Top 15 'Studio-Quality' Music Apps to listen to for an Audiophile-Grade Experience on the Go in 2025 - Goh Ling Yong
The world of mobile audio has undergone a seismic shift. Gone are the days when listening on the go meant settling for heavily compressed MP3s played through flimsy, bundled earbuds. Today, the smartphone in your pocket is a pocket-sized powerhouse, capable of delivering breathtaking, high-resolution audio that can rival dedicated home hi-fi systems. The line between "portable" and "audiophile" has not just blurred—it has all but vanished.
This revolution isn't just about hardware, like the proliferation of incredible portable DACs (Digital-to-Analogue Converters) and planar magnetic IEMs (In-Ear Monitors). The software—the very apps we use to access and play our music—has evolved just as dramatically. As we often discuss on the Goh Ling Yong blog, the source is everything. You can have the most expensive headphones in the world, but if you're feeding them a low-quality stream, you're missing out on the magic.
So, in 2025, which apps truly deliver on the promise of studio-quality sound? Whether you're a streaming devotee with a penchant for discovery or a digital purist with a meticulously curated local library, there's an app tailored for you. We've dived deep into the digital audio world to bring you the definitive list of the top 15 apps that will transform your smartphone into an audiophile-grade music player.
1. Qobuz
For the Studio-Quality Purist.
Qobuz has carved out a dedicated following among audiophiles for one simple reason: its unwavering commitment to sound quality. While other services were chasing features, Qobuz focused on delivering music exactly as the artist intended. It offers a vast catalog of tracks in true CD-quality (16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC) and, more importantly, a massive selection of "Hi-Res" or "Studio Master" albums, reaching up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Unlike some competitors, Qobuz doesn't use controversial audio processing like MQA. It delivers straight, unadulterated FLAC files, which is a major selling point for audio purists. The app also features an integrated download store, allowing you to purchase and permanently own your favorite high-resolution albums. Add in detailed digital booklets and rich editorial content, and you have a service that’s built by music lovers, for music lovers.
Pro Tip: Dive into their "Taste of Qobuz" playlists. They are an excellent way to discover new music while immediately appreciating the jump in clarity and dynamism that high-resolution audio provides. Pair Qobuz with a quality wired headphone and a portable DAC to truly hear the difference.
2. Tidal
The Feature-Rich Hi-Fi Powerhouse.
Tidal was one of the first major players to make high-fidelity streaming mainstream. Its "HiFi" tier offers standard CD-quality lossless audio, while the "HiFi Plus" tier unlocks the door to its premium formats. This includes millions of tracks in "Master" quality, delivered using MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) technology, which aims to package high-resolution audio into a smaller, streamable file.
Beyond MQA, Tidal is a leader in immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos Music and Sony 360 Reality Audio, creating a "bubble" of sound that can be incredibly engaging with compatible headphones. With a slick interface, expertly curated playlists, music videos, and exclusive content, Tidal offers a complete, premium entertainment package that also happens to sound fantastic.
Pro Tip: To get the full benefit of Tidal's Master tracks, you'll need a DAC that can act as an MQA "renderer" or "decoder." This allows the hardware to fully "unfold" the MQA file, delivering the highest possible resolution.
3. Roon ARC
Your Entire Music Universe, Anywhere.
Roon isn't just an app; it's a comprehensive music ecosystem for the serious collector. It starts with the Roon Core, software you run on a computer or server at home, which organizes your local music files and integrates your Tidal and Qobuz accounts into one beautiful, metadata-rich library. Roon ARC is the mobile app that connects to your home Core, giving you access to your entire music library, playlists, and settings from anywhere in the world.
ARC automatically optimizes the stream for your connection, but when you're on Wi-Fi, it can stream your DSD, 24-bit FLAC, and other high-res files in their original, bit-perfect format directly to your phone. It brings Roon's legendary user experience—with its deep artist bios, album credits, and "rabbit hole" discovery features—to the palm of your hand. It's the ultimate solution for the audiophile who refuses to compromise.
Pro Tip: Before a long flight or trip, use ARC's download feature. You can select albums or playlists from your home library (including Tidal/Qobuz content) to download directly to your phone for offline, bit-perfect playback.
4. Apple Music
The Seamless Choice for the Apple Ecosystem.
Apple Music sent shockwaves through the industry when it made its entire 100-million-song catalog available in lossless and high-resolution lossless audio at no extra charge. Using its own ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec), the service offers tiers up to 24-bit/192kHz. This move instantly made high-resolution audio accessible to hundreds of millions of users.
The app's biggest strength is its seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem. On top of lossless quality, Apple is heavily invested in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, which works magically with AirPods and Beats headphones to create an immersive, 3D soundscape. While a wired connection and an external DAC are still required for true "Hi-Res Lossless" playback (above 24-bit/48kHz), the standard lossless quality is a massive step up for all listeners.
Pro Tip: To enable the highest quality, go to Settings > Music > Audio Quality on your iPhone. Here, you can select "Lossless" for cellular/Wi-Fi streaming and downloads, and "Hi-Res Lossless" for the absolute best quality when using a compatible external DAC.
