[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!

[IlIIlIIlllIlIIllI]

Guys, let it go. It's not coming

[Faintandfuzzy]

Apple can’t use LDAC.

[rollerotr]

Something to consider if you primarily stream music wirelessly. Apple
Lossless is only available to devices like HomePod. Otherwise, you need a
tethered connection.
So, Spotify, no…Apple, a big 😛
And to put the icing on the cake, these two services have the best
Algorithm and interface 🤪

Access to lossless and beyond is just not high enough on their priority
list for us complainers. But I appreciate all my comrade’s comments. Let’s
keep this thread alive😛

[LawLee]

Did you see the announcement:

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/03/spotify-plans-to-raise-prices-report.html

The basic tier will include music and podcasts, but not audiobooks, and will be among the first of multiple newly priced subscription plans that will be introduced, per the report.”

The Spotify announcement mentioned other tiers. Sounds like a clown car.

I think their trying to upstage Tidal’s Wedesday April 10 announcement.

Their marketing department doesn’t know what to do. Hope they launch Hifi on one of those tiers though…🤡

[Innocent_Excel]

Seems they have been confused and silly clowns for many years as they don't know what to do.

I think it's really worrying as the company is stil leading the market and people driving these decisions are clueless.

They don't know or care what we want, they completely ignore the upvotes here. I mean, this is truly the most requested feature ever from Spotify and still they can't understand that we want it. Instead they give us the changes, audiobook, podcasts and other nonsense that we didn't originally ask or want.

Spotify is clearly one of the worst companies ever as they don't listen to their customers.

I could simply sell few great ideas and innovations to Spotify to make it better..so it would be the best streaming service for music.

I think tomorrow I will get Tidal and see how it goes..

[LawLee]

Tidal is the perfect counterpoint to Spotify. I love it. No bull, all lossless music and good recommendations and UI/UX. Same price...

[Audioplayer]

No Tidal isn’t perfect although it might be the closest current copycat to Spotify. Tidal does have B.S. and while it’s UI/UX is ok it’s still not completely as good as Spotify and it’s sound quality is still beaten by Qobuz and Qobuz is still cheaper if you pay for the year in advance. No service is currently perfect but some do have their advantages over Spotify and vice versa until at least if Spotify ever gets smart enough to properly include HiFi then the only thing better is YouTube Music’s library size and that’s only because of it’s affiliation with regular YouTube however it’s still currently low fidelity. When Qobuz releases it’s connect feature (if it is as good as or better than Spotify’s) then Tidal would be left mostly redundant unless it found a way to improve its service and the same would go for Deezer.

[LawLee]

You're right Tidal is the worst, except when compared to all the other services.

I used to think that Qobuz sound quality was better until I really dug down into it. I just completed a very thorough fast A/B switching listening test trial with two sets of identical steaming hardware. And when the same quality of file goes through both services they sound identical. I didn't want to believe it because I've been a hardcore Qobuz addict for two years but it's true.

Qobuz has no music discovery and that's a fatal defect to me. When they come out with Qobuz Connect it is very likely it's not going to work with the gear that you have today. They won't support uPnP/DNLA. So anybody with gear that they like today is hosed. So if you're interested in Connect Technology stay with Spotify. Goldensound, Darko and quite a number of others who used to support Qobuz have given the nod to Tidal. I still love Qobuz and subscribe to it, But if I had only one service it would have to be Tidal...

[Innocent_Excel]

I used all these services and tested them besides using Spotify mostly. With Spotify I've been from the beginning.

I tested Deezer for few years, also tested Tidal (started when it was just called WiMP) and so..same with Apple Music and Qobuz. Amazon seemed quite confusing and I had mixed feelings of how it worked for me.

Think I might have to give Qobuz and Tidal trials now and see how they have gone from where I last was with them.

Both have their own pros and cons..

[Innocent_Excel]

@LawLee what would you, is it overkill for me to stream hires?
I usually listen on the music system and connect my iPhone 13 with usb to Marantz CD6005-player, which has integrated DAC (CS4398) and I also have Marantz amp (DAC AK4490). As I don't have any dedicated DAC, it's possible that iPhone 13 or iPad Pro will bottleneck the quality and I can't get the best possible quality.

What would you say and recommend me to do?