BBC Radio 3 launches in 'HD Sound' (XHQ at 320 kbps) from its website today (Tuesday, December 14).

Listeners in the UK can access an 'HD' feed that employs improved encoding and higher bit rates to offer the BBC's highest online audio quality to date.

Accessible at Radio 3’s website, the 'HD Sound' feed will allow anyone with high-quality headphones or hi-fi speakers attached to their computer to listen online in appreciably better sound than that available via the existing iPlayer service. 

Radio 3 Controller Roger Wright commented that "It's wonderful that Radio 3 listeners can now experience all our programmes in even better sound quality when listening online. I hope as many people as possible take the opportunity to experience our Mozart season in the New Year and our Christmas output including the King's College Cambridge Nine Lessons and Carols service and carols from the BBC Singers and enjoy the enhanced audio quality of HD Sound.”

Initially, the 'HD Sound' will only be available from Radio 3’s website though, as technology develops, it will be incorporated into the BBC’s iPlayer and Radioplayer.