7digital and Onkyo team up to launch Hi-Res Audio music store
e-onkyo music, Japan’s go-to site for audiophile album downloads, is coming to Europe and the US
One of the problems faced by audiophile types seeking Hi-Res Audio music is that, well, there’s barely anywhere to buy it. A handful websites, each with a handful of FLAC albums, are the extent of your options at the moment.
7digital and Onkyo hope to change that. The MP3 download store and the hi-fi manufacturer have got together to bring e-onkyo music, Japan’s most successful store for HD music, to Europe and the US. The service will arrive “in the coming months”.
READ MORE: Imagination Technologies and Onkyo are gunning for Sonos with audiophile streaming systems
7digital co-founder Ben Drury said, “With the introduction of our HD digital music portfolio we hope to reconfirm 7digital’s position as a leader in high quality digital music services.” The music will be in FLAC format and use 7digital’s existing platform.
e-onkyo music has been around since 2005, and currently there’s nothing similar here. However, there have been persistent rumours concerning Apple embracing Hi-Res Audio through the iTunes Music Store. Apple reportedly possesses the largest collection of Hi-Res music in the world, and has been building it up for years in preparation for a launch later this year. WWDC 2014 may see the company reveal their plans. Neil Young is also planning to launch a Hi-Res Audio music store alongside his PonoPlayer FLAC-compatible music player.
READ MORE: Why you should be pumped about (and just a bit sceptical of) Hi-Res Audio
Sam Kieldsen
Contributor 
