[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]

when I said I wanted high-resolution audio on Spotify, I meant I wanted high-resolution cake baking instructional videos.

And when I said yes, I meant no.

And when I said up, I meant carburetor.

Thank you Spotify for understanding me when I didn't even understand myself.

❤️

[Plazmex8]

So is this happening or not!?

Like, it's been 10 years. All the other services have it. As a loyal Spotify supporter I fell betrayed & lied to!

But you DID release many features nobody wanted (cooking educational videos someone?)

[Samppa3]

What, another price increase coming in some markets:
https://9to5mac.com/2024/04/03/spotify-price-increase-2/
And still no mention of HiFi?

[rollerotr]

Apparently we have different needs. Spotify has the audiobooks I like, so I
gave up Audible which is more expensive anyway. And Spotify has a great UI
and is totally appropriate for casual music listening on my
powered speakers. I have Tidal and Qobuz for my budget audiophile system.

[grulmlurg]

I want my amateurish culinary podcasts in DSD1024, I want to hear the spit hitting the mic and the cat licking itself in the other room!

Lossless schmossless, but yeah add an option to play 320kbps in exclusive mode, bypassing the Windows audio stack. Your lossless isn't worth much if Windows resamples it and mixes with other apps downstream. Anyone remember Fidelify? They got it right.

[Blueshound24]

grulmlurg

Yup, still using either Fidelify or JRiver to bypass the Windows audio. Huge improvement with bypassing!

And the best Improvement ever with my system is NOT using Spotify!

[mctesterson]

Blueshound24 -- That would be a perfect quote for Billie Eilish to say in her next video advertisement for Spotify ... !

"And the best Improvement ever with my system is NOT using Spotify!"

[PabloAlonso]

Hello Daniel! Will it ever become real?

[mctesterson]

A good example of hallucination in Generative AI:

[mctesterson]

Spotify continues to secure their leadership position among streaming services in under-valuing music artists.  Why compensate indie artists when you're only streaming their music in cr4ppy lossy Ogg/Vorbis; they should be paying you for the privilege, right Spotify?

https://www.nme.com/news/music/spotify-has-now-officially-demonetised-all-songs-with-less-than-1000-...

Is it a coincidence that "demon" is part of the word "demonetised"?

TLDR; Spotify sucks even more today than prior to this 5th April 2024 article.