[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!

[rastaman2000]

Ogg Vorbis certainly is NOT to blame! It is superior to MP3!

https://www.difference.wiki/aac-vs-ogg-vorbis/

Watch/Listen to the embedded video!

I have a strong suspicion that Spitify further cripples the music/sound by applying DSP Effects.

"Quality" you get from Spitify:

App

Free max. 160 kb/s Ogg

Premium max. 320 kb/s Ogg

Web

Free max. 128 kb/s AAC

Premium max. 256 kb/s AAC

https://support.spotify.com/us/article/high-quality-streaming/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotify#Technical_information

[rastaman2000]

Btw., you can somewhat enhance audio quality by switching "Audio normalization" OFF - it has its side effects:

- DR Compression https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range_compression

- Distortion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distortion

Hope this helps you a bit! 😉

[wbearden1237]

You can also utilize the equalizer, but it's still not even close to the Amazon quality.

[user-removed]

They used to share the Desktop CODEC until recently, as seen here (ogg
vorbis):

https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172536/https://support.spotify.com/us/article/high-quality-strea...

Nowadays they hided the desktop codec information for desktop, stating that
its quality is equivalent to 320 Kbps (wich is not, otherwise there would
not be so many complains about their audio quality).
https://support.spotify.com/us/article/high-quality-streaming/

Notice that AAC codec is pointed there, but is only on the web player
(probably due to compatibility issues, and as the codec is already embedded
on the browser then it's not spotify who needs to pay royalties).

And no, ogg vorbis is not as good as mpeg or aac. It's just cheaper to them
since they can embed it on their app free of charge.

[rastaman2000]

EQUALIZER alters the signal/data, thus it is ANTI-HiFi.

[rastaman2000]

If you have Premium, you can check/calculate the bitrate/quality:

Find a downloaded file

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Where-the-songs-are-downloaded/td-p/4515170

Calculate the bitrate/quality comparing the track length with the file size, using this reference

https://toolstud.io/video/audiosize.php

It's as simple as that. 😉

[rastaman2000]

PUBLIC Codecs Listening tests:

- http://listening-test.coresv.net/

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codec_listening_test

- http://listening-tests.hydrogenaud.io/igorc/results.html

note: Opus is the codec used by YouTube (except for LIVE Streaming, for which it uses AAC).

[wbearden1237]

Totally agree, but one can at least artificially clean up the muddled sound (compared to HD) by using the equalizer. It's not close to a substitute for HD/HiFi.

[rastaman2000]

To me Spitify sounds SHARP, which is why I suspect it from DSP-ing the original records, just like most radio broadcasters do.

Have you ever tried Fidelify - High Fidelity Spotify Client?

http://fidelify.net/

I have not, I admit - but maybe it could help a bit; it at least addresses the OS Mixer issue I mentioned ca. 2 weeks ago: https://community.spotify.com/t5/Live-Ideas/Music-HiFi-Quality-Lossless-Streaming-16bit-44-1khz/idc-...

Though, if you're using the original Spitify client or the Web player, have you DISABLED the AGC/AVL? It makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE!

[Topps]

After 2,5 year since closure of this topic it is time to reconsider HiFi quality as on option. Right now I am enjoying 3 months trial on Tidal. Really great if this was available on Spotify. Br. Family of 5 Spotify users