If you are into streaming music services and looking for the best music streaming services, Amazon Music is definitely one of the most trusted choices, if not the best. If you have opted for Amazon Prime, you will get Amazon Music as part of the package.
With over 100 million songs, it is one of the excellent choices for your specific needs. However, Amazon Music has much more than that.
It has carved a niche for itself with a compelling array of features and content. This Amazon Music review is an attempt at delving into everything that the music streaming service stands for.
The review will touch upon several aspects of the music streaming service, such as Amazon Music's sound quality and discussions like Amazon Music vs Spotify.
What is Amazon Music?
At the core, Amazon Music is a digital music streaming service. Developed by Amazon, it offers you a vast library of songs, albums, and podcasts. You can listen to the content available on Amazon Music across a multitude of devices.
However, it is essential to understand the different aspects of the streaming service and the different offerings that it comes with.
Amazon Music Basics
The different plans of Amazon Music
Amazon Music is a music streaming service spread across multiple tiers. You can choose a plan or a tier based on your budget and requirements.
- Amazon Music Prime – The service is the best option if you are on Amazon Prime already. The service forms part of Amazon Prime. It provides you with unlimited and ad-free music streaming. You can access practically every content across a curated collection of millions of songs, playlists, and stations. It may be noted that it offers you a glimpse into what Amazon Music offers. It may not offer you the complete library of Amazon Music.
- Amazon Music Unlimited: This is the flagship music streaming service from Amazon. It offers you a complete and comprehensive experience of music. With it, you gain access to Amazon's complete catalogue of over 100 million songs, all ad-free. It offers you features like on-demand playback, unlimited skips, and the ability to download music for offline listening.
- Amazon Music HD: The tier was previously offered as a separate high-end plan from Amazon Music. Now, it forms part of the Amazon Music Unlimited plan at no extra cost. This is a game-changer for audiophiles, as it offers high-definition (HD) and ultra-high-definition (Ultra HD) audio quality, providing a richer, more detailed listening experience.
Availability across several devices
The strength of Amazon Music lies in its availability across several devices.
The service is available across the following devices:
- Smartphones and tablets: You can access Amazon Music on iOS and Android devices through the dedicated apps.
- PCs and Mac devices: You can access music streaming through web browsers and desktop applications.
- Smart Speakers: The streaming service is deeply integrated with Amazon's Echo devices and other Alexa-enabled speakers.
- Cars: You can play Amazon Music across Bluetooth, USB, or dedicated car integrations.
- Gaming consoles: The service is offered on consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, offering you complete access to your favourite music all throughout your gaming sessions.
This broad device support ensures that your music is always within reach, whether you're at home, on the go, or even in your gaming chair.
Sound Quality on Amazon Music
If you are an audiophile, the music quality or sound quality would be of much importance to you. Amazon Music does excel in this arena. The availability of standard and high-definition audio as part of the offerings makes it a promising choice. It offers multiple sound quality options for discerning users.
The standard sound quality
- Bit Rate: Typically about 256 kbps (number of bits transmitted per second).
- Bit depth: 16 bits
- File size：9MB
Sound Quality under SSD is relatively high. It should be the right choice for general users and general music equipment. The bit rate is lower than that of high sound quality. Even then, it must be decent enough for everyday music enjoyment.
This is a lossy format. It has a little audio data that is compressed or removed.
The High-definition sound quality
- Bit Rate: Typically about 850 kbps.
- Bit depth: 16 bits.
- File Size: 51MB
- Network Requirements: 1.5 Mbps
The High-quality sound provides higher bit rates and more detail in the audio file. This sound quality is sought by users with demanding music requirements who use Hi-Fi sound systems or professional audio equipment.
The sound quality offers a noticeable improvement in clarity and detail compared to SD.
Super HD sound quality
- Bit Rate: Typically about 3730 kbps.
- Bit Depth: 32
- File Size: 153MB
- Network Requirement: 5 Mbps
Ultra HD is the highest sound quality option offered by Amazon Music. It lets you enjoy maximum audio reproduction and detail. Ultra High Quality is for audiophiles. It offers the best possible audio subtlety, depth, and clarity and delivers excellent results. It is best suited for high-end audio equipment.
