[PS5] Poor audio quality issue from PS4 persists on PS5 app

[user-removed]

I just received my PlayStation 5 today, and after downloading the Spotify app to listen to my music I noticed that the PS5's Spotify app has the exact same problem with the audio quality that the PS4 has had for over 5 years.

For those who aren't aware of what I'm referencing please read the responses from these two forum posts (Post 1 and Post 2).

In short, the lows are very flat, mids are average to below average, and most notably the highs are tinny and sound very distorted. This is especially apparent in songs where vocalists use a lot of "s" sounds with their voice.  Overall, music from the Spotify app on PlayStation sounds tinny and highly compressed when compared to music played from literally any other app on the PS5/4. This has been said many times by multiple users here on this community forum and yet Spotify's developers have done nothing about it since Spotify for PlayStation launched in 2015.

After 5 years the PS5 has now released and we're still having the same issue. This seems like it would be such an easy fix; simply increase the default bitrate or disable Volume Normalization. But who knows, maybe I'm wrong and it's not that simple. Either way hopefully Spotify does something about this soon.

Plan

Premium

Country

U.S.

Device

PlayStation 5

Operating System

2.20

[EvilJo]

Just mention that optical out shouldn't make a difference as technically both HDMI & Optical can deliver HD sound.

Also important to mention that PS5 doesn't have an optical out ;).

I will provide my info as soon as possible... but dear @CarlosE, this issue is reported all over internet and it is obviously caused by the app.

The post you mention above has been only liked 1 time so I don't understand why it has been tagged as "top answer".

Hopefully this will be patched soon... to be continued 🙂

[Carroted]

Spotify on PS5 is really bad. Whether you use the PS5 app or connect via your phone, it's incredibly lossy/compressed audio which often removes sounds that are panned heavily to the left or right.

An example of this is 'Baby! You Oughta Think It Over' by Bobby Womack. The drums are panned and as a result when you play it on PS5, half the song is missing! It's like listening to it on one speaker because of the aggressive compression. 

This is pretty poor considering people are paying for a premium subscription service which is meant to include 'high quality music'.

As many have mentioned, it's an issue with the app, not the ps5 or my set up as YouTube, Netflix, etc. all sound great through the PlayStation. 

@CarlosE I don't think this 'needs more info', so it would be nice if the community could have an update on this and whether it's being looked into, considering we're all paying for a service which isn't delivering on one of the systems it's advertised as working on. 

It's simple, just give us an option to choose to listen in high quality on PS5 / PS4.

[EsSpyderMonkey]

This is not device related at all and its entirely Software. The songs stream at a lower bitrate on Playstation for some reason Spotify isn't telling us.  It sounds horrible, please fix it!

[Katerina]

Hey there @EsSpyderMonkey, @Carroted and @EvilJo,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. We understand that this is causing you inconvenience while using the app.

However, in order to get this reported with the right folks, we'd like to have the details requested in our Status Update as these help the investigation.

In this case, could you let us know the following details: 

• PlayStation console/model.
• Exact Spotify version running on your device.
• Connected external devices.

Keep in mind that any additional details on what's happening and what troubleshooting you've tried are always welcome!

We'll be keeping an eye out for your replies, thanks 🙂

[mcgeek77]

Hi @Katerina 

The “following details” that you request have been mentioned in this thread countless times from the beginning of the thread to now regardless from which user you request it. If you have trouble finding these “details” allow me to list them here for you 🙂

playstation model/console: quite literally all of them that offer a Spotify app which includes the first generation of the PS4 all the way to the new PS5

exact Spotify version: doesn’t matter. no update has ever fixed the issue but most likely we’re all running on the most updated version of the app.

connected external devices: doesn’t matter. every external device we’ve used for this app on PS4/PS5 has received the same compressed audio that your application sends to it.

so if you can’t tell by now it is NOT something that we as Spotify subscribers and playstation users can troubleshoot. IT IS AN ISSUE ON YOUR END; IT IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE. 

sincerely hope this helps. because I have been listening to ear-bleeding, compressed music on my PS4 and now PS5 for years now with no fix. and reading this thread has given me absolutely no hope that your software developers will fix it because you moderators keep giving us troubleshooting options as if it’s an issue with hardware when quite clearly all of our complaints point to a SOFTWARE ISSUE. 

