Is this music file hi-res audio?
Drop a music file to check it
Lossless and lossy music files
Works with FLAC WAV ALAC AIFF MP3
or paste a link (Ctrl+V) Paste a link
How it works
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Drop your file in the box above, or tap to choose one.
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We read the information saved inside it. This takes a few seconds.
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The answer appears right away, with a link you can share and the full details if you want them.
What counts as hi-res audio
Hi-res audio means lossless music with more resolution than a CD: a bit depth above 16 bits, usually 24, or a sample rate above 48 kHz, such as 96 or 192 kHz. CD quality is 16-bit at 44.1 kHz. Lossy formats like MP3 and AAC remove detail to save space.
The file declares its format, bit depth and sample rate, and FLAC files add a checksum of the audio. This checker reads them, so you know what you downloaded or what your player is being sent.
- Bit depth
- Sample rate
- Lossless or lossy
- FLAC checksum
Questions and answers
How do I know if my FLAC is really hi-res?
Drop it into the box above to see its declared bit depth and sample rate. To catch an upsampled file, look at its spectrum in an audio editor: a CD source stops at about 22 kHz.
Is 24-bit / 48 kHz hi-res?
Yes. Most definitions count anything above CD quality, so 24-bit at 44.1 or 48 kHz qualifies.
Is a 320 kbps MP3 hi-res?
No. MP3 is lossy, so it discards detail regardless of its bitrate or sample rate.
What is the MD5 in a FLAC file?
A checksum of the decoded audio, saved when the file was made. Tools like flac -t use it to check the file hasn't been damaged.
Can I hear the difference?
Many listeners can't tell hi-res from CD quality. Hi-res matters most for mastering and editing, where extra headroom helps.
What happens to my file?
Your file is sent over an encrypted connection, read on our servers and deleted automatically after about 24 hours. The answer is kept on a page with its own link, so you can share it. Tool result pages are never listed in search engines.