5. Amazon Music HD
High-Resolution Audio for the Masses.
Much like Apple, Amazon democratized high-resolution audio by including its HD and Ultra HD tiers in the standard Amazon Music Unlimited subscription. This gives listeners access to millions of songs in CD-quality (which they call "HD," 16-bit/44.1kHz) and a growing catalog of "Ultra HD" tracks (up to 24-bit/192kHz).
The app is straightforward and integrates well with Amazon's Echo devices for a whole-home audio experience. While its curation and user interface may not be as slick as some rivals, the sheer value proposition is undeniable. For anyone already in the Amazon ecosystem, it's an incredibly easy and affordable way to step into the world of audiophile-grade streaming.
Pro Tip: Look for the "Ultra HD" badge on albums and tracks. When streaming on mobile, ensure your settings are configured for the highest quality over Wi-Fi to avoid using excessive mobile data.
6. USB Audio Player PRO (UAPP)
The Bit-Perfect Essential for Android.
For Android-using audiophiles, UAPP is a legendary and essential tool. The Android operating system, by default, resamples all audio to a specific rate, which can degrade the signal before it ever reaches your DAC. UAPP completely bypasses this, taking exclusive control of your USB DAC to send a bit-perfect stream of data, ensuring there is absolutely no tampering with the original digital signal.
This app is a powerful local file player, supporting virtually every high-resolution format imaginable, including DSD, FLAC, MQA, and WAV. It also has built-in support for streaming from Tidal and Qobuz, allowing you to use their services while still benefiting from UAPP's superior audio engine. It's a technical tool, but for those seeking the purest possible sound from their Android device, it's non-negotiable.
Pro Tip: Combine UAPP with a quality portable DAC like a Dragonfly Cobalt or iFi Go Bar. The app will automatically detect the DAC's capabilities and configure the output for the best possible quality.
7. Neutron Music Player
The Ultimate Audio Tinkerer's Toolkit.
If UAPP is about pristine, untouched signal paths, Neutron Music Player is for the user who wants complete and total control over their sound. It features a highly-regarded, professional-grade 32/64-bit audio rendering engine that operates independently of the phone's OS, aiming to deliver the highest possible fidelity.
Where Neutron truly shines is its exhaustive set of DSP (Digital Signal Processing) tools. It includes a high-precision parametric or graphic equalizer, crossfeed for a more speaker-like headphone experience, dithering, resampling options, and much more. It's a playground for audiophiles who love to tweak and tailor their sound to their specific headphones and tastes. Like UAPP, it's primarily for local files but its performance is top-tier.
Pro Tip: Use the parametric EQ to tame specific, harsh frequency peaks in your headphones. Look up your headphone's frequency response graph online to identify problem areas, then apply a precise, narrow cut in Neutron's EQ to create a smoother, more natural sound.
8. Plexamp
For the Meticulous Personal Music Curator.
Do you have a massive, lovingly-curated digital music library stored on a home server or NAS? Plexamp is for you. Built by a small, passionate team within Plex, it's a dedicated, "headless" music player that transforms your personal collection into a gorgeous, high-performance streaming service that you control completely.
Plexamp has a stunning interface and is packed with audiophile-grade features like true gapless playback, loudness leveling, and soft transitions. Its discovery features, like "Guest DJ" and "Sonic Sage" (which uses AI to build playlists), are arguably better than many mainstream services. It can stream your highest-resolution files (including DSD) directly to your phone and offers robust offline download capabilities. It's the most beautiful and powerful way to enjoy your own music library on the go.
Pro Tip: Let Plex run its "Sonic Analysis" on your library. This analyzes the acoustic characteristics of every track, enabling amazing features like finding all your "upbeat, acoustic" tracks or creating a seamless mix based on sonic similarity.
9. Spotify HiFi (or "Supremium")
The Game-Changer We're All Waiting For.
By 2025, we fully expect the world's most popular music streaming service to have finally launched its lossless tier. While details have been scarce for years, the arrival of Spotify HiFi (or whatever its final name may be) will be a monumental event for audio quality, bringing CD-quality, lossless streaming to its hundreds of millions of users.
The key advantage for Spotify will be its unparalleled user experience, industry-leading recommendation algorithms, and ubiquitous platform support. For the millions who love Spotify's interface and discovery features but have craved better sound, this will be the ultimate upgrade. While it might not initially compete with the 24-bit offerings of Qobuz or Tidal, it will be the most significant step in raising the baseline for audio quality for the average listener.
Pro Tip (for the future): When Spotify Lossless arrives, dive back into your favorite, most familiar albums. The difference in clarity, instrument separation, and the absence of compression artifacts on things like cymbals and reverb tails will be immediately apparent.
10. Deezer
The Reliable and Solid FLAC Performer.
Deezer has been a long-time player in the high-fidelity space, offering a "Deezer HiFi" subscription that provides its catalog in 16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC format. While it doesn't delve into 24-bit high-resolution, this CD-quality tier offers a substantial audio upgrade over standard streaming.
