[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!

[tvisdog]

I've given up. I canceled my account yesterday and switched to Tidal after at least 10 years as a Spotify customer. There are a lot of things I'll miss about Spotify, but at this point it seems like they're cashing in on a stagnant product.

[LawLee]

PaulMac,

Like you I'm a big fan of Quobuz. I think their aesthetic is perfect for the music afficionado. I don't know about you but I missed records. I missed the liner notes and all the things to be learned about the recording. Of the music services Qobuz presents it best. I'm sure it's the same way on the Mac but look at these next few screenshots from the PC app.

The "About" is comments on the album. But if you hit the "info" button you're treated to this...

I feel like I have a vinyl record with extensive sheet notes without all the scratchy noise that playing on the phonograph used to generate. Here's one of the areas where Spotify could improve. But I also like the transparency of knowing the quality of the recording in this case it tells me that it's 24 bit 44.1 khz stereo. 

Then I can also select the streaming quality coming down at 4 different levels that are clearly defined instead of Spotify's statement of something being Low, Normal, High, or Very High. What does that even mean??? They say that Very High can be up to 320 kb/s. But by the way they phrase it it sounds like they've got an out to not providing that streaming quality. Did the lawyers develop this part of the program??? They ought to spell it out explicitly like practically everyone else. 

On top of this my receiver or my TV tells me the bit depth and frequency that Qobuz says is delivering. Just like Sonos_Steve pointed out in his posting from above, this is really cool and reassuring. I hope Spotify is taking note.

But I also pay for Amazon Prime Unilimited. Why? In my opinion they have the best lyrics implementation. Again this takes me back to my record days when the liners used to carry the lyrics of popular songs. The nice thing about Amazon's implementation though is you can scroll up to any of the lyrics in a song, click on them and the song plays from that point. I think Apple and Deezer do the same thing. Very cool.

I can even karaoke with this. Again Spotify I hope you're taking note. The second crucial thing that I like about Amazon Unlimited is that it's more transparent in telling you its streaming quality. Look at this! It detects your system's abilities and adjusts streaming on the fly!

Both phone-based apps for Amazon and Qobuz are excellent, as good and in some ways better than Spotify's. To be fair Amazon Unlimited's Android tablet app is a dumpster fire. I hope they get to work on fixing it. But still it's usable. Spotify has got them beat here. But again, Qobuz's Android tablet app is superior to Spotify's in music and information usability IMHO.

So for me both Amazon and Qobuz have qualities I'm willing to pay for. Maybe Apple, Tidal or Deezer come closer to having it all. But Tidal's got MQA mastering embedded in all of their songs, so you know you're getting adulterated music. Apple Music and Deezer don't seem to have the depth of information or transparency of data streaming. I pay $7.99 for Amazon Unlimited and $14.99 for Qubuz. Go do the math, I'd be willing to pay $23 a month for a service that has all of these features. If Spotify were to concentrate on their music delivery in quality and depth of information I believe they could charge more than ANY of the services because of the strengths that they already have.

I truly hope Spotify sees these posts and respond to the strengths of their competition. Apple and Amazon have deep pockets. And eventually they're going to get more things right. Deezer is poised to gain ground as well because they're hungry. Qobuz apparently saw 45% increase in their users last year. They just got more investment; kudos to them.

I'm not trying to "shill" for anyone or "troll" Spotify. Anyway best wishes Spotify. But your strengths are not as glaring as some of your weaknesses IMHO.

[_macpharlain_]

Well this didn't age well or at all.....

[decooney]

Integrity and follow-thru builds trust with customers. Two days left for Spotify to make good on it's online announcement to bring Lossless features to customers by “year end” 2021.

The BS meter is close to pegged about now. : ‘ (

[user-removed]

https://mobile.twitter.com/deters/status/1476834794692661250

[inetbas]

Broken promises are a bad thing to do… leaving Spotify again. Back to Apple with an Apple One family account. More features for the same price.  Even storage and games. Already having Timely provided lyrics and lossless audio streaming to my av-set.   2022 means bye bye Spotify for me and likely many. When breaking  a promise, you break a bond.

[GBillett]

As a reminder of the statement from Spotify on 2nd March 2021 some 400 pages ago :

Hey folks, 

We're happy to say that we'll be setting this idea to ''Under Consideration'' since implementing it is in our current timeline.

Starting later this year, Premium subscribers in select markets will be able to upgrade their sound quality to Spotify HiFi and listen to their favorite songs the way artists intended. 

Take a look at our newsroom article here for more info.

Cheers!

Five hours and 30 minutes to make this happen.  No further official statements since March.  Those of us loyal Spotify subscribers who waited for HiFi feel entirely disrespected and disregarded.  Have been with Qobus now for 1 month and the sound quality and services are fantastic.  My Spotify premium officially runs out early January.   Last chance saloon for Spotify to reclaim my subscription.

If there are others in the same frustrated situation I would recommend trialling alternative streaming services who seem way more responsive to customer needs and for the same money as Spotify premium.  Bizarre pre-occupation with Podcasts and war-mongering dilute its musical integrity.

[spider623]

yeah, didn’t the CEO try to buy a football club?

 forget about lossless, Spotify will go under, sports teams are money sinks, plus combine it with bad PR, it’s not happening, better go to apple music that has less region lock anw or sleep with Bezos and amazon music

[GBillett]

The CEO invested $100m in a war technology company :

https://themusicessentials.com/news/daniel-ek-e100-million-investment/

[spider623]

war does make money… plus Americans buy them anw… even if they don’t understand why they don’t need the damn guns unless they are hunting…