vTuner is the best commercial-free internet radio station. No premium
services, no ads–just simple listening! If you only want to listen
everything for free then vTuner is For you
SavenetRadio.Org
vTuner Commercial Free Online Radio Features:
Tens of Thousands of stations
Millions of songs
Hundreds of thousands of shows
Ad-free stations
If commercial radio isn’t your thing and discovering awesome new
music is, check out these unique internet radio stations. Although they
may not tip the scales on the monthly listener count, you’re sure to
find awesome music you’ve never heard before.
Spotify offers an extensive collection of playlists, artist stations,
and podcasts. It pairs well with Google home devices offering a
hands-free experience. Simply pick an artist and it’ll play songs based on your preferences.
The premium version allows you to play albums from top to bottom as
well select specific songs. You can create and share your own playlists
and allows you to see what your friends are listening to with its
Facebook integration.
Spotify has:
320M active listeners
144M premium subscribers
60M tracks
1.9M Podcast Titles
Premium service for 9.99/month
Spotify also offers sweet discounts for students, families,
and a duo package for you and a friend to get your own accounts and
split the cost of 12.99/month. As a bonus Hulu is included with your premium subscription.
Soma Fm has been broadcasting since 2000 and has to be one of the
coolest internet radio stations out there. Who doesn’t love a commercial
free experience that’s supported by the users and listeners.
If you’re looking for alternative, electronic, or chill vibe tunes you’ve never heard before Soma Fm is the station for you. Don’t be shy to donate while immersed in the uninterrupted underground jams.
LiveXlive formerly known as Slacker Radio has an awesome user
interface that lets you navigate it’s over 1100 curated stations. If you
are as heartbroken as I am about missing festival season last year they
have playlists featuring artists from Bonnaroo, Coachella, Lollapalooza
and more to help fill the void.
If you happened to be so lucky to attend some of the drive-in live
music events that popped up at the end of summer, then fear not, they
have virtual tickets available for these shows as well as a few upcoming
virtual shows on their lineup.
Worldwide.fm features a culturally diverse lineup that broadcasts in
London, Berlin, New York, Tokyo, Istanbul, and Melbourne to name a few. Their passion for inclusivity provides a unique listening experience for the vast subcultures that exist within music.
The service is completely free, but you can support them by
subscribing to their premium service for only 2.99/month and all the
proceeds go back into the platform.
KEXP is a Seattle based radio station that showcases rising talent in
the alternative/indie scene. They are a non-profit organization that is
fueled by donations, volunteers, and government funding.
Their expert DJs spin eclectic mixes that offer a
professionally curated experience and all you have to do is visit their
site or download the app and hit play. If you’re a live music fan or if you’re looking for emerging artists, KEXP Sessions has you covered.
Now that we’ve covered a wide array of the best internet radio
stations both big and small, global and local, it’s time to find the one
that works best for you. Let’s recap with a quick rundown of all the
stations we’ve covered to help you on your internet radio journey:
TuneIn – Biggest and broadest selection of all your radio needs.
Pandora – Professionally curated music using an expertly designed algorithm.
iHeartRadio – Simplistic portal to the music and stations you love.
Spotify – Just ask Google to play your favorite songs, albums, and podcasts.
vTuner – Music, sports, talk, news, and podcasts from all around the world.
Soma Fm – Listener-supported ad-free alternative/ electronic powerhouse.
Lately I have been rediscovering local FM radio stations for news and music. FM, AM, SW, and Ham radio broadcasting stations have been moving to online Internet streaming for years. But the selection of FM radio is sometimes hard to find in your area. For
those unable to locate a local AM/FM station to stream, the Radio Locator search tool
link (below) is available to locate stations that broadcast on the Internet.
There are even more Internet radio only stations around the world. Many people today also stream Internet and FM radio from
their cell phones in their cars from iHeart radio (128 kbs), Pandora music radio (64 kbs), Amazon Music (320 kbs), and SiriusXM satellite radio (256 kbs) formats. Enjoy.
AM radio has been around since the beginning of broadcasting. FM was invented in the 1930s and surpassed AM as the band of choice in the 1980s. Both bands have had an excellent run. But how much longer will we be using them?
I am NOT talking about the death of terrestrial radio. It will survive just fine. But the distribution channels will change.