This "lossless" format retains virtually all the original audio data, delivering an unparalleled listening experience, provided you have the right equipment.
Amazon Music Compared to Other Platforms
Most of the music streaming services offer standard and high-definition sound quality. However, the Ultra HD sound quality for the users on the Unlimited HD plan should make it a clear leader among the available streaming services.
Services like Spotify have long promised a HiFi tier but have yet to widely roll it out. Tidal and Qobuz also offer high-resolution audio, but often at a higher price point. In comparison, the super HD sound quality offered by Amazon makes it really outstanding.
When we compared it to the industry leader, Spotify, you can find the following comparison in the Amazon Music vs Spotify showdown.
- Library: Both services offer compelling libraries of over 80 to 100 million songs.
- Sound quality: As we have already observed, Amazon Music offers a better choice with its HD and Super HD quality. Spotify trails a little behind with a 320 kbps bit rate.
- Pricing: Both Amazon Music and Spotify come with similar pricing models. But if you are already a Prime subscriber, you will get an advantage with Amazon Music.
- Music discovery: Spotify is often praised for its intuitive user interface, robust music discovery algorithms (like "Discover Weekly" and "Release Radar"), and social features. Amazon Music is a bit less polished in this context.
Ultimately, the choice between Amazon Music and Spotify often boils down to individual priorities. If high-resolution audio, Prime member discounts, and deep Alexa integration are key for you, Amazon Music might be the better fit.
If superior music discovery, social features, and a highly polished user experience are more important, Spotify might win out.
Amazon Music Subscription and Pricing Options
Understanding different pricing plans on Amazon Music should give you a fair idea of making an informed decision on which one to choose.
Amazon Music Subscription Tiers
Let us evaluate the different plans available on the platform.
Prime Music (Included with Amazon Prime)
The package details consist of the following:
- Catalogue: A large but limited collection of millions of songs. Playback through the shuffle mode.
- Ads: An ad-free listening
- Offline downloads: Available only for All access playlists
- Audio quality: Standard definition (320 kbps).
- Cost: No additional cost apart from the Amazon Prime membership
Amazon Music Unlimited (Full Access, Ad-Free, Offline Downloads)
The details of the package include
- Catalogue: Access to the complete Amazon Music catalogue of over 100 million songs.
- Ads: Completely ad-free
- Offline downloads: All content can be downloaded for offline listening.
- Audio quality: Includes HD and Ultra HD audio at no extra charge, in addition to standard definition.
- Cost: A separate monthly or annual subscription fee
The key takeaway here is that while Prime Music is a nice bonus for Prime members, Amazon Music Unlimited vs Prime Music represents a significant leap in functionality, library access, and audio quality. If you want true on-demand access to the entire catalogue and the best possible sound, Unlimited is the way to go.
Amazon Music Price
Amazon Music offers competitive pricing, especially for Prime members, on the regular price of the Amazon Unlimited Plan. You can even compare the prices for Amazon Prime and Amazon Unlimited.
Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan
If you want to subscribe to the Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan, here are the prices you would be charged:
- For Prime Members: $10.99 per month or $109 per year (a saving of almost $23 annually compared to the monthly rate).
- For Non-Prime Members: $11.99 per month.
Amazon Music Unlimited Family Plan
- Cost: $19.99 per month or $199 per year.
- Benefits: Allows up to six family members to stream music simultaneously on different devices. Each family member gets their personalized account.
Amazon Music Unlimited Student Plan
- Cost: $5.99 per month.
- Eligibility: Requires verification of student status.
These pricing tiers provide flexibility, allowing users to choose a plan that best fits their budget and household needs. The annual option for Prime members offers a compelling discount for those committed to the service.
Free Trial and Cancellation
Amazon Music does offer a free trial period for the Unlimited service on its platform. The free trial period is generally 30 days. The free trial period offers you an excellent option to try out the premium features without the need to commit to a paid subscription.
How to start a free trial?
