[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

[El0h1m]

@Jodokus
Looks like they did. They had some issues before (tested few moths ago).

Now came back to Qobuz, tested Wasapi straight away. 

It is a dream. Everything sounds great. My DAC indicator is changing every time the song have a different bit rate.

I tested it under different circumstances like changing sample rate in windows mixer to see if this will confuse Qobuz - nope. Qobuz and their Wasapi exclusive mode is rock solid for me.

Using Hidizs DH80S as my desktop DAC for headphones.

[NoNoise]

I am going to try Qobuz again in the next month or so.

I've been using Amazon (despite Exclusive Mode finicky-ness), because it is cheaper and had a much better music selection.

Qobuz used to be missing a LOT of music I searched for, but I know they've gotten much better over the last couple years.

[Jodokus]

Fantastic to hear, will try it right away. Thanks!!

[LawLee]

El0h1m et al.

I got a response from the author. He's a Qobuz user. Are you folks listening?

Spotify is too pricey for what you get. Cancel and try these 3 services instead | TechRadar

[Me] "Thank you for your opinion. However many people in this arena are adopting Qobuz as a HighRes streamer. Why no mention?"

[Al Griffin] You're welcome. I'm a Qobuz user myself, but being high-res audio-centered, that service is not the obvious option for average people looking to switch from Spotify. Qobuz is for serious audiophiles, and it serves that community very well! Perhaps a separate post on Qobuz is a good idea.

Thanks for writing.

Al Griffin

[El0h1m]

Al Griffin

That's great to hear!

I fall in love with Qobuz. 

Audio quality is amazing and now I know that I am using my hardware in 100%. 
From now on - just investing in better and better DAC and headphones. 🙂

All the best and enjoy Qobuz ❤️ .

[Sal1950]

I had Qobuz and it was very good but Apple offers so much spatial immersive music in lossless quality it's incredible. If you have a good multich, specially one with Atmos system you have to try it, Awesome!

[El0h1m]

I don't trust Dolby Atmos and all the spatial sound thing as this is not how artist intended and it's a lossy encoding.
Stereo is all I need 🙂

Same with MQA, I despise this technology. It's a BIG scam.

[paulove]

Then you don't need to use Dolby Atmos. You can listen to the music in Lossless or if you have the right equipment some albums are in High-Res Lossless.

Artists didn't make the music to only be listened to with a pair of stereo headphones or two speakers, but live in concert. 

[El0h1m]

Sure, I got your point. It's all personal preference. 🙂

In the last 5 months I have tested Deezer, Amazon HD, Apple, Tidal, Spotify and Qobuz.

1. Tidal and every song which have "Master" label is no longer lossless. Even with HiFi trier. MQA is lossy and if you choose to stream CD Quality they will serve you FOLDED MQA coded music anyways. Lossless are tracks without their "Master" label. I don't buy the MQA **bleep**.
2. Deezer is CD Quality. It's fine when you change your sample late manually to 16bit 44,1 khz. That's all.
3. Amazon's HD Wasapi in Exclusive mode is not working so there's no point of having HiRes if you can't use your DAC to listen with bit-perfect mode. You have to change the sample rate (manually) of your DAC every time you listen different song that have different sample rate.
4. Apple Music, sounds good but their Windows App is a disaster. Outdated **bleep** with very limited options, also their ALAC don't speak to me as it is no longer FLAC (OpenSource).
5. Qobuz - Their golden standard is brilliant CD Quality and LOTS of HiRes music with very good support of Wasapi in Exclusive mode. So DAC is changing its sample rate every time song needs it. I have an impression that Qobuz sounds the best and most premium of all. Their customer support is also brilliant.
6. Spotify - laughable ;))

[PCorreia]

As a matter of fact, spatial audio is exactly how music is intended to be
heard. It’s exactly the same as being at a live performance, where you are
involved by the music.