[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]

Yep, another anvil-on-the-head signal to music lovers, that Spotify doesn't give a f--- about music fanatics; they only want to rot your brain with misinformation and conspiracy theories because that's where the money is: https://www.engadget.com/joe-rogan-reportedly-nabs-another-250-million-from-spotify-to-share-his-big...

[Visionary1]

This blind test of streaming services does not bode well at all for Spotify.  Might as well spend a little more and get HiFi audio quality. Engineers rank Music streaming services on a $30,000 Headphone System! - YouTube

[vaajy]

Hello folks. I don't think the Hifi will arrive ever.

I've just received update to my Spotify app on Android and Settings page got new view. It's basically all the same, but Audio quality settings for Music is way down and is under clickable option. Any other quality settings remained on the Settings page, but mainly Podcasts related. Now it is more than clear Podcasts are their number one and books. Audio settings transfer for music is clear sign it's not for music anymore.

Changing music audio quality is so hard now, many clicks and scrolls away. If it's not for music, it's not worth waiting Hifi quality. Maybe for podcasts only.

If you need Hifi, you know what to do. It will never arrived to Spotify.

[Anadi]

Hello,

Please bring lossless music option in Spotify ASAP. I don't want to pay for Apple Music and Spotify every month. I hate keep switching to Apple Music for lossless audio. Spotify HiFi was announced in 2021, we are in 2024 now and still there is no update regarding Spotify HiFi. What!!!!!!

[Visionary1]

I got an Amazon streaming promotion for 3months.  Although their user interface is not as refined as Spotify's, it's presentation/style is a bit more sophisticated and attractive (Spotifys is more like a hodgepodge of stuff crudely shoved on a page). The biggest difference is Amazon's HD and Ultra HD Lossless offering....I find myself enjoying music listening much, much more than the comparable Spotify experience.  Further, the Atmos and 360 Reality recordings are absolutely amazing - music comes alive!  At first i thought these streams were gimmicks, they definitely are not.  Well, my 3 months is almost over.  I will try Tidal next and ultimately will then shift my Spotify streaming subscription to this service.  

[Innocent_Excel]

@Visionary1 have you tested Apple Music, Deezer or Qobuz?

[rollerotr]

I have recently tested the four streaming services I am subscribe to on my budget audiophile 5K system. Lossless: Amazon Music HD and Tidal Plus. Lossy: Spotify and Apple Music through Airplay 2.

The difference between lossy and lossless on a decent system is night and day. I wish my ears and brain were wired differently, or I just didn't care, but Spotify and Airplay 2 Apple Music are disturbingly muddy and unlistenable for music. Are there many of you on this thread that feel the same way?

[janpeeters]

Yes, I agree. Even the difference in air and spaciousness between Tidal Hifi Plus and Tidal Hifi Plus was clearly noticeable so I went for the higher tier.

[Visionary1]

Hey Samppa3 - Not tried Deezer. Have samples Apple and Qobuz. Apple is good but UI is terrible. Hard to get around, maybe little better than Amazon.   They bought Primephonics (classic music) and took a couple years to incorporate in Apple system.  They destroyed it with the Apple designed UI. Original Primephonics was really good - go IDAGIO if like classical.  Qobuz has cleaner UI design and it seems to me the sound quality is the best of all services. Also, they cover jazz very well.   When I tried Tidal few yrs back, i despised the home page - all rap **bleep**.  I don’t want to view tasteless and offensive album covers when I open an app.  

Spotify really needs to have lossless and high resolution audio to be considered serious player.  They do need to work on UI - clean it up and simplify.  They are on right track with things, but need to hone in on quality.  The DJ is good idea, but the voice used is horribly ghetto. Can improve with better voice - perhaps a selection and incorporate more live features like weather and time or music info.  The solution is simple, but for some reason they don’t see it.  If changes don’t happen soon, I will be changing. Oh well. 
 

[rollerotr]

This thread, [All Platforms][Music] HiFi Quality - Lossless Streaming 16bit 44.1khz, originated with the desire for Spotify to get their lossless act together. However, their internal survey demonstrates that the majority of their listeners do not care enough to pay more for lossless.

Perhaps we can shift our focus to examine the comparison between Deezer, Tidal, Qobuz and Amazon, who do offer lossless tiers.

I have tried all 4 of the above mentioned services. Currently, I have Amazon and Tidal. I find Tidal sound quality to be superior, and now that they are phasing out MQA for HiRes Flac, their sound approaches my memory of Qobuz's quality. I found Deezer, which is limited to 16/44.1, a step down in sound quality. I do acknowledge that the mastering quality is more important than lossless vs HiRes. I would, however, try Qobuz again if people report the sound and UI to be equivalent or better than Tidal. I am ambivalent about Amazon HD. I am a Prime member so it is the cheapest alternative. But I don't care much for the interface. 

As for Spotify and Apple Music, I believe they have a better UI, and sound fine on a wireless speaker, but fall short on a stereo system capable of higher resolution. I also believe that if either company made lossless readily available, the other would follow! And we would be talking about Apple Music vs Spotify. But that is not where we are.

Any thoughts on sound quality, UI, and recent user experience among Qobuz, Tidal, Amazon HD, and Deezer?