I apologize for my bluntness. but I am fed up.

[aneagu]

Hi @Katerina,

I agree with @mcgeek77. About two months ago, I posted an in my opinion quite comprehensive list including PS model number, software versions of both the PS4 and Spotify app, and an extensive list covering all possible audio connections except for Optical Out. As I also mentioned, each and everyone of them failed to produce proper sound. As @EvilJo justly mentioned, the PS5 does not even have an Optical Out connection so that could not be the case either. I am not sure what details you are looking for since I think all possible hardware connections are covered (and all of those devices sound normally on other platforms).

What bothers me is not having to wait for a solution but the lack of transparency on what is currently being done. Just a regular update on the progress would suffice and would make the community members who either experience discomfort and/or those who try to help more appreciated. I hope you will fix this soon (or at least be transparent about what is being done).

[BramboXO]

Dear @Katerina and other moderators,

I too would like to show my thorough disappointment to find that the sub-standard audio quality from the PS4 Spotify App is yet again present on the PS5. As with the other members commenting in this thread, I am absolutely positive this is an issue on the Spotify software end, as all other audio from the PS5 and connected audio hardware is excellent.

I like a lot of things about Spotify. What you have created as a company has brought me much joy in the world of music, and I still consider myself very loyal to you for this reason. However, it pains me to see that such an old, persistent issue is seemingly STILL not taken seriously, with us customers being sent back and forth along the same troubleshooting tropes every even slightly tech-savvy person has already explored thoroughly.

I'd like to remind you that what you see on these forums is but a very small representation of the many users your platform has. The fact that multiple threads along with many comments supporting the existence of this issue are found on this forum speaks volumes on the prevalence of this problem.

All we ask for is an option, not a new standard. Give us the option to enjoy high quality Spotify playback on our consoles, like you offer it on almost every other platform out there. Hide it behind ten different menu's for all I care, just as long as it's there. If this is not a problem on your end, do us all a big favor and have the courtesy to at least let us know that it can not be fixed on your end.

Model (PS4 and PS5): CUH-1115A and CFI-1018A

Spotify version: Latest as of 20-03-2021

Connected external devices: PS5 HDMI to TV to RCA to Amp to Speakers OR high-fidelity headset connected to 3,5mm jack of the PS5 controller

Sincerely yours, a long-time Spotify fan.

[Julianfelix93]

Spotify, i love the app on my phone and Computer. But, the PlayStation App is having big issues with the quality. The bitrate is extreme low, i tried many things. I was hoping the issues would be fixed on the PS5. But still, the same bad sound appears. This is the time to fix it! This problem is here since the launch on PS4. I want to enjoy music on my PlayStation system. Like everyone in this sub. 

Model: PS5 - Disk Edition. Spotify version: 3.62 

Devices: HDMI from PS5 to TV. Or Minijack input from the controller. 

Please fix this 🙂 

[Elena]

Hey folks,

Thanks for coming back to us with more info. We understand your frustration around this and we'd like to do our best to help. 

We’ve passed your info on to the relevant team, who are currently looking into it.

If you’re experiencing this issue, make sure to click +VOTE and Subscribe to the thread to be notified of any developments.

We need as many examples with all the info below so that we could provide them to our tech team for investigation.

For those of you who haven't provided the following, we'd be happy to pass on this info:

• PlayStation console/model.
• Exact Spotify version.
• Connected external devices.

Thanks! We’ll keep you posted and let you know as soon as we have any updates on this.

[EvilJo]

I just think this issue is impacting everyone... only that some don’t give much importance to quality.

Here the requested details:

Model: PS5 Disc Edition (firmware: 20.02-2.50.00.08-00.00.00.0.1)

Spotify version: 3.62

Connected external devices: PS5 HDMI to TV and TV to Yamaha Home theater via Optical Out