Tidal is constantly shaking up its audio formats and sound qualities to provide the best lossless music for audiophiles. Max is the highest-quality audio option on Tidal, including Hi-Res FLAC, which can reach up to 24-bit, 192 kHz. It‘s simple to get the best quality version of any song by selecting Max quality when streaming in the Tidal app. However, sometimes, many people also want to download and back up their favorite Tidal tracks and albums in Max quality for offline playback.
In this article, we focus on how to download Tidal Max and Hi-Res music so that you can experience extraordinary music offline on any device. Let's start!
What file types are included in Tidal Max quality?
When it comes to streaming music quality, Tidal is always considered a top choice. With Tidal, you can easily enjoy super high-resolution lossless audio streaming. Tidal offers multiple sound quality levels for its subscribers, including Max, High, and Low. Tidal Max is the highest sound quality option, offering up to 24-bit, 192 kHz lossless audio with HiRes FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec). Besides, there are two other sound quality levels as well:
- High: Lossless audio with FLAC (16-bit, 44.1 kHz).
- Low (up to 320 kbps): Listen to the music you love using lower data usage with compressed AAC files.
Obviously, a higher bitrate generally means better audio quality. You can also change the audio quality of the content you're listening to with Tidal. When you play a song, there will be a button next to the progress bar that shows audio quality in Max, High, or Low. However, not all songs can be played at 24-bit. The actual bit depth, sample rate, and format of the tracks depend on the artist, label, or distributor who delivers the source files to Tidal. The hierarchy of availability for playback is HiRes FLAC, FLAC, then ACC.
In addition, as of July 23, 2024, music in the MQA or 360 Reality Audio formats is no longer accessible, so Tidal's Max tier does not include MQA anymore. FLAC was chosen as the preferred format for stereo sound. For immersive sound, Dolby Atmos is the first choice.
Can I download music in Max quality from Tidal?
Yes, the Tidal mobile app offers a Max quality option for downloading music for offline playback. You can adjust the sound quality in the Tidal app and choose Max when you download your favorite tracks.
Download Tidal Max tracks in Tidal app for iOS/Android
1 Run Tidal app on your smartphone and log into your Tidal account.
2 Tap the cog icon and navigate to "Settings"-"Downloads" in Tidal mobile app.
3 Under "Audio" section, you can select "Max" as the output quality for downloaded content.
4 Return to the home page, when you download the albums or tracks, they will be downloaded in Max quality.
Note: Your choice will only apply to future downloads. You will have to delete and re-download previously saved albums and playlists if you want to listen to them offline in a different quality.
Tidal's Max sound quality option provides Hi-Res FLAC greater than 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, which can deliver superior sound in files. However, the high-bitrate audio files are typically larger than normal audio files. If you have set the quality of downloaded music to Max, it can contribute to a larger cache size in the Tidal app on your phone. On the other hand, streaming and downloading Tidal music in Max quality require a steady Internet connection of at least 1.5 to 2 Mbps. Is there a good way to enjoy Tidal Max tracks offline on any devices?
How to download Tidal Max tracks to local computer?
Besides downloading Tidal tracks and albums in Max with the Tidal mobile app, a better way to enjoy Tidal with the highest audio quality is to Download FLAC from Tidal Losslessly to your local computer. Here, we're happy to introduce an excellent program, Epubor Tidal Downloader, that allows you to download Tidal Max tracks, albums, and playlists in FLAC format.
Step 1 Download and install Tidal desktop app on your Windows or MacOS computer.
2 Things to confirm before downloading Tidal Max and Hi-Res
- 1. Tidal's free tier is no longer available. To enjoy Tidal music in Max quality, you must subscribe to Tidal and confirm that your subscription is active.
- 2. Not every song has a Hi-Res version, and not every song is available in 24-bit. Max represents the highest quality option, with UP TO 24-bit. Please confirm that the songs you would like to download are available in Max quality.
Step 2 Launch Epubor Tidal Downloader, and then all the songs from your Tidal account will be automatically loaded into Epubor software. Next, just drag and drop the songs you would like to convert to the right area and download them to FLAC files by clicking the "Download to FLAC" button.
Step 3 Finally, you will get Tidal tracks downloaded in FLAC format with the maximum sound quality and play them on any audio play.
FAQ about Tidal Max and Hi-Res
Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: What is the difference between FLAC and Hi-Res FLAC for Tidal?
A: According to Tidal, Hi-Res FLAC is the distinction Tidal makes for any FLAC file that is greater than 16-bit, 44.1 kHz. In fact, the difference will not be very apparent.
Q: Why are my downloaded Tidal tracks not in 24-bit 192 kHz?
A: As we mentioned before, Max represents the highest quality option, with UP TO 24-bit. The actual bit depth and sample rate depend on the album/track you listen to. Sometimes, even if one track is in 24-bit and the rest are in 16-bit, the album will be listed as Max.
Q: How to get the best experience with Tidal Hi-Res FLAC?
A: To get a better listening experience, a good set of devices is essential, such as a hi-res headphone or DACs. While many Tidal partners support streaming Hi-Res music, you can't go wrong if you can also download Tidal Max tracks locally with the help of Epubor Tidal Downloader.
Nancy Hello, my name is Nancy! I’ve been always a book enthusiast, and I love reading very much. As an editor for Epubor, I’m glad to share all my favorite books, audiobooks, and tips to read E-books all I know.