- Visit the Amazon Music Unlimited sign-up page on the Amazon website or within the Amazon Music app.
- Follow the prompts to initiate your free trial. You may need to provide payment information, but you won't be charged until the trial period ends.
Beware of the cancellation period
It's absolutely crucial to be aware of the trial's end date and understand how to cancel if you decide the service isn't for you. Many users inadvertently get charged because they forget to cancel before the trial expires.
Make sure to cancel Amazon Music during the free trial itself. Otherwise, you may end up paying for the subscription fees, which will not be refundable.
Download the Function of Amazon Music
The prime benefit that you stand to get with the Amazon Music Unlimited Plan lies in the option it offers you to download the tracks for offline listening. The feature should be a perfect choice for listening to your favourite music without the need to consume valuable data.
It can also be a practical feature in areas where you do not have proper internet connectivity. However, there are some important considerations regarding where these files are stored and their usability.
Amazon Music Download Location
If you are using the download functionality on Amazon Music, you will have definitely come across one query - where is downloaded Amazon Music stored on Android or other devices?
It should be noted that there are device-specific locations where these downloaded files are saved. Depending on which device you are on, the device locations will vary. However, even if you are able to locate where these downloads are stored, you will not be able to access or play these files on any of your devices except within the Amazon Music app. These files are encrypted and are generally saved as cached files.
- On Android, the downloaded files are usually found within a specific directory that's hidden by default. The typical path is /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.amazon.mp3/files/music. If you use an SD card for storage, the path might be something like /mnt/extSdCard/Android/data/com.amazon.mp3/files/Music. You'll often need a file manager app and enable "show hidden files" to locate them.
- On PC/ Windows: The default location for the downloaded music files would be C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Amazon Music\Data.
- On Mac devices: The default download location would be YourUserName/Library/Application Support/Amazon Music/Data.
Remember, even when downloaded, these files are protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM). This means they are tied to your Amazon Music account and cannot be freely transferred, shared, or played on devices or software that are not authorized by Amazon. This brings us to a common challenge and a popular solution.
How to Download Amazon Music with KeepBeats?
Well, we know Amazon Music lets you download the tracks from its platform for offline listening. However, the downloaded tracks come with several limitations. These limitations can make your offline tracks not exactly truly offline.
The DRM protection on official Amazon Music downloads can be quite restrictive. Many users wish to have more flexibility with their music.
They look for options such as transferring the music to a USB drive for car playback, adding it to a video editing project, or simply keeping their music collection even after their subscription ends. This is where a specialized tool like the KeepBeats Amazon Music Converter comes into play.
Here are a few restrictions that would make your downloaded tracks lack the most desired features:
You cannot play the downloaded files outside the Amazon Music app. The files are encrypted and saved in an inaccessible location on your device. This will make your downloads unplayable or transferable to any other device.
The songs cannot be recognised or played by the other music streaming services you have installed on your device. You will not be able to play these devices are never playable directly on devices like MP3 players and external hard drives.
The downloaded tracks are tied to your Amazon Prime or Amazon Music account. If you cancel your Amazon Music Unlimited or any other similar subscription, your downloads cease to exist or become unusable. You may or may not get them back when you resubscribe to Amazon Music.
Introduction of KeepBeats Amazon Music Converter
Well, what would we suggest to help you overcome the limitations of the default download functionality? The best option would be to install and use a reliable and safer Amazon Music downloader. There are several downloaders that help you download your favourite Amazon Music tracks with no restriction whatsoever.
KeepBeats is an excellent option for a highly reliable and trustworthy downloader for a realistic and authentic download experience. A powerful third-party tool designed to overcome these limitations. It essentially acts as a bridge, allowing you to convert Amazon Music tracks into common, DRM-free audio formats like MP3, AAC, WAV, or FLAC.
How Does KeepBeats Work, and What are Its Benefits?
KeepBeats works by saving the file as it plays on Amazon Music. Once downloaded, it can efficiently convert the audio to a file format that you prefer. This process effectively removes the DRM protection, making the files universally compatible.
