[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

[LawLee]

Best Music Streaming Service of 2023 - CNET

There's a nuanced message in this latest article about streaming services. Qobuz has pushed Tidal out of the third position into the "you might consider category". both Tidal and Cobas have pushed Amazon music way down in the review space. Amazon really needs to work on their UI and their apps to be competitive. It shows that even with cheap music you've got to have a good ecosystem to play it.

For me Apple music is a nonstarter. They don't support bit perfect playback on Windows PC's or Android. Same thing for Tidal I don't want to buy dedicated hardware for that dumpster fire that is MQA just to get substandard high res music. Go Qobuz. Taking the third spot is quite an accomplishment for this little upstart company beating out Amazon, Tidal and Deezer et cetera...

[stadi1]

By the way, Tidal is about to introduce FLAC for their highest tier (they will still keep MQA as on option): https://www.whathifi.com/news/tidal-is-introducing-hi-res-flac-to-its-hifi-plus-subscription-tier

This means, that their highest tier will get more interesting once this is available. I am still open to give Qobuz a chance in the future, but I need them to work on their catalogue, their Android Auto app and their recommendations.

[LawLee]

Why would anyone pay $19.95 for Tidal to get Hi Res when you can get that from Amazon, Apple, Qobuz and Deezer for as low as  $8.95???

Tidal has a history of missteps. MQA is just the latest of a number of footbullets that they injured themselves with. They're in an unenviable position now. I don't think they have any choice but to back away from MQA. But there's more to this nasty little story...

They've been serving unfolded MQA files to people claiming that these were lossless files on their $9.95 HiFi tier, misrepresenting what comes out of their service.

See: Tidal 'HiFi' is NOT lossless - GoldenSound

       I published music on Tidal to test MQA - MQA Review - YouTube

How does Tidal keep those folks who like MQA when their MQA catalog stops growing, and at the same time try to keep those audiophiles who have been alienated by their dishonesty?

I don't think MQA going into administration is the end of this. I think Tidal is seriously, if not fatally wounded by marrying themselves to MQA.

Though I can't help but be amused when I consider the so-called expert audio reviewers who lauded MQA, who now have taken a hit to their credibility in the eyes of many. Not many of them are commenting on the insolvency of MQA.

Posers!

[stadi1]

Ok, this part about lossless not actually lossless if it has a masters version is quite disturbing. I might have read about this earlier but forget / or thought  this was only about the MQA version. Now as Qobuz won't do it for me because of the missing albums, I might want to try Deezer (I still can't get my head around their strange device limits) or Amazon. Spotify actually releasing Hi-Fi (and doing it right) might solve this whole problem, but they don't seem to care.

[LawLee]

Tidal needs to offer lossless at a competitive price $14.99 or lower to stay in the game. Hope they come to their senses.

[bart1981]

WHERE IS HIFI?

[LawLee]

Question: WHERE IS HIFI?

Answer: On every other SERIOUS MUSIC streaming service,

[bart1981]

Where the **** is hifi?

[PaulMac]

Where is HiFi? 

A full answer was provided in Spotifys last update well over a year ago, where they stated they are excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future. 

So we have a choice - hang around waiting on them to finally get their act together, something that might never happen.

Or leave for a better sounding service that already has it... 

[habu77]

I am terrible at math but this thread has a bit more than 26.000 likes. Spotify has more than 200.000.000 Premium subscriptions so we're about 0.00013% pleading for hi-fi. All real musical enjoyment and critical listening has shifted to Qobuz for me, I keep Spotify for the albums I can't find on Qobuz. 

Stop pleading, don't hold your breath anymore, it's a waste of time. It's like an ant trying to lift a tank, totally pointless. There are multiple options to choose from when you really crave optimum sound quality. Happy moving-to-another-music-streaming-service-day! 😄