Hi-Res Audio certification
The Hi-Res Audio logo (from JAS/Japan Audio Society) certifies gear capable of reproducing 24-bit / 96 kHz or higher audio. A useful indicator but not always audibly meaningful vs 16-bit / 44.1 kHz for playback.
Hi-Res Audio is a certification granted by the Japan Audio Society (JAS) to gear meeting specific specs: 24-bit / 96 kHz playback minimum, 40 kHz+ frequency response for speakers/headphones, and other technical criteria.
What it means for gear
Look for the “Hi-Res Audio” gold logo on: DACs, headphones, speakers, streamers, receivers. Certified products can accurately reproduce hi-res source material.
What it means for playback
For most listeners, 16-bit / 44.1 kHz (CD quality) is indistinguishable from 24-bit / 96 kHz in blind tests. The certification is useful as a spec floor but doesn’t guarantee sonic superiority over CD-quality playback.
Certified in our catalog
Sony SS-CS5M2, HiVi M300 MKII, most modern DAC chips.
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