Hi!
On the old spotify forum there where many highly debated posts about flac and lossless audio in general.
This debate has 2 sides:
- Lossless streaming - this is the way into the future, but I estimate that it will take some time.
- Playback of your own flac that is on you computer. This is the point I'm suggesting, asking for today.
Playback of your own flac is a must for me, and everyone else that has a sound system, either speakers or headphones, that playback the sound at high end quality. Flac has become the industry standard for the High End Music market, and is miles ahead of nr 2, the apple lossless format.
I'm always looking for a the best playback program on PC's and Mac's. So far I havent found one that is worth recommending to others, so I use spotify for streaming, and foobar2000 for flac. The kicker is that Spotify has become a Very GOOD playback program, all though only for MP3 standard formats.
If Spotify where able to playback my own flac, it would become my number one and only playback program, and I'm sure that there is many others that feal the sameway.
You might say that there isn't any market in lossless, but I quaranty you that if lossless format playback, ia flac, was a part of the premium package, the number premium vs unlimited and freewold increase alot.
Spotify is already on its way to becoming the nr 1 playback program in the world for low quality formats, and it would be nice if the high end music lovers like my self could use it for our music and high end systems with lossless format.
For the "you can't hear the difference between mp3 360 and flac" debate, I've listed a few points below...in random order.
- yes, it's true you can't hear the difference on a cheaps #"¤ low quality system.
- yes, on a high end system you CAN hear the difference on most songs.
- yes, it's true that there is a few songs that either is too "noisy" or is recorded too poorly where you can't here the difference
- the above facts is something that is commenly agreed upon in the high end world(either you belive that a digital cable gives better sound if it's goldplated or not)
- If YOU cant hear the difference on a high end system, then staticly..there is something wrong with you hearing.
PS: A good high end system requier that the whole route in the system is high end..a good usb dac, quality cables(not insanely expensive though), a good preamp/amplifier(headphoneamp) and good speakers(headphones). the cost of a system like this Usaly start at these estimated prices.
- USB-dac around 1200€ Hegel HD20 is best value for money these days
- Cables around 5-700€ (complete for a stereo speaker system) should get you far
- F.ex Micromega PA 20 around 13-1400€ pre amp - has processer through for line AND subwoofer (Excellent to connect to your surround reciver, as it gives you subwoofer for you surround system, as well as for your hifi system).
- Skipping the amp and going for a set of active speakers would save you money
Adam Audio Classic Mk3 Compact around 3400€
And a tight subwoofer would give you a floorstanding sound for alot less Euros.
Adam Audio Classic Mk3 SW 260 around 1200€
There is cheaper systems out there, but this is a midrange High End system with outstanding sound. It will playback the sound as it's made/sounds.. that is, if you don't like violins or trumpets live..you don't like them on this system either.
Summary is short: Please make it possible to use spotify for listing to lossless music ia, flac!
Well, that is my take on this..please debate and or comment on this topic, so we can get some preasure on Spotify.
Cheers
TO
Norway
Hello folks, we've made some recent changes to this thread. As we feel this is listing two separate ideas we've split the kudos between the two ideas below.
Please continue to leave comments/ feedback in the two more specific ideas below. We're continuing to bring this feedback to the appropriate teams to ask for updates on these ideas.
1. Lossless Streaming 16bit 44.1khz CD quality
You are right, it would mean a considerable increase in bandwidth use throughout the service, it isn't likely in the near future. In the long run, when network bandwidths increase, this is likely to become a possibility. If you want to show support for lossless streaming click here.
2. LOCAL FLAC PLAYBACK
This would be easier to implement, as it only requires development of the app itself, and wouldn't have any effect on the Spotify service itself.
At the moment, flac is still a relatively uncommon format. If you would like support, please show your support for this right here.
We really appreciate your contribution here, you all make the Spotify experience a great one. :)