[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!

[mctesterson]

Love that, @petsy48 ....

Qobuz isn't the ideal user-interface (there's no shortage of criticisms and complaints about how it lacks this or that compared to competitors ...  but for music fans who prioritize the highest possible streaming sound quality, and more-equitable than most others' payment of per-play, it's an easy - and IMHO the best - choice.

[user-removed]

The qobuz app is terrible , no watch streaming and downloads take forever.  Their music library is weak too compared to Spotify. Their organization of music is poor and so is their music discovery and playlists. 

[PaulMac]

https://www.whathifi.com/news/spotify-hifi-could-be-here-soon-but-it-will-cost-you 

So if the rumours are correct Spotify, already having raised its prices twice in a year, is now considering an additional an 40% mark-up for HiFi. Despite the fact their competitors include it as part of their standard package. 

I'm guessing this will have about the same level of success as Twitter had with charging for the blue check🤣

[MLos70]

To all those who want HiRes; I recommend switching to Qobuz (or another streaming service).  It's a little  more expensive,  but it's worth it.  I subscribed last week, and will be cancelling my Spotify subscription before the next monthly payment.  I admit, Spotify IS more user friendly, but that doesn't make up for the bad streaming quality.  When I play the same songs on Qobuz in my car, it's a completely different experience.  With some songs I even noticed that there were lyrics (whispered) where I can only hear music in Spotify... That's how big a difference HiRes makes. And honestly, once I got started with Qobuz, I got the hang of it pretty welll.  I do have to say that, the day when Spotify offers HiRes (without being more expensive than Qobuz) I might switch back to Spotify.  

[rollerotr]

PaulMac (Roadie) Count me in as one of the customers willing to pay 40%
more! No service has the UI and depth of choice as Spotify.
Right now I pay for multiple services, spotify, qobuz, tidal and apple
music...a fistful of money. Way more than a $20-25 subscription to a full
service new Spotify!!
Isn't that we all want? One service that does it all??

[rollerotr]

Seriously folks, why would we all be pining for a lossless Spotify if all the other lossless services provided the same level of UI performance? 

So, who among us that continue to post in this sub/thread wouldn't be willing to pay Tidal's original cost of $19.99 for the same level (24/44.1 is adequate) of audio with their superior UI? 

For me, a budget audiophile, a combination of Spotify UI, new tools for playlists, breadth of catalog, audiobooks,...I'll gladly pay $25 so I can drop the multiple services I am subscribed to. I've tried them all.

Only Apple Music, IMO, compares, but....they do not allow third party streaming so tethering your Apple device is a must. Not a solution for me. 

[PaulMac]

Glad the new pricing plans will work for you @rollerotr👍

Personally I'll be sticking with Tidal that does everything I need for a lot less money each month. Plus it has none of the constant pushing of audiobooks and podcasts that I get with Spotify. 

[tts42572]

Agree @paulmac!

I've only been using tidal a couple days but so far I'm loving it.  And I notice the increased quality very often.  

I love using Spotify but you can't lag behind the other services for so long and expect people not to shop around.  And you can't expect people to stick around if you're charging way more than other services.  Yes, I do enjoy the spotify UI more but Tidal isn't really all that different IMO and it's working just fine for me so far.

If they are going to make HIFI an add-on that they're charging more for....Then make audiobooks and podcasts and add-on (or add-off) also that we can get rid of if we just want to listen to quality music.  They have to find a way to stay comparable in price to the other services and to me going more piece meal would be the way to do it.  And frankly, they'd probably increase their revenue that way.  But there's no way I'm going to pay $25 a month for my family spotify HIFI plan when I can go to tidal and get it for $16.99. 

My tidal trial goes for 2 months and I'm planning to keep both services over that period so we'll see what happens.    But come early August, I'm going to make my decision which one to drop as I'm not paying for 2 services.  And I think I'm going to have a hard time giving up the quality of tidal.

Well see though.  Spotify needs to give it some serious thought.  Trouble is, if these streaming services get too high in cost, I'll just go back to listening to CD's and ripping them to USB sticks if I have to.

[bart1981]

Where the **bleep** is HIFI 

[Faintandfuzzy]

On Tidal!!!