[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!

[a4darkness]

Let's make it 1000

[SoundError90]

You just can't cancel your subscription and try something better in sound. And you 're just suffering here . You just need to leave and that 's it , not whine . When there is a large outflow of subscribers , then the situation will change . I cancelled my subscription to this Spotycast a long time ago .

[Elfunesto]

Hi there. I haven't commented here since I moved to Qobuz over a year ago, although I still have Spotify as my kids use it. I understand the arguments regarding the fact that suggestions are better on Spotify. But after a while, with my musical taste, I wasn't getting anything new that was really worth it.

At that stage, I have two things that I miss: 1) a connect function, but it is in beta for Qobuz and should come soon, and 2) a better integration with my car environment. Qobuz on Android is not great imho for use in the car.

For the interface, I personnaly like Qobuz' interface a lot, and it just got better with the last update from today. The search is sometime frustrating, but it is the same on every service I tested (Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz). Booklets are avalable for many albums. Yes most people don't care, I do. The personal library is now the best on all the apps I tested. Indeed with the latest version, one can sort by artist and then get the favoite albums of that artist or the downloaded albums. The way it is done is extremely convincing.

As for contents, I have no complains. Everything I am looking for is available on Qobuz. 

Finally, for the sound, I think there is no question that it is superior to Qobuz.

And I almost forgot: Qobuz is way more supportive of the artists.

So at that stage, as soon as my kids are leaving my place (should happen pretty soon), I will not cancel my Spotify. Even if they propose Hifi at the same price. I have lost confidence in them. That said, I understand that my concerns are not everybody's concerns and if people are happy with Spotify, fine. I am not, I feel cheated.

[petsy48]

Qobuz is Great!

[PaulDNice]

I was just about to say the same thing.
Stop whining, just switch to other services.

[ljosb0xet0ebanix5wza]

Cheers for the advice PaulDNice - that's what people are doing.

I don't think there's much whining, just frustration that the best streaming platform in terms of content and features isn't delivering what it has promised to do for years and deliver decent sound. If Spotify just said "hi-res isn't a priority for our user base - when that changes it will become our priority" then no one would have an issue. 

That said, I have terrible timing when it comes to stuff like this ... my Spotify subscription ends in a couple of weeks, so expect an announcement that they will deliver a hi-res tier (free for a month to existing users !) on August 1st ....

[PaulDNice]

I switched to AM a long time ago. The last straw was that the recommendations were just awful. Just remixes and music I've already listened to.

[petsy48]

I agree. Is it just me or is there no option to like a post?

[lucaugusto]

I saw a post about people struggling to discover new musics without Spotify.

In tidal, i discover a lot of amazing music by looking at music credits. Knowing who is the drummer, the producer, the guitarist, is gold.

Just by clicking in the producer name you can find a ton of good music from other artists.

Just give the faith leap and be happy. Get away from Spotify algorithms dictating who you should listen to.

[PaulMac]

@lucaugusto, thats a good approach.

Even better for me is to find a good music review site such as Sputnikmusic. Just click on the band name and it will list similar artists and go from there.

Quite often the album reviews and comments sections will mention other similar artists/albums - thats also worth a try. Or find other users with similar tastes - what are they recommending in their end of year lists?

I've discovered way more music through these methods than relying on Spotify algorithms.