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Amazon Music Unlimited Review
Amazon Music Unlimited is a premium music streaming service that offers listeners the best available sound quality. It has a content library of around 50 million songs, the vast majority of which are available in Ultra HD via the premium listening package Music Unlimited HD.
Amazon Music Unlimited is available on Android and iOS, as well as Mac, Windows, and the company’s own hardware, devices, and speakers.
Amazon Music Unlimited Packages Compared
How We Evaluated Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon Music Unlimited is up against tough opposition in the busy music streaming market. All the major players offer similar price points for services comprised of relatively similar content libraries, but all have their own individual strengths.
We took a look at how Amazon Music Unlimited’s HD version stood up against some of its biggest competitors. We assessed its features, content library, sound quality, and overall ease of use against other music streamers.
Amazon Music Unlimited HD vs. Other Streaming Services
Key Amazon Music Unlimited Considerations
Superb sound quality
Industry-leading sound quality makes Amazon Music Unlimited a good choice for the music purists out there who want the best available listening quality. However, to get it, you’ll have to spend an extra $5 per month to upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited HD from the Individual plan. The service is available on desktop and mobile apps but not via a web browser. The apps feature a quality indicator that tells the listener whether he or she is listening to an HD or Ultra HD track. Tidal has long offered the highest quality music streaming, but Amazon Music Unlimited boasts bit depths up to 24 bits, matching Tidal’s Master Quality.
Free listening
Amazon only recently introduced a free version of its platform, which doesn’t allow on-demand listening. Instead, by hitting play on a favorite artist’s track, the platform launches a playlist of music by similar artists. Users can skip up to six tracks every few songs.
Amazon also makes it difficult to access a free trial to its service. At the time this review was published, new users could only sign up for one by creating or linking an existing IMDb account, then waiting up to 48 hours for an email to activate. Alternatively, get a 90-day free trial by buying an “eligible product” on the Amazon website, or get four months access for $0.99, which turns into a premium subscription.
Clunky user experience
Taking music on the go is an important part of any music streaming service. However, Amazon Music Unlimited makes it difficult to find the Offline Mode. It’s located deep within the settings menu, and there’s no offline listening available on the desktop version. The task of finding tracks can also be tough given the option of searching three different resources: the user’s content library, the streaming catalog, and the wider Music Store.
Amazon product compatibility
Owners of products like the Echo, Echo Dot, Fire TV, and Tap are in luck with Amazon Music Unlimited as they get a discounted price of just $3.99/mo. and a free trial for 30 days. Additionally, Alexa helps users search the entire database by song title, song lyrics, or music style.
Lyrics integration
Amazon Music Unlimited has one of the better lyrics integration services available on the music streaming market. They’re using music AI and knowledge platform Musixmatch to synchronize lyrics with any song you’re playing. Now Amazon Music Unlimited users can learn the words to their new favorite songs or throwbacks.
The Bottom Line
With so many rival services competing in the music streaming industry, it’s important to establish a niche to stand out from the rest. Amazon has done this by launching the highest sound quality available in the market, which makes it an attractive option for music purists and anyone who wants to listen to their favorite artists in the clearest audio possible. However, that extra listening pleasure does come at a premium cost.
Amazon Music Unlimited has plenty of solid features, such as its library of songs, synchronized lyrics and a limited music recommendation engine. Plus there’s the perk of discounted prices for Prime members and owners of Amazon devices, which make the service particularly desirable for existing Amazon users.
About the Authors
Rob Latham is a writer focused on technology, music, entertainment and sports. He is particularly passionate about the role that technology plays in improving peoples’ lives.
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