If I read it correctly, Airplay will support this, but not Chromecast. And for Android, check with your phone manaufacturer.
From the Amazon UK FAQs - " Which iOS devices support Amazon Music HD?
Most iPhones and iPads released since 2014 (devices running on iOS 11, or later) can support HD/Ultra HD (up to 24-bit, 48kHz) without any additional equipment. In order to play songs at higher sample rates (96 or 192 kHz), iPhone customers can connect an external DAC capable of supporting those higher sample rates.
Apple AirPlay supports HD quality playback.
Which Android devices support Amazon Music HD?
Most Android devices running Android Lollipop, released in 2014, or later support HD/Ultra HD playback. However, Android devices vary widely in quality and purpose, so we advise checking manufacturer specifications for HD/Ultra HD support.
At this time Amazon Music HD is not supported on Google Cast."
The issue with Airplay/Airplay 2 is that they don’t normally support better than CD quality streams unless something has changed (recent AppleTVs have also mucked around with the sampling rate pushing 44.1 kHz material to 48 kHz, though I’ve not checked recently if this has changed as the newer ones don’t have digital out except over HDMI). This would still be better than Apple Music’s 256 kbps lossy AAC.
Wonder why they’re not supporting Chromecast audio?
OK; my problem was that I was using the PC Amazon App which does not support casting. I was able to use the Andriod version of the Amazon App and I am able to cast to the Muso 2. However I am pretty sure that’s limited to Redbook CD Quality.
Just saw the HD/UltraHD descriptors on the BBC article - this will really confuse the average punter as I think they will consider HD to be better than CD.
Amazon seem to be assuming that most potential punters will be used to streaming online (not Tidal etc), so they can use 320k as the baseline and call it SD.
Yes, I agree. Just wonder if it might be challenged in some way. I actually wonder if they’d have been better calling the standard service ‘lossy compressed’!
On the now playing screen click on the hd or ultra HD icon. This will tell you details of whats playing and your devices capability click on learn more to bring up kB.
It’s variable streaming rate that’s for sure. My works WiFi seems not up to the job or the app is airing on the cautionary side as it’s flipping between standard and hd throughout playback.
Well somehow managed to inadvertently sign up for the standard service I didn’t even want for £7.99 a month free for 30 days not 90 days
Just come off the phone to support who cancelled it but tell me I can’t have a completely free trial at all as I previously had one - yes for 10 minutes and I never streamed/downloaded a single track with ‘standard’ fidelity - computer ‘says no’.
I can’t even get the standard free trial of 30 days now for that now!
There is a convoluted solution whereby I’ll have to pay up front for the standard service, and they’ll refund me that each month for 3 months but I’ll get the HD add on for free! You have to laugh.
Beware of the sign-up pages as they did not offer a confirmatory dialogue when you select a plan, or maybe there was an inadvertent keystroke or mouse click, I really don’t know!
I just hope all high-end audio companies keep digital assistants off their systems!
It would not be impossible for Naim to add support for Amazon Music I suspect provided Amazon offer a suitable API for 3rd party devices, but would it be worth the development costs?
