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I opened the app to play a bit of Calexico and was confronted with an announcement screen. Did I want to go lossless over WiFi?
Yes sirree Bob!
I haven't done an a-b comparison but it sounded ok to me (albeit I was only wanting background music while I was designing some cupboards) but it will stop me from worrying about whether to subscribe to Deezer etc.
(Odd that it refuses to let me edit correct Calexico)
Calexico, not Calecico, but as OP I can't edit my post.
Ah yes, it does, but after a funny delay which makes the above look mad.
Taken them long enough - about four years after other music services… 😒
Its only been 8 years in the making - well done Spotify......So we are back to CD quality in 2025, 40 years after they came out. what a time to be alive!
You should still drop Spotify and use Tidal as they don't pay artists properly.
You should still drop Spotify and use Tidal as they don't pay artists properly
I hope this is just badly written and you're not advocating not paying artists? Or is it some injoke that's gone over my head?
I think he's suggesting to use Tidal as they pay artists properly and Spotify do not.
I would love to line up audio snobs and do a blind listen challenge to see if anyone can genuinly spot the difference between lossless and whatever non lossless is.
whatever non lossless is.
Lossy.
I would love to line up audio snobs and do a blind listen challenge to see if anyone can genuinely spot the difference between lossless and whatever non lossless is.
On a phone with Bluetooth headphones....I'd be pretty hard pushed.
On my (not very expensive but still quite good) stereo system....easy but not infallible.
Using my mid range wired headphones into a cheap but good Chinese dac from a Wiim streamer? every single time.
and use Tidal
I was genuinely disappointed in just how awful their interface and suggestions was for me.
Gave it some time, made sure all my library was imported and favourites added, and they still kept recommending popular shite I have no interest in while completely ignoring my taste. Oh well, I tried.
Still not gone back to Spotify though.
They've also added a "mix" function with the option of customising your mix.
I tried it with my 2 Sonos sls and mini sub. Probably placebo but i think it sounded good
I would love to line up audio snobs and do a blind listen challenge to see if anyone can genuinly spot the difference between lossless and whatever non lossless is.
Where do I line up? Can we use my hifi not your Argos micro hifi? 😉
I would love to line up audio snobs and do a blind listen challenge to see if anyone can genuinely spot the difference between lossless and whatever non lossless is.
On a phone with Bluetooth headphones....I'd be pretty hard pushed.
On my (not very expensive but still quite good) stereo system....easy but not infallible.
Using my mid range wired headphones into a cheap but good Chinese dac from a Wiim streamer? every single time.
it checks whether the end device can handle it, which seems sensible. I’m assuming an iPhone can but connected via cable to what Spotify charmingly refers to as “Katie’s automobile” (vw caddy head unit) highest quality possible is “very high”
I would love to line up audio snobs and do a blind listen challenge to see if anyone can genuinly spot the difference between lossless and whatever non lossless is.
Your music will still be rubbish whatever the bitrate 😉
After the long wait It's actually a bit half-arsed. It's not the same Hi-Res as Tidal or Qobuz. Spotify is just above CD quality.
Spotify haven't bothered to make their hi-res work w chromecast, so you only get the old 320 kbps quality.
And Spotify don't have the wasapi exclusive setting, so it all streams via the windows sound engine and gets lossy going that route. W Tidal or qobuz you are able to stream direct to your DAC, but not w Spotify.
So for my set up, either streaming round the house w chromecasts, or using an ifi day from my PC, I am unable to get a Spotify lossless stream. Had kept Spotify family running for the kids as they like the socials, and thought I could rationalise my streaming accounts, but looks like no. I'll see if I can wean the kids off Spotify and get a family tidal instead.
Well thank you for posting this, I had a upgrade stereo fitted in my van due to always wanting a nice sound system etc, when the guy showed me how it worked he played it via apple music and a little on tidal, when I said I was on Spotify he said listen to the difference absolutely night and day.
Still awesome sound system but was going to change to Apple phone and Apple music, now I can just get new andriod when needed.
For all those people saying it doesn't make a difference it certainly does even to my old ears.
I would love to line up audio snobs and do a blind listen challenge to see if anyone can genuinly spot the difference between lossless and whatever non lossless is.
I have the same album as a download. on vinyl and on CD as have also listened to it on spotify. The differences are obvious
I have not had that notification for spotify but I have paid for the highest quality option
I would love to line up audio snobs and do a blind listen challenge to see if anyone can genuinly spot the difference between lossless and whatever non lossless is.
Anytime you like, I’ll listen on my system though. I admit to previously not really being able to correctly identify with statistical significance a few years ago but thanks to ear training from a mate in the studio/acoustic business who set up my room and working through the Harman Ear Training program I am now pretty confident at identifying A / B differences on the setup in my fully acoustically treated room with Dynaudio LYD 48 monitors and twin Dynaudio 18s dual opposed subs and peq applied for room modes under 300hz with a RT60 of .29s, or I’m just as happy sitting on my arse using my iem’s to identify lossy tracks.
My ears are the only part of my body that SPMS hasn’t royally ****ed so I make the most of them 😉 , not that listening to a lossy file makes the music any less enjoyable- if the music is good then that’s all that matters
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Not that I’ve ever used Spotify, Daniel Ek has always been an utter dick which has only been confirmed with his financial dive into Helsing A.I warfare technology
Roon with 2tb of my own cd copies and Tidal/Apple music ftw.
Self confessed music snob, not an audio snob.
😀🎧👂
I do love a bit of placebo
/p>
Love that tune. One of my favorites. Just watched that with my 4 year old
Can someone recommend me a "cheap but good Chinese dac" and explain whatever the fiddlesticks a "Wiim streamer" is please....
I'm currently running Amazon Music Ultra HD, via Apple Airplay, using an Apple Airport Express as DAC, through a 2010's era Marantz amp and Mission floor standing speakers. Together this sounds pretty awesome. But could it be even awesomer?
I was listening to Elgar Cello Concerto yesterday and could hear every tiny sound in the concert hall, even the conductor marking time, so my setup can't be all that bad.
If you have decent speakers it will sound good in isolation even if a lossy format. But if you compare the same music from a lossless source it will sound better
It might be worth pointing out that what we are talking about here is moving from 320 Kilobits to 1411 Kilobits. This means technically the same level of definition as a CD and easily distinguishable with even cheap hifi gear as long as the original master has been done properly and the music actually has some dynamic range. I.e if you listen to some classical music or well mastered contemporary stuff then you will enjoy a better experience.
its what you listen to, how you listen to it and on what equipment.
TL:DR listening to Charlie XCX on your phone on a train…might as well be 128kbits AAC like in the old days!
If you have decent speakers it will sound good in isolation even if a lossy format. But if you compare the same music from a lossless source it will sound better
No that's completely incorrect - lossy music sound better on rubbish gear like airpods. Better equipment and especially speakers reveals the lack of dynamic range and increased compression meaning its a worse listening experience.