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Introducing the Classical Music Apps on Apple Music and Idagio
For classical music enthusiasts, two streaming services stand out – Apple Music Classical and Idagio. These platforms cater specifically to the needs of classical music lovers, each with its unique features and focuses.
Apple Music Classical
Part of Apple Music's extensive catalog, the classical music app offers a vast selection of over five million titles, arguably the world's largest classical music catalog. The app's user interface features a multi-line title and movement view, providing a detailed look at each work. The search function is optimized for classical music, allowing users to discover works and recordings in great detail.
The app also includes audio guides and track-by-track audio comments, offering insights into the music being played. Recordings can be up to 24 Bit/192 kHz and are available lossless upon request, ensuring high-quality playback. However, some users have reported issues with metadata display, particularly regarding musician roles per track, and limitations in library management.
Idagio
Idagio is another streaming service specializing in classical music, available for Android, iOS, and PC. With over 2.5 million classical tracks, Idagio offers a high-resolution FLAC 16-bit / 44.1kHz streaming experience for a hi-fi classical experience. The service also supports gapless playback, ensuring uninterrupted listening that is faithful to composers' intentions.
Idagio stands out for its unique features such as a "Mood Player" offering playlists based on emotions, exploration by mood wheel, watching performances, and paid courses on music topics. The service focuses strongly on user experience for classical music listeners, with few complaints stated in search results.
Comparing the Two
Both platforms support offline listening and offer large classical catalogs. Idagio appears more focused on classical-centric UI and listening experience fidelity, while Apple Music Classical benefits from the vast catalog and infrastructure of Apple Music with high audio quality and classical-optimized search.
Users seeking deep classical metadata, gapless high-res playback, and mood-driven curation might prefer Idagio. On the other hand, those who want integration with Apple Music ecosystem and a massive catalog with classical search features might favor Apple Music Classical despite its current limitations.
Additional Features
The classical music app on Apple Music offers numerous playlists for different epochs and composers. Subscriptions for Apple Music Classical start at 10.99 euros, while Idagio subscriptions start at 9.99 euros.
Idagio offers additional features such as exploration by mood wheel, watching performances, and paid courses on music topics. Some recordings on Apple Music Classical can be listened to in 3D audio with the appropriate hardware and mastering. The classical music app is also available for Android.
In conclusion, both Apple Music Classical and Idagio provide classical music lovers with a wealth of options for enjoying their favourite music. Whether you're a fan of Apple's ecosystem or prefer Idagio's focus on classical music, there's a service that caters to your needs.
Technology has made it possible for classical music enthusiasts to access a wealth of music through digital platforms like Apple Music Classical and Idagio. In the realm of entertainment, these apps offer not just music, but also additional features such as audio guides, track-by-track comments, mood-driven curation, and even 3D audio for some recordings.
