[All Platforms][Music] HiFi Quality - Lossless Streaming 16bit 44.1khz

[timiambeing]

I've just started a trial of Qobuz - they offer the standard 320kbps as well as lossless FLAC streaming (and high res downloads if you purchase them) the sound quality is noticeably better and on classical it's just wonderful to get all that resolution through your hi-fi or headphones! The catalogue has a way to go to get to Spotify's level, but they are getting there. The iPad app isn't' too bad (the desktop app is in need of an upgrade but I hear they are putting all their efforts into mobile apps right now).

So - lossless streaming - if Qobuz can do it then so can Spotify, they must have the same source - and obviously if you are asking £20 a month then those record labels and distributors take enough notice to make the high res tracks available for streaming. What this all means is soon, very soon, we will get lossless streaming and closely followed by high res downloads - but if Spotify aren't careful it will be Apple who get there first with an audiophile premium offering, and when they do it will be a much harder market place to make money in!

** please don't lump this suggestion with the main one on lossless downloads, that's a different idea entirely guys!

[timiambeing]

I've just started a trial of Qobuz - they offer the standard 320kbps as well as lossless FLAC streaming (and high res downloads if you purchase them) the sound quality is noticeably better and on classical it's just wonderful to get all that resolution through your hi-fi or headphones! The catalogue has a way to go to get to Spotify's level, but they are getting there. The iPad app isn't' too bad (the desktop app is in need of an upgrade but I hear they are putting all their efforts into mobile apps right now).

[timiambeing]

So - lossless streaming - if Qobuz can do it then so can Spotify, they must have the same source - and obviously if you are asking £20 a month then those record labels and distributors take enough notice to make the high res tracks available for streaming. What this all means is soon, very soon, we will get lossless streaming and closely followed by high res downloads - but if Spotify aren't careful it will be Apple who get there first with an audiophile premium offering, and when they do it will be a much harder market place to make money in!

[timiambeing]

Good news!

Lossless audio quality is finally starting to roll out to Spotify Premium users! 🔊

Check out this post for more info:

➜ Spotify Premium: Now Streaming in Lossless Quality

[5601191975]

I have been searching for lossless CD-PCM-streaming, at start tried to rip CDs and play them on my QNAP server, to get best quality.

After some years I found that the sound quality was better using mp3.320, in theory it shouldn’t but in practice it is even hearable better mp3 quality than CD PCM. So a re-ripped all my CDs to mp3.

To get hearable better or even equal sound quality with CD-PCM than mp3 units for like 50USD/EUR/GBP in one need to spend something like 2000 USD/EUR/GBP on D/A-converters. There are certainly available but is it worth it? Isen’t the money better spent on something else, like the receiver or the loudspeakers? Even how the room is dressed?

I have a background in computers and tried to analyse the situation and as a standard argument it shouldn’t is that copying obviously always is better quality than converting digital formats.

But there is another digital equipment (computers, mobile phones etc) market and that is the volume issue. Pricing and quality is so much dependent on the sales volumes rather than the output quality of the critical component in the gear (mainly silicon stuff in the D/A-converter).  The mp3 market is so huge in compare to anything else that the components cheap mp3-stuff is made of is better than the CD-PCM stuff.

So this topic is in vain, you will never reach any results worth the effort.

[kurgen99]

I was just searching Tidal, and they seem to have almost everything on my Spotify list.  I thought that their selection was smaller? I'm going to demo Tidal.  Spotify doesn't seem interested in catering to the hifi crowd.

[user-removed]

Tidal has a great contemporary catalog, but classical and classic jazz are a bit lacking-compared to Spotify.

I do agree that Spotify doesn't seem to want to cater to the hifi/audiophile crowd.

[Wertymanjenson]

I need this in my life. Been downloading from beat port instead. But getting around to making it play on my devices is a nuiscance. 

[aggrsprfctr]

I have been poying for Spotify premium for years, but might be moving to tidal simply because of the lossless audio. All the reviews I have seen say Spotify's UI and catalog is better, but I'll drop it for lossless audio streaming as long as it works consistently. 

[world-in-union]

I could not agree more with the original poster. Technology has advanced far enough for HiFi streaming to become a reality. Other streaming services such as Tidal, Qobuz and now Deezer show that it is possible (even tough with Deezer it is only on their Beta Desktop app, but not anything mobile). Spotify has really a problem with the discerning music listeners who want to enjoy their music in the best possible quality. Please, Spotify, come on and start streaming in FLAC or, even better, MQA. It is possible in 2018, you know!

[HenrikStevn]

@world-in-union

CD-quality FLAC is fine. So-called "hi res" and MQA are both scams and utterly pointless.

[sriso]

Have no problem paying a little extra for the lossless streams.

[Music326]

_@world-in-union (Garage Band) __
_
Flac Files     =         Yessssssssssssssssssssss !

MQA            = _No , Never  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! _
(Because of that you have to read @ div. Forums !!!!)

[Rdrnation1976]

I have used Tidal and I can tell you there is a difference.  I like Spotify, but this non Lossless stuff is getting old.