Announcements
The Spotify Stars Program: Celebrating Values Week!

Help Wizard

Step 1

NEXT STEP

FAQs

Please see below the most popular frequently asked questions.

Loading article...

Loading faqs...

VIEW ALL

Ongoing Issues

Please see below the current ongoing issues which are under investigation.

Loading issue...

Loading ongoing issues...

VIEW ALL

[All Platforms] Can we here difference between Spotify 320k and lossless FLAC?

[All Platforms] Can we here difference between Spotify 320k and lossless FLAC?

Many people claim they can easily spot difference between Spotify 320k and lossless (FLAC). 

 

It will be interesting if someone can try it.

Comparison:

 

Spotify (Vorbis 320 kbps) vs LOSSLESS.

 

You can download files here -> LINK

 

You will find 3 short samples:

01 Allons Pink Floyd

02 Angel Fall First

03 Girl Beck

 

There are two samples in each directory.

SampleA.wav and SampleB.wav. Some of them are "lossless" another were decoded from Vorbis 320k (Spotify)

 

So tell us. Can You hear a difference?

 

Report here which of "A" and  "B" You think is lossless and which is Spotify 320k 

 

 

Reply
6 Replies

Hi, i try it and my answer is :

01 Allons Pink Floyd

    A/ lossless
    B/ Vorbis 320k (Spotify)

02 Angel Fall First

    A/ lossless
    B/ Vorbis 320k (Spotify)

03 Girl Beck

    A/ Vorbis 320k (Spotify)
    B/ lossless

 I made this test on an Onkyo TX8150 (stereo receiver with DAC) and Kef Q300 speakers. I only feel differences in "presence" and a bit in the high frequencies precision. Am i wrong?

This test is not good.

Decoding of ogg vorbis file is important part of comparision process.

I have tested using yamaha aventage 2060 (and kef r300) direct connected to spotify, tidal, qobuz changing quality streaming.

I hear difference from spotify or qobuz 320 vs tidal cd or qobuz cd. lossless flac is more clear in high frequency and less confusing on bass frequency. instruments appear more ‘separate’ (sorry for my terms).

@Benos
Thank you for your results. I will inform about your results as soon as we will get more results from other participants.

 

@Oltremare

Sorry, but then following your logic "everything can be flawed". There would be no sense to test Tidal, Spotify, 320k and lossless because of that.
It's not a valid point.
Vorbis files were properly decoded with compliant decoder.

I replied with my results in the original thread. Sorry.

I think the lossless samples are BAB

Thank you davew99. 

We still need more results.

It's incredible that so many people are claiming to easily hear differences in sampling rates and are willing to pay more to get lossless but won't take part in this test. 

Suggested posts