[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]

And now for something on the lighter side of Spotify's strategic reorganization toward podcasts....

https://www.techradar.com/streaming/spotify-white-noise-podcasters-can-make-dollar18k-a-month-and-sp...

Spotify white noise podcasters can make $18k a month – and Spotify may want out

News

By Becky Scarrott

published 3 days ago

Spotify knows how much you listen to white noise podcasts; it doesn’t like it

[stadi1]

I've stopped listening to white noise podcasts because of the advertising years ago, and started listening to white noise albums / playlists. Much better user experience.

By the way, I'm getting used to TIDAL, there are only two things that still make me keep my Spotify subscription: my daughter listens to German audiobooks (that's been included here for some time) and TIDAL (and Qobuz) Android Auto sucks. If they fix their AA implementation, that will be enough for me to cancel Spotify. So who will be quicker? Spotify to introduce hi-fi, or Tidal to fix AA?

[mazzeger]

I'm also getting used to Tidal more and more. I will give Spotify until the end of the year. If they still haven't come up with Hifi by that time, I will go solo on Tidal. As pointed out many times before: Spotify by far have the best UI and music discovery algorithms, but competition is catching up. On Tesla they also lost their exclusive native music app status with AM and Tidal now offering Apps, too. 

[Sannel]

Yeah, I think Lossless Audio is a great idea, for the same price Apple has their lossless audio, and it is standard, if lossless audio isn't a thing on spotify when it's time for me to top up premium again i'm going to go to Apple, it pains me but apple is better right now, also they have a Song I REALLY WANT TO PLAY without watching the movie. Spotify, if you don't think it's worth it, think again, apple is a step ahead and you are about to lose a sub if you don't improve. OH COME ON IM NOT A NEWBIE!!!!

[bart1981]

Where is HIFI?

[PaulMac]

God I detest Spotify. Particularly the way they take advantage of long term paying customers. Making promises they've no intention of keeping (such as HiFi).

And they do it all with a level of arrogance that is beyond belief, with their little dictator CEO Daniel Ek leading the way, just oozing smugness while he lectures artists that they need to work harder.

There I feel better now after that little rant😜

[jhucx1]

It truly is the level of arrogance that is most infuriating. I moved to
Tidal last month and couldn't be happier as a music fan. Tidal's curated
playlists are so interesting and well thought out that I'm finding loads of
new artists.

[ArthurGarcia]

My idea is to develop an option to listen music at high fidelity as possible, with the all frequencies improved and clear. I'm a lover of sound and sometimes I feel like music loses all the potential it could have. As a result, in addition to improving the user experience, it reduces the competition that uses this audio fidelity marketing to sell.

[Sakushey]

currently, the highest audio option "very high" only offers 320kbps. Most other streaming services offer a hifi option (for example at least CD quality with 1,411kpbs).

SO HIFI would be x4.4 the quality right now.

This is especially essential for listening on high-end speakers or headphones. Here the difference is very noticeable.

[robigouk]

I read this earlier: - https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/21/23884577/spotify-supremium-lossless-audio-tier-code   Hopefully it's coming finally.... hopefully 1st October 2023 and not 31st October 3000 🙂