The app is known for its clean interface and its excellent "Flow" feature, an endless, personalized mixtape that adapts to your listening habits. Deezer also supports Sony's 360 Reality Audio format, offering another avenue for immersive listening. It's a fantastic, reliable all-rounder for those who want a solid lossless experience without getting lost in the weeds of ultra-high-res formats.
Pro Tip: Use the "SongCatcher" feature within the Deezer app to identify a song playing around you. It will instantly add it to your library in the highest available FLAC quality.
11. Onkyo HF Player
A High-Res Player with an Audio Pedigree.
From the venerable Japanese audio brand Onkyo, the HF Player is a powerful music app for playing local high-resolution files. Its claim to fame is its excellent, touch-adjustable linear-phase FIR equalizer, which offers 16,384 discrete bands of high-definition equalization with zero loss in audio quality.
The app supports a huge range of formats, including FLAC, WAV, and critically, DSD up to 11.2MHz. The free version is highly capable, but an in-app purchase unlocks the full potential, including DSD playback and support for higher-resolution FLAC. For those who want a player with a top-tier, precision EQ, this is a fantastic choice.
Pro Tip: Create and save different EQ presets for each of your headphones. A closed-back headphone will have a very different sound signature from an open-back one, and a custom EQ for each can optimize your listening experience.
12. Idagio
The Definitive Streaming Service for Classical Music.
Listening to classical music on mainstream streaming apps can be a nightmare. Poor metadata makes it nearly impossible to find a specific recording of a particular work by a certain conductor and orchestra. Idagio solves this problem brilliantly. It's a streaming service built from the ground up for classical music.
Not only is the search and filtering system tailored for classical's unique structure (by composer, work, conductor, orchestra, soloist), but it also offers streaming in lossless, CD-quality FLAC. The interface is clean, beautiful, and focused on helping you discover and compare legendary recordings of your favorite pieces. For any fan of classical music, Idagio is simply essential.
Pro Tip: Use the "Compare" feature. When viewing a work like Beethoven's 5th Symphony, the app allows you to easily see and play different recordings side-by-side, from Karajan to Kleiber, to truly appreciate the conductor's interpretation.
13. Foobar2000 Mobile
The Legendary Desktop Player, Untethered.
For years, Foobar2000 has been the gold standard for customizable, high-performance audio playback on Windows PCs. The mobile version brings that same lightweight, no-nonsense philosophy to your phone. It's not the flashiest app, but it is incredibly powerful under the hood.
It supports a vast array of audio formats, offers gapless playback, ReplayGain for volume normalization, and can be customized to a degree that few other mobile apps can match. It's a player for people who care more about pure performance and function than flashy visuals. If you're a long-time desktop user, the mobile app will feel right at home.
Pro Tip: Foobar2000 Mobile can act as a UPnP media renderer, meaning you can use an app on your computer to "send" music from your home library directly to your phone for playback over your Wi-Fi network.
14. Nugs.net
The Audiophile's Archive for Live Music.
If your passion is live music, Nugs.net is your temple. This service provides a colossal, ever-growing archive of official concert recordings from hundreds of artists, from legends like The Grateful Dead and Bruce Springsteen to modern jam bands like Goose and Billy Strings.
What makes it an audiophile's dream is that many of these recordings are sourced directly from the soundboard and are available to stream in CD-quality lossless FLAC and even high-resolution MQA. It's the closest you can get to being at the show, with pristine clarity that captures the energy and improvisation of a live performance.
Pro Tip: Check out the "Shows of the Week" for free, full-length concert streams. It's a great way to discover new artists in the Nugs.net catalog and experience the quality of their soundboard matrix recordings.
15. Evermusic
The Cloud-Connected Player for iOS.
For iOS users who prefer to own their music files rather than stream, Evermusic is an indispensable utility. While Apple's own Files app can be clunky for music playback, Evermusic is a dedicated audio player that can connect directly to a plethora of cloud services, including Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and more.
It can stream your music directly from the cloud or download it for offline playback, all within a clean and user-friendly interface. It supports most popular lossless formats like FLAC and ALAC and is a perfect solution for those who have their high-resolution library backed up to the cloud and want easy access on their iPhone or iPad.
Pro Tip: Set up automatic sync for a specific "New Music" folder in your cloud service. This way, any new high-resolution albums you add on your computer will be automatically downloaded to Evermusic on your phone.
Your Pocket-Sized Concert Hall Awaits
The journey to achieving truly exceptional audio on the go has never been more exciting or accessible. As we've seen, whether you're a streaming fanatic, a local file purist, or a lover of niche genres, there is a specialized app in 2025 ready to unlock the full potential of your music and your gear. The principle that Goh Ling Yong always emphasizes holds true: paying attention to every link in the audio chain—from the digital source file to the app that plays it—is the key to sonic bliss.
The gap between a dedicated listening room and a pair of headphones on your daily commute is shrinking rapidly. With one of these top-tier apps, a good pair of headphones, and perhaps a portable DAC, you are fully equipped to carry a studio-quality listening experience right in your pocket.
Now we want to hear from you! What is your go-to app for high-resolution listening? Did we miss your favorite? Share your personal setup and recommendations in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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