[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

[Audioplayer]

About that price hike!:  https://www.reddit.com/r/spotify/comments/15b2a96/spotifys_price_increase_sparks_user_exodus/

[jhucx1]

This is unfortunate news and enough for me to finally call it quits and move to Tidal for good.  I have been a subscriber for 12 years. Most of those years as a family plan.  If Spotify had just announced a price hike to get hifi I would have been on board.  However, the lack of clarity on the roadmap is so effing infuriating after YEARS of false promises, I'm just done with it.  Spotify **bleep** off!!!!

[Jondavis1992]

Everybody needs to walk away! 

it’s the only way these f**kwits at Spotify hq will truly see how damaging their lack of action is. 

disgusting way to treat loyal customers, who, frankly, have given Spotify far too many months to sort**bleep** out - and they haven’t. 

time to go! 

[lowr1der007]

Price increase and still worse audio quality than my 20 year old CD Walkman!? Come on Spotify, get with the times please.

[mctesterson]

Meanwhile, I'm listening to the new remaster of Steely Dan's Pretzel Logic on Qobuz in 192kHz / 24-bit sound quality, that is among their dozens of new releases this Friday, and it sounds incredibly good.

Stop wasting your time with Spotify, everyone.  Your listening life is too short to waste on cr*ppy sound quality.

[schjano]

Ok. Bye!

 

[danisnug]

I believe this topic has been circling around for a while, but let me bring to your attention again about the lossless audio. I've been a good subscriber since 2015, a time when the service was not even formally introduced in the part of the world where I live. With terrible regret, my loyalty has to come to an end a year ago when I tried to get myself into the lossless audio space. For those who haven't got the chance to try, I had to tell you that the level of detail is miles better even when proper lossless audio equipment was not in the equation. This has become a hassle for me because the outcome of abandoning my favorite platform means that I need to reorganize my playlists, re-learn to use a new platform and push myself to bond with an unfamiliar ecosystem. In the end, a part of me misses having a great experience through thoughtfully crafted UI/UX and on-point algorithm that connects me with things that I don't even know I liked it.

I really do wish to come back, but it will be only just a dream with the current offering. I believe most of us won't matter if the added service has to come with a price hike.

Hope to hear good news soon.

[PaulMac]

So the main music streaming services available at the moment are (in no particular order):

1. Apple Music
2. Deezer
3. Amazon Music Unlimited
4. Qobuz
5. Tidal
6. YouTube Music
7. Spotify

If you care about audio quality move to any of services listed 1 to 5 above. They all offer CD quality (or better) audio as part of their standard package.

If you DON'T care about audio quality then stick with Spotify or YouTube. You also get the bonus with Spotify of an increasingly clutterered UI and lots of exposure to podcasts and audiobooks, whether you want it or not.

[LawLee]

It's absurd that they prioritize podcasts when you enter the interface. I think it's kind of like supermarkets that put things in the front that they want to sell. Daniel Ek clearly is trying to direct people there to podcasts so that he bumps up their listening numbers to can justify the stupid mistake he made and adding this to what should be a music service. 

[bart1981]

Al those app updates and still no hifi 🤦🏻