The key benefits offered by the downloader include:
- High-quality audio downloads: You can retain the original audio quality, whether HD or super HD, giving a studio-quality experience to your listening experience. Expect audio resolutions of up to 320 kbps.
- DRM removal: KeepBeats strips the DRM protection of your downloaded titles completely. You can play the tracks on any device and even transfer the downloaded track to any device you prefer
- Universal compatibility: The converter supports converting your favourite tracks to most of the popular file formats, such as MP3, FLAC, M4A, and AAC, to name a few. This should provide you with complete universal compatibility across any device.
- Retention of ID3 tags: The downloader cum converter retains the meta data of your file intact. The ID3 tags like artist, album, title, and artwork are preserved.
- Batch conversions: You can convert multiple tracks in one go. So much so that multiple songs and playlists are downloaded simultaneously. This should help you save enough time and effort.
- Faster downloads: KeepBeats offers you a really fast download. You can download your tracks at speeds that are 20 times faster than the competing downloaders.
Here is how you can download Amazon Music tracks and playlists using KeepBeats Amazon Converter.
Step 1. Download and install KeepBeats on your computer
Use the official website to download and install KeepBeats on your device. The downloader is available for both Windows and Mac. You can download the appropriate version based on your operating system. You can go with a free trial option so that you can get used to the tool and its features.
Step 2. Choose Amazon Music
From among the different streaming services supported on the downloader, pick Amazon Music. Sign in to your Amazon Prime or Amazon Music account. You can consider creating a new account if you do not have an account already or do not want to use your existing account with the downloader for any reason.
Step 3. Search and find the track or playlist that you want to download
Use the search feature to locate and play the tracks, playlists, albums, or podcasts that you want to download. This should bring up the download parameter options. You can configure the audio resolution, file formats, and other preferences.
Step 4. Download the tracks
Once you have configured the download parameters that you prefer, click on Download Now or click on the download arrow to begin downloading the track or playlist. You can even choose to schedule your download for a later time.
By utilizing a tool like the KeepBeats Amazon Music Converter, you gain true ownership and control over your Amazon Music library, opening up a world of possibilities for how you enjoy and utilize your favourite tracks. It's a highly recommended solution for anyone looking to break free from the limitations of Amazon's native download function.
How to Turn Off Amazon Music Shuffle Mode?
If you are on the Amazon Music Prime version, you will be disturbed by the default shuffle functionality. Most of the catalogue on the Music streaming service comes with the shuffle mode.
Of course, if you choose Amazon Music Unlimited, you will get on-demand playback. Prime members have long been looking to turn off Amazon Music shuffle mode. The feature is indeed much required if you want to listen to the albums and songs in the order you prefer, rather than the order that the system decides.
Here’s how you can typically manage shuffle mode on Amazon Music:
- While the music is being played, look for the Now Playing screen.
- Find the Shuffle icon. There should be a shuffle icon visible predominantly.
- Toggle the shuffle. To enable it, tap on it or click on it. Make sure that it changes colour. That would mean shuffle mode is enabled. To disable it, tap on the shuffle icon and check if it is disabled.
If you are on Amazon Music on Prime, even when you have shuffle mode enabled, most of the catalogue will still be in a shuffle-only playback. The toggling off shuffle mode is applicable to the tracks included in "All-Access Playlists", where on-demand listening is permitted.
If you are on the Amazon Unlimited Music plan, you will get an on-demand feature as a standard option, and you can decide to turn on shuffle mode if you need to.
If you're a Prime member struggling with shuffle mode for most content, upgrading to Amazon Music Unlimited is the direct solution for on-demand listening.
You may also check out the options to turn off shuffle mode on Amazon Music.
Advanced Usage and Features of Amazon Music
Apart from normal music streaming, Amazon Music offers you several features that improve and enhance your listening experience. In fact, there are several ways that it can integrate with your daily life.
Setting Amazon Music as Ringtones and Alarms
How about waking up to your favourite song or even having a personalised ringtone for your calls? Of course, you will not be able to use the feature as a direct option from within Amazon Music. The functionality may not be offered directly due to the DRM limitations.