Here in North America, we have AM, FM, satellite radio, streaming, and HD-Radio. Let’s go through them.
AM faces the biggest challenge, not only because of its inferior audio quality but because signals cannot penetrate the electromagnetic fields generated by electric vehicles. If you can’t be heard in the car, you’re dead. A new survey says that 73% of people listen to radio in the car. Some AM stations are moving to FM, but government regulations and dearth of open spots on the dial are big roadblocks.
FM continues to do well despite pressure from other audio options like smartphones and streaming. Its biggest disadvantage is that it’s not interactive, something that younger generations demand.
Satellite radio serves a listening niche, although there’s just one provider in North America. While it offers a huge variety of programming, it’s not free. That’s a big barrier to a lot of people.
Online audio streaming of radio continues to grow. That same survey says that 70% of Americans stream AM/FM radio and audio content weekly.
HD Radio (the brand name of In-Band On-Channel or iBOC) is based on tech developed in the 1990s. It has never taken off in a big way even though many, many markets have stations that broadcast in HD Radio. And if your car is less than seven years old, chances are it can receive HD Radio broadcasts, although most infotainment systems don’t make it easy.
Nothing stands still, how will radio be distributed in the future?
Things are evolving in other parts of the world. Norway, Switzerland, and a few other countries are in the process of shutting down the legacy bands (i.e. AM and FM) in favour of digital radio (DAB). That’s never going to happen here.
We in North America had a chance to get on board with DAB more than 20 years ago, but the US kiboshed the whole thing for a couple of reasons. First, the broadcast frequencies required by DAB were apparently too close to those used by the US military. Second, the US is just too big and no one wanted to spend the necessary money to build transmitters and repeaters. HD Radio was seen as a compromise, but no one seems to care.
And third, Canada actually adopted DAB more than two decades ago but ran into technical issues. At the time, though, VHF frequencies were being used for over-the-air analogue TV (not a problem anymore). The other issue was that because DAB used microwave frequencies around 1200 MHz, lots and lots of transmitters would be required to have extensive and smooth signals. Like the US, we’re just too big (although Australia and Russia seem to be interested in solving this problem.)
Okay, so where do we go from here? There are big predictions about the connectivity possible with 5G and 6G networks. That, however, requires a LOT of technical infrastructure upgrades. It’ll also take a long time for the majority of the population to transition from whatever type of network they’re using now. This will also require changes to infotainment systems in cars, something that won’t happen quickly.
Broadcasters will have to figure out how to adapt, too, but are very, very wary of moving too quickly in this direction. We in radio remember the early 2000s when we went all-in with online offerings. But by the time we were able to roll out the new platforms, the tech had moved on and we were stuck with an outdated and buggy online presence. Radio now tends to use off-the-shelf products (e.g. building websites on WordPress platforms instead of creating something from scratch). At this point, there are no off-the-shelf solutions for 5G and 6G connectivity.
We will move on eventually. But what will happen to that spectrum now occupied by AM and FM? Will they be repurposed? Unknown.
Old-school VHF radios once used by taxis and other fleet vehicles have pretty much disappeared in favour of apps on a smartphone. Is that the direction of AM and FM? Possibly. Will these frequencies eventually empty out? Could they be used for low-power very specialized micro-broadcasting? Maybe.
To be clear, “radio” is not going away. It will be with us forever. It just needs to be redefined away from sounds that come out of box that you tune to a specific frequency. “Radio” will become something that can be enjoyed digitally both in real time and on-demand. How we receive those broadcasts is still very much TBA.
With the multitude of online radio stations that are available, picking
your favorite should be easy. Below is my hand-picked list of the
absolute best online radio stations for a variety of genres.
I reviewed dozens of these types of websites to uncover the best choices
in a variety of categories, so you'll find country music, instrumental
music, a station perfect for party music, and several others.
Each of these picks has music selected by one or more DJs, much like a
traditional radio station. In fact, some are just online streams of the
same radio program played over the air in that station's local area.
These websites are true radio programs, not on-demand music streaming services.
While a streaming music service gives you the freedom to play specific
tracks and eliminates commercials, you have to manually pick and choose
which songs to stream. An internet radio station plays DJ-chosen music
as part of a category or genre, like rock, indie, jazz, Christian, etc.,
making music discovery fun and easy.
