[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!

[N4TNF_CW]

Amazing how TIDAL and Deezer don't get basic user interface. Hire some
Spotify tech designers! Spotify, we love you but flip the switch to
Lossless.

[N4TNF_CW]

Like your ideas. Does no one in TIDAL, Deezer, Apple, Amazon, Pandora and
others get what Spotify does well: user interface. Apple and Amazon both
constantly work on this. It's simply a matter of time. Spotify - Flip the
switch to lossless now!

[N4TNF_CW]

I've tried TIDAL and with a Grado SR225 and AKG K240 in a quiet room tell
just the slightest difference with Spotify extreme. After-ring on a high
hat. Firmer finger pluck on a stand-up bass. A bit more subtlety. But,
for me at least with what I use, Spotify's user interface works better for
me. That's not to say TIDAL, Deezer or others inferior in quality couldn't
rapidly copy "best practices" and make Spotify a legacy. Flip the switch
to lossless.

[theveterans]

I've tried TIDAL and with a Grado SR225 and AKG K240 in a quiet room tell
just the slightest difference with Spotify extreme. After-ring on a high
hat. Firmer finger pluck on a stand-up bass. A bit more subtlety. But,
for me at least with what I use, Spotify's user interface works better for
me. That's not to say TIDAL, Deezer or others inferior in quality couldn't
rapidly copy "best practices" and make Spotify a legacy. Flip the switch
to lossless

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You should try Blind A/Bing them in offline mode so that there's no network latency involved. Bet you all that "subtlety" that you hear are simply placebo. It's a good idea to have lossless but to me the ability to have a Windows Audio Session API on PCs far outweighs the lossless option, hence me switching to Apple Music.

Bring Windows Audio Session API to Spotify then I'll switch back to it in a heartbeat.

[N4TNF_CW]

Please excuse my ignorance. A phrase I used often with my engineer. Could
you explain what you're suggesting and why? I appreciate your work - and -
your patience. Thanks.

[runaron]

"Windows Audio Session API" - better known as WASAPI - enables a bit-perfect output for an application (eg Spotify) by bypassing the default DirectSound engine (which is said to degrade the quality of the audio bitstream). It has to be a feature of the application and by now it isn't with the Spotify app.  It concerns those who use Spotify with a (Windows)-PC and feed its output to a DAC.

[runaron]

For many listeners it surely would be fine to have the WASAPI (or ASIO) option, but imho it would not at all compensate for the lossy stream format of Spotify. BTW - Tidal and Qobuz (don't know about Deezer) do have the WASAPI option within their apps. Once again Spotify is behind. What a shame...

[Blueshound24]

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@runaron wrote:

"For many listeners it surely would be fine to have the WASAPI (or ASIO) option, but imho it would not at all compensate for the lossy stream format of Spotify. BTW - Tidal and Qobuz (don't know about Deezer) do have the WASAPI option within their apps. Once again Spotify is behind. What a shame..."

I use JRIVER MEDIA PLAYER and it has the option to run everything through WASAPI OR ASIO including Spotify, Pandora, Tidal or even music via your browser.

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[N4TNF_CW]

I'd be interested in details for the Jriver Media Player.  It is way beyond my pay grade to attempt to get inside the laptop to make the adjustments necessary for WASAPI or ASIO.  If we pay additional and want the maximum quality, it sure makes sense to investigate positive alternatives.   

[Blueshound24]

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@N4TNF_CW wrote:

"I'd be interested in details for the Jriver Media Player.  It is way beyond my pay grade to attempt to get inside the laptop to make the adjustments necessary for WASAPI or ASIO.  If we pay additional and want the maximum quality, it sure makes sense to investigate positive alternatives".

It is WDM driver, it includes a sound driver.  This lets any program or source output data to JRiver Media Center.  Think Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, BBC, YouTube, Netflix, etc. It is easy to enable. Just have to go into settings and tick the box. Here's more info. 

https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=92593.0

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