However, a tool like KeepBeats can help you with this. You can convert a track to a file format of your preference and use the music files as your ringtone.
Setting Amazon Music as a Ringtone
Here is how you can set Amazon Music as a ringtone on your phone or any other device:
- Convert the song: Use a tool like KeepBeats Amazon Music Converter and convert your preferred song or song into a ringtone. Make sure that you have selected just the required part of the song for a ringtone, preferably the first 30 seconds. You can even download the entire song and then edit it to the required length and portion.
- Transfer to the device: Once done, transfer the song to your device.
- Set it as a ringtone: On Android, go to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Phone Ringtone and select your custom MP3 file. For iPhones, the process is a bit more involved, often requiring iTunes or Finder to sync a custom .m4r ringtone file. For step-by-step instructions, you can refer to guides on how to set Amazon Music as a ringtone.
Setting Amazon Music as Alarm
To set the tone as an alarm tone, you can follow the steps here below:
- Using your Alexa devices - This is the easiest method if you have an Alexa-enabled smart speaker. Open the Alexa app, go to Alarms & Timers, create a new alarm, and then select "Amazon Music" as the sound source. You can then choose a specific song, artist, or playlist.
- Using your Phone (after conversion) - Similar to ringtones, if you want to use a specific Amazon Music track as an alarm on your phone, you'll need to convert it to a DRM-free format first. Once converted, you can set it as your alarm sound through your phone's native alarm clock app. More detailed steps can be found in articles on how to set Amazon Music as alarm.
Playing Amazon Music on Different Devices
The widespread compatibility and popularity of the Amazon Music streaming service have made it a most sought-after service across multiple devices. Let us explore a few methods that can be helpful in playing Amazon Music on different devices of your preference.
How to Play Amazon Music in Car
There are several ways you can play Amazon Music in car with ease. While the Car Mode from within the app may be an excellent choice, you can also use a few other options to play your favourite Amazon Music tracks in your car.
Car Mode: Car Mode is an exclusive feature on Amazon Music. The feature is specifically designed to work with the music playback in car. When you are connected to the car audio system through Bluetooth, the car mode automatically kicks in. It offers a large button design and thus can be a very comfortable option during driving.
The most common ways to play Amazon Music in car include
- Bluetooth: The most common method. Pair your smartphone with your car's infotainment system via Bluetooth, then simply play music through the Amazon Music app on your phone.
- USB/Auxiliary Input: Connect your phone to your car using a USB cable or a 3.5mm auxiliary cable.
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto: If your car supports these platforms, you can often control Amazon Music directly from your car's display.
- Alexa Auto: Amazon offers dedicated Alexa Auto devices that bring Alexa integration directly into your vehicle.
- Converted Files: If you've converted your Amazon Music to MP3s, you can load them onto a USB stick and play them directly through your car's USB port (if supported). For a more in-depth guide on playing music while driving, check out how to play Amazon Music in car.
How to Connect and Play Amazon Music with Gaming Consoles like PS4?
Well, we would really appreciate it. Playing music during your gaming sessions can be very much rewarding. Of course, there is no Amazon Music app available across all gaming consoles; you can get it on specific devices as described above in the section on Availability across several devices.
- PS4 (and other consoles with web browsers): You can often access the Amazon Music web player through the console's built-in web browser. This allows you to stream music, although it might not be as seamless as a dedicated app.
- Background Music Apps (if available): Some consoles allow you to run certain music streaming apps in the background while you game. Check your console's app store for "Amazon Music" or generic media player apps.
- Bluetooth/USB Audio (less common for gaming consoles): Some setups might allow you to route audio from a device playing Amazon Music (like your phone) to your console's audio input, but this is less common and often more complex. For specific instructions on playing Amazon Music on your console, refer to resources like how to play Amazon Music on PS4.
More about Amazon Music
Well, we guess we have covered almost every feature offered by Amazon Music. However, we thought it appropriate to touch upon a few important aspects of the popular music streaming services.