Must make a free account after 30 minutes of listening.
Ads and lower quality audio for free users.
Now known as DI.FM, Digitally Imported launched in 1999 as an internet
radio service that lets you stream electronic music 24/7. They have a
team of curators that choose the best music from each genre or style.
In addition to browsing the most popular channels, here are several
subcategories you can pick from: trance, EDM, dance, house, lounge,
chillout, techno, bass, ambient, deep, classic, vocal, hard, and synth.
The last time I streamed from here, I listened to the LoFi Lounge &
Chill station; it was perfect as background noise.
You can follow any channel to add it to your list of favorites for easy access later.
If you're a paying user, you can change the audio quality, listen in
external players through a playlist file, skip more tracks, and access
premium-only stations. Free users can make an account to like and
dislike tracks.
One of the best ways to find new indie music
is with this internet radio station from SomaFM. The DJs hand-pick all
the best indie songs they can find and let you listen directly from your
browser or with your favorite media player.
Some of the artists and bands I've heard here include Amanda Cadore,
Alvvays, Aloha, Polica, Carroll, Paranoids, Violents and Monica Martin,
Beck, and Neko Case.
I love that the Indie Pop Rocks station shows all the artists they’ve played in the last two weeks
so that I can not only see which artists were played more than others
but also get a link to their tracks on Amazon. There's also a handy recently played songs list for an idea of the content.
Something else you can do is add songs to a list of your favorites, from where you can easily purchase them.
I prefer indie music, but several other channels are available
if you're not into it. This includes holiday music, ambient electronic
and experimental space music, early 2000s classics, and others.
This internet radio station can be streamed from the web as well as
through a mobile or desktop app. If you prefer the TuneIn app, you can
use it, too; just search for SomaFM Indie Pop Rocks! on TuneIn.
Owned by iHeartMedia and often New York’s top-rated radio station, WLTW
106.7 Lite FM plays all types of music, from modern day back to the
‘80s. This is my go-to when I'm not really sure what I'm in the mood
for.
This station delivers dance, pop, rock, disco, R&B, punk, new wave,
and more, from artists and groups like Wham!, George Michael, Jennifer
Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Camila Cabello, Tears for Fears, Prince,
Duran Duran, Cutting Crew, No Doubt, and many others.
If you like a recently played song from the WLTW 106.7 Lite FM radio
station, you can start your own station based on that type of music, and
even skip through the songs, unlike you can on the radio.
An iHeartRadio subscription lets you replay songs from the radio, save
songs from the radio to your own playlist, and more. I use the free
version often, and I honestly never feel like I'm missing out on those
features.
This is a neat one! If you’re in the habit of buying soundtrack CDs from
your favorite films, then you’ll love this radio station. It features
music found only in movies and TV shows, and since it’s ad-supported,
it’s totally free.
Just a few examples of movies and shows that Cinemix features music from include Supernatural, Bicentennial Man, Lost, Guardians of the Galaxy, Call the Midwife, Last Chance Harvey, War for the Planet of the Apes, and many others.
The current song, plus the three upcoming and several recently played songs, are listed out for you.
If you become a VIP member, you can see the 20 most recently played
songs instead of just a few, as well as dedicate and request songs, and
more.
Lists dozens of the recently played songs with links to buy tracks on Apple Music.
What We Don't Like
Must use the pop-up player to avoid stopping the music when you browse other areas of the site.
Pop-up ads display elsewhere on the page.
Based out of Texas, KEAN 105.1 FM is the best internet radio station to stream country music. They have a handful of DJs that choose the best country music for you, and all the upcoming shows for the week are listed on their website.
KEAN 105.1 FM plays songs from Kenny Chesney, Kane Brown, Maren Morris,
Rodney Atkins, Jake Owen, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, and
many others. See what's played recently to get an idea.
Some internet radio stations play in a separate part of the site so that
when you click elsewhere, like to view upcoming shows or recently
played songs, the music won’t stop playing. To do that with this one,
you need to open the pop-out player.
Launched in the early '80s, K-LOVE, a solely Christian music station, is
today one of the world's top-streamed online radio stations. It's also
delivered over FM radio in numerous U.S. cities.
