[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!

[Innocent_Excel]

Spotify's slowness to respond and react to customer feedback is exemplary bad and highlights how one should never react in a competitive market, even if they are currently the market leader.

[Innocent_Excel]

Like I said earlier:
Spotify is like a seriously ill stubborn senior, selective with his hearing, getting slightly paranoid, ravaged by dementia and in the grips of Alzheimer's. It's ridiculous, the silence and the disregard for the topic, the way Spotify shows that it doesn't care at all.

[Barrowboy]

You've summed it up perfectly.

[MrBue]

 would take any bet and claim now that Spotify will NOT manage to introduce Lossless and Hi Res in 2024 either.

It's just embarrassing...announced in 2021 and still not able to do it. 

[Innocent_Excel]

I've used and tested each competitive music streaming service previously, but now I've taken yet again new trials on them.

All this waste of time and still not keeping their promises makes it even easier to look for better service that care about it's users.

Too bad Spotify has become the norm and default synonym for music streaming service. They could have been the best, they were the best but I don't know about it anymore. Why would anyone let us wait for so many years? Keep your promises, dammit!

[E_81]

I usually listen to music with my Onkyo RZ50. I've been using Deezer for the last few days and the Flac format songs are amazing. I stopped using Spotify for this reason alone. I think I'll switch to Deezer Premium and completely eliminate Spotify from my life. It's unbelievable that they still can't stream music in Flac format after all these years.

[Innocent_Excel]

And while Spotify is being quiet on this whole matter, there's this thing:

According to a detailed new report from Liz Pelly for Harper’s Magazine, Spotify is supplementing playlists with “ghost artists” as a means of decreasing the amount of royalties to pay and increasing overall profit margins. Known as Perfect Fit Content, this practice allegedly primarily impacts playlists in genres like jazz, classical, ambient, and lo-fi hip-hop.

https://consequence.net/2024/12/spotify-perfect-fit-content-report/

[KingL]

We all want it.

HiFI audio quality would be good, and would make some more people use Spotify than Apple music, tidal etc.

[BernhardSchlick]

I am thinking to quit my Spotify for a higher resolution Option on a daily base. I am now switching to Tidal. Please make it happen before I fall in love with other apps. I love Spotify. Thanks. 

[MrBue]

Two more days and I would have won my bet. I'll bet again that Spotify won't manage to release HiFi and/or Lossless/HiRes in 2025 either.