[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!

[Sonos_Steve]

The player I use, (Volumio) shows you what's what.

Lowly 320Kbps of Spotify

Qobuz 44/16 and it is lossless

Then going through the gears

 

Upto 192/24

Surprising how many titles are now at 44/24 and 96/24

[GBillett]

Lossless hifi is definitely a better experience,  if you got the equipment to benefit from it.  Spotify's silence upon their promise is deafening.  Fortunately there are alternatives;  Qobuz,  Tidal, Deezer,  Amazon and Apple,  offering lossless music around the price of Spotify premium.  All of these offer incredibly good value introduction offers which can be run at the same time as Spotify.  Why not try one,  or all,  of them?  It's currently a buyer's market and maybe Spotify's current emphasis is on securing its controversial podcast acquisition.  Why wait for SPOTIFY to decide when it feels the time is right for YOU to enjoy hifi?  Try the alternatives.

[lappymusicman]

I’ve no interest whatsoever in podcasts but what I am interested and what I want is lossless streaming at the minimum of CD quality.
I’m no serious audiophile and most of my listening is through my MacBook using Momentum 3 headphones (wired not wireless) and an old Cambridge Audio DAC but I can really hear the difference between Spotify and the other streamers which I’ve been trying. Think I’ve settled on Amazon HD but still got a couple of weeks to decide - difficult decision as they are all very similar in quality other than Tidal who give you CD quality for £9.99 but then want £19.99 for any higher quality and you can get that included with the others.

[Ben187]

Since yesterday we have several news in Germany that Spotify has confirmed that it is delayed until an unknown date. Seriously? 

The difference between Spotify and me is that you can trust my promises. I'm out.

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Live-Ideas/All-Platforms-Music-HiFi-Quality-Lossless-Streaming-16bi...

I wish you a lossy new year....

[vaajy]

What exactly do you mean by "knowledge?" Do you mean the recommendations
and end-of-year insights?

Yes.

On Tidal and deezer these are extremely poor. When I do appreciate Hi Fi, it's not the deal for me when recommendations are not great. In case of these two Hi Fi apps I would need them for sound and Spotify for knowledge.

When that's not the case for some, I am extremely lazy to swim from app to another just to keep lists in order.

I heard on internet, that Hi Fi is delayed on Spotify, so it might not come anytime soon.

https://www.golem.de/news/musikstreaming-spotify-haelt-an-plaenen-fuer-bessere-klangqualitaet-fest-2...

[schjano]

Hello Apple! Hello 24bit! 🙂

[LawLee]

The story of the Emperor's New Clothes comes to mind when I think about Spotify this point in time. If your not familiar, "wiki" it. It doesn't seem like they're listening or recognize that they're exposed.

There's an article coming out almost every day mentioning that they've missed their commitment to bring Hifi to their audience. Hifi at this point is the minimum daily requirement. Some reviewers are speculating that they're holding back because their competition is offering the feature at no cost. But they  are  wrong. They are offering superior quality to what Spotify was proposing. Very astute move, Apple, Amazon.  Other services like Tidal and Deezer lowered their prices and even offered a free tier. Spotify got caught off guard.

Personally, I believe if Spotify offered their Hifi tier at an additional cost some of those who are exiting the service would probably come back. Personally, it's going to be hard for me to return. Unfortunately, have seen what "real clothes" look like.

For the last few months, I've been giving consideration to upgrading my equipment because it seems like my speakers weren't cutting it with Spotify. I have two 5.1 home theaters setups in my house (one's on my desk) and I was looking at the prospect of replacing 9 of the speakers. Not cheap. Because Spotify was talking about Hifi and delaying, out of curiosity I auditioned Qobuz, Apple Music, Amazon Unlimited, and Deezer.

I almost fell out of my chair. I was blown away because I realized then I didn't need new equipment. I needed to feed my systems good quality streaming. Furthermore, I can most definitely hear the improvement when I go from CD quality to high res streaming. On top of that other services are offering offer Dolby Atmos Music,  Spatial Audio, and other things that aren't even being talked about by Spotify. CD quality is now the minimum requirement. They haven't even shown that they're going to release that anytime soon. That's sad. Upsetting your customers is not a business strategy.

Some reviewers think Spotify may table releasing Hifi for other things. If so they may have "jumped the shark". I think the erosion of their base will accelerate.  If they do this I don't think next year is going to be a very happy year for them. In some reviewer's eyes they were barely holding on to their frontrunner status. I suspect that's going to change.

I was rooting for them because I liked them very much. But at this point, I don't have a lot of faith in them. I hope they get this right because they've done so many things right. But if they get these next moves wrong they're going to look like Frankenstein-ish amalgam of Facebook with the long term success of Pandora. My $0.02...

[LawLee]

Plot - The Emperor's New Clothes

Two swindlers arrive at the capital city of an emperor who spends lavishly on clothing at the expense of state matters. Posing as weavers, they offer to supply him with magnificent clothes that are invisible to those who are stupid or incompetent. The emperor hires them, and they set up looms and go to work. A succession of officials, and then the emperor himself, visit them to check their progress. Each sees that the looms are empty but pretends otherwise to avoid being thought a fool. Finally, the weavers report that the emperor's suit is finished. They mime dressing him and he sets off in a procession before the whole city. The townsfolk uncomfortably go along with the pretense, not wanting to appear inept or stupid, until a child blurts out that the emperor is wearing nothing at all. The people then realize that everyone has been fooled. Although startled, the emperor continues the procession, walking more proudly than ever.

The "swindlers" of Spotify's tale are their marketing people. How embarrassing that they trotted out Billie Eilish and Finneas, all this slick copy, video, and empty promises. Man, the Eilish's have got to be embarrassed to be associated with this at this point. No clothes...

[PaulMac]

Great post LawLee!

This massive delay has also given me a chance to evaluate other streaming services. 

Had they gone ahead and made it available within a few months of the announcement I never would have realised just how good the competition is, particularly Qobuz.

Even if Spotify do manage to introduce Hi-Fi later than promised, the fact remains this whole thing has been handled appallingly and I'm not sure I want any part of it.

[yi0rd-yik_48l]

@spotify team, it’s now 30/Dec and this feature still has not launched this year as promised, and now significantly behind the competition. Can you give us an update with a go live date? Thanks.