Third-Party Modifications and Risks
If you are using an Android device, we are sure that you might have heard about modded APKs. The modified APKs are known to offer you unofficial versions of applications that have been altered to unlock premium features, remove ads, or bypass restrictions.
We are sure you might have come across tools like "Amazon Music MOD APK" promising free access to Amazon Music Unlimited or other enhanced functionalities.
A brief discussion about modded Amazon Music APKs and their risks
Of course, the idea of getting premium features on an app without the need for a subscription may be quite tempting. However, it should be noted that these apps may not be up to the mark in terms of safety.
Some of the possible issues that you may come across would include:
- Security vulnerability: Modded APKs are not released from the official sources. They may contain malware, viruses, or spyware. These can harm your device and personal data.
- Account ban risks: Amazon Music has mechanisms in place that can detect the use of unauthorised apps and APKs. It should be noted that the unofficial versions may violate Amazon's terms of service, which can lead to your Amazon Music account (and potentially your entire Amazon account) being suspended or banned.
- Instability and bugs: Modded apps tend to be unstable. The developers do not support them. They are most likely to crash often. They will never receive regular updates. That would ideally lead to a poor user experience.
- Lack of support: You will not receive any official customer support for any issues you face with modded versions.
- Ethical concerns: Using modded apps deprives artists and developers of their rightful revenue. It may not be an appropriate act to use modded apps in this context.
Why should you use official apps to ensure security and functionality?
Well, yes, using the official apps will ensure that you can get assured security and functionality. You can be assured of a secure, reliable, and ethical music streaming experience.
It is strongly recommended to download and use the official Amazon Music app from trusted sources like the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or the Amazon App Store.
If you desire advanced features like offline playback and DRM removal, invest in legitimate third-party tools like the KeepBeats Amazon Music Converter, which operate within legal boundaries.
How to Import Amazon Music to iMovie?
If you are a content creator, the ability to use music in your video projects can be a good gift. In case you are working with iMovie and other video editing software, you may wonder how to integrate it into your Amazon Music tracks.
How to use Amazon Music tracks in iMovie or other editing apps after conversion?
Well, once again, the DRM protection plays a spoilsport here. You will not be able to use or import Amazon Music tracks from the official app into iMovie or most other video editing software. The right solution would be to convert the music to a universally compatible, DRM-free format.
How do tools like the KeepBeats converter simplify this process?
Here are the options you can opt for using the Amazon Music tracks for your iMovie videos –
- Convert the tracks: Use the KeepBeats Amazon Music Converter to download and convert your desired Amazon Music tracks. You can convert them to MP3, AAC, or WAV files. These formats are widely supported by video editing software.
- Locate Converted Files: Once converted, the files will be saved to a folder on your computer that you specify.
- Import into iMovie
To import the downloaded and converted tracks into iMovie by following the steps here below:
- Open your iMovie project.
- Go to "File" > "Import" > "Audio" (or click the "Audio" tab in the Media Library).
- Locate the folder where you saved the converted Amazon Music files.
- Select the desired track and import it into your iMovie project.
- You can then drag and drop the audio tracks onto your timeline. Once done, trim them and adjust their volume as needed.
- This process allows you to seamlessly incorporate high-quality audio from Amazon Music into your video creations, enhancing your projects with your favourite tunes. For visual step-by-step guides, refer to articles on how to import Amazon Music to iMovie.
Conclusion
Our detailed Amazon Music review has explored the diverse facets of this popular streaming service, from its tiered offerings and impressive sound quality to its practical functionalities and potential workarounds for common limitations.
Whether you're a casual listener enjoying the benefits of Prime Music, an audiophile seeking the pristine clarity of Ultra HD with Amazon Music Unlimited, or a creator looking to incorporate your favourite tracks into multimedia projects, Amazon Music offers a robust platform.
In fact, if you are looking to make the best use of Amazon tracks, you may need to use a specialised tool such as KeepBeats Amazon Converter for an enhanced level of experience. It allows you to bypass DRM restrictions and truly own your digital music collection.
By leveraging these insights, you can tailor your Amazon Music experience to perfectly fit your needs, ensuring your soundtrack is always on point.