[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!

[N4TNF_CW]

ajmarini  Thanks for your comments.  My listening chain has its limits:  wife advice on expenses, ambient "sounds" in listening areas and amount of work the various streaming services place on recovering best sonic resources from archival recordings.  Many of my favorites fall into the last category.  I, too, am looking for that audio "promised land" and appreciate the experiences shared in the Community.  I would be curious for you to go into more detail on Deezer versus TIDAL.  To me, Spotify's algorithm and software to manipulate playlists, albums and much more are far superior to TIDAL or Deezer.   Both are lengths behind Spotify.  But, with a good recording produced well, how is the difference for you between TIDAL and Deezer.  All the best. N4TNF

[N4TNF_CW]

Thanks for your experiences with TIDAL/CD/Spotify. Good points and
encouragement for me to more closely focus on hearing subtleties between
Spotify and Deezer. I swap headphones based on music genre, specific
recordings, acoustic privacy or my frame of mind. My best match usually
is an AKG K240 from an iPad with flat EQ. My listening is in a family room
notorious for odd ambient sounds as we live by a lake. I'd be interested
in your range of music interests and if you had a playlist best able to
detect apparent differences. My hearing is slightly degraded from a
broadcast career, but I'm always interested in

[Mp0wer]

I just cancled my spotify premium and went with tidal for Lossless Audio.

If spotify gets Lossless Audio I will definitely be back

[N4TNF_CW]

Thanks for your message. I do not enjoy TIDAL, having gone through two
subscription episodes. Should I play it in a better acoustic room with
vastly superior headphones would I enjoy it if I could afford it? A
complex but simple reason I choose Spotify is its elegantly simple user
interface. TIDAL and Deezer seem like old libraries' card catalog systems
compared to computer searches. Spotify's variety in user functions is
smooth and interrelated. I do have a soft spot for Deezer due to an odd
reason. They exhibited exceptional customer service from England when I
needed it. I know that's not an audio characteristic, but like Spotify's
user interface it shows a streaming company's commitment to its listeners
not found often today in many fields.

[runaron]

I considered Deezer HiFi as an alternative to my Tidal subscription.

There are two main drawbacks.

First Deezer's flac catalogue is patchy compared to Tidal's (albeit there are hi-fi blanks in latter's too) and second, and more important, it is impossible to stream their content to my two current hifi systems. I have a NAIM streamer with built in support for Tidal, Spotify + UPnP and a Kitsound wifi adapter with UPnP/DLNA support that is connected to a little amp. They are controlled by an Android tablet with the respective streaming apps + BubbleUPnP (with additional Tidal and Qobuz support) installed.

Both hifi systems work excellent with Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal. Sadly there is no way to integrate Deezer (Bluetooth would be a way but sounds terrible). Although Deezer offers a "sharing to BubbleUPnP" option, like Qobuz, I couldn't find a way to get it working.

So I will stick with Spotify and hope they soon offer flac...

[Dutch-Elvis]

What's the use from extreme sound quality? When the music you like isn't available! That's the reason why I'll stay a premium member of Spotify. But it's weird that music isn't available from the same CD where other track's are on the server.

[N4TNF_CW]

Excellent points. Deezer's catalog is patchy compared to others, even
against the abysmal sound of Amazon Music, Apple music, SiriusXM and a
clatch of other wannabes. To my wife's chagrin, I'm back with a month of
Deezer to do song-to-song comparisons on my daily means of enjoyment: AKG
240s, Grado SR225 and a trusty Klipsch (don't know its pedigree, have
repaired it twice with Gorilla glue). Again, calling Deezer or TIDAL's
streaming/listener interface is horrid. Spotify excels with this, essential
to build and share playlists. Here's the dilemma. It is simply a matter of
time until the "big players" fix their streaming/listener interface - and -
go lossless. This gives Spotify a small, critical amount of time to do the
simple thing - go lossless. They just need to throw the switch and ask for
some more $5 a month. Give us a choice and we'll stay with Spotify, which
is leading the footrace. The market is massive and ties into the
pre-Christmas push of manufacturers towards bigger screens, enhanced video
yet wretching audio requiring separate gear to sound "normal" at all. Think
of declining theater motion pictures. Owners installed "surround" booming
audio to enhance the customers' pricey incentive, one ticket equalling any
monthly bill of any streaming service. It's decline slammed permanently by
streaming video. Streaming audio adjustment of the user interface and one
switch to lossless hitchhikes on streaming video's coming 5G lines.
Spotify must stay one big step ahead of a pack of challengers. TIDAL or
Deezer will be bought by a big boy, then its game on. Sorry for the
soliloquy, but the obvious and simple move for Spotify will sell in most
worldwide markets. It is baffling why they don't do the deed. Go lossless
now.

[domenico]

Please people don't forget to enjoy the music!

I want CD/FLAC streaming and I have the high end gear (real high end gear) but don't be trapped into only listening to the sound quality.

This is good advice, trust me. 🙂

And now Spotify, introduce what we want already!

[N4TNF_CW]

domenico has it!  Bottom line - it's our love of music.  Good advice, indeed.  "Spotify, introduce what we want already!" he says.  Better audio inspires listeners to higher-end audio gear, making a stronger argument for that gear when we "discuss" the suggestions at home.  Whatever our genre, we go to streaming for enjoyment of music.  Spotify you have a great product.  Flip the switch and give us what we want - the strongest quality possible audio.

[steelworm]

Why does it take soooo incredibly long to make this available? I can only guess they arent trying --> Bye Spotify, Welcome Tidal