Every week, millions of online listeners can hear music from MercyMe,
Rend Collective, Zach Williams, Francesca Battistelli, Skillet, for KING
& COUNTRY, Chris Tomlin, TobyMac, Micah Tyler, Lauren Daigle, and
more.
The website has a few other channels beyond the live stream, that targets Christmas, '90s, and 2000s music, specifically.
The K-LOVE mobile app only shows four recently played songs, but it also
has a Verse of the Day page and information on all the artists played
on the radio station.
24/7 streaming without website ads or commercial breaks.
Provides a 7-day schedule.
What We Don't Like
Some parts of the website don't work.
No official mobile app.
Doesn't show individual track names.
My House Radio has a simple mission: to promote artists and DJs who
produce dance music in genres like house, deep house, soulful, and
classics. They have more than 40 DJs from around the world.
It's a phenomenal radio station for dance music because you're never
distracted by commercial interruptions. Plus, you can listen all day,
every day.
I like to use the stripped-down player (here) when I'm listening on my phone, to avoid all the unnecessary graphics and other web pages. You can also listen to My House Radio on Airtime for a decent UI. The same radio station is available through TuneIn and other streaming services.
A playlist file can be downloaded to listen in your own music player.
Request your favorite songs.
What We Don't Like
Lots of ads in the mobile app.
Instrumental Hits Radio has been delivering a "blend of instrumental
genres" in the form of a radio station since 2013. Some of the music you
can hear here include classical, big band, new-age, lounge, orchestral,
and jazz.
Something I find unique about this website is the 'request your favorite song' feature. You can do so every 30 minutes.
Fun Kids is a UK-based online radio station that features music more
appropriate for a younger crowd. It's part of a larger children's media
brand that includes kid radio stations like Fun Kids Junior, Fun Kids Soundtracks, and Fun Kids Classical.
Although this is clearly meant for children, I have to say that the
soundtracks station is entertaining even for me (particularly when The
Lion King music comes across my screen).
In addition to a live radio service are several on-demand shows you can re-listen to at any time. Elsewhere on the website are podcasts for kids, quizzes, videos, book recommendations, and more educational and informative kid-friendly content.
There's a mobile app for Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire.
Jazz24 is a KNKX Public Radio station that streams jazz music online and locally in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, on 88.5 FM.
This online radio station plays jazz from artists like Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Diana Krall, and Pat Metheny, among others.
The mobile app has an alert feature you can enable to start playing jazz
automatically when the timer goes off. You can also access this radio
station through various streaming links.
Part of a network of internet radio stations called Powerhitz,
Hot 108 JAMZ streams hip hop music. Although this network includes
other stations unrelated to rap, a different program director curates
music for this station every day.
Some of the artists I heard the last time I listened included Rihanna,
Drake, 2 Pac, Lil Donald, Meek Mill, Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled,
Mariah Carey, Usher, 50 Cent, The Carters, and Rich Gang.
Hot 108 JAMZ also accepts shout-outs and song requests.
This internet radio station is available at TuneIn, radio.net, Streema, and Radioline.
If you pick one of those apps or websites to listen from, you'll get
other features such as a sleep timer and "favorite" option.
Relax FM is a radio station out of Moscow, Russia, that features instrumental, English, and foreign music.
There are multiple channels to pick from, including Relax Life, Relax Nature, Relax Latino, and Relax lo-fi, among others. True to its name, I find it super relaxing, especially while doing repetitive things like cleaning.
While you can listen online from anywhere, including the official Relax
FM website, it's also available locally to Moscow listeners at 90.8 FM and some other stations.
Puts you in the Christmas mood with a live video feed from Santa Claus Village in Finland.
You can leave images and comments for other listeners to see.
What We Don't Like
Lots of website ads.
Based out of Santa Claus Village
in Finland, where Santa is around all year long, is the Radio Santa
Claus station where thousands gather every day to listen to Christmas
music any time of the year.
The music here comes from singers like Frank Sinatra, Colbie Caillat,
Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Blake Shelton, Dean Martin, Sara Bareilles,
Andrea Bocelli, and children's choirs, among others.
The Android app is even simpler than the website. You can start and stop
the live stream, see what's currently playing, and leave a comment for
other listeners to see.
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