Does Amazon Music Ever Actually Work?

[ejr]

I have been streaming Amazon Music Unlimited for over 3 years now. I spent a couple of thousand dollars on equipment and tried numerous ways to use this service, but never without all sorts of problems that Amazon can't or won't address.

I have tried to stream through Amazon's apps on my iPad mini, my Roku box, and my Google TV. For nearly a year I tried two different Eversolo A6 Gen 2 streamers. But I can't get Amazon to consistently play an album or a playlist without it arbitrarily stopping at some point (sometimes in mid-song). As I write this, I have been trying for about half an hour to get it to play any album or list past the first song. I don't have this sort of problem streaming videos from Netflix, or Amazon, or You Tube, or anything other source. Selections play when I start playback and end when they are done (unless I intentionally stop playback myself). So, I am assuming that there is no problem with my Internet connection.

Amazon has wasted a lot of my time by not responding to my repeated requests for help and offering no explanation for this behavior and taken no action when I reach anyone who claims to want to help. I have tried other streaming services, but they all have smaller libraries (omitting music that I frequently listen to) and many of them have poorer quality for approximately the same price as Amazon Music Unlimited. (The only ones that sounded comparable to my aging ears were Tidal and Quobuz.)

 

[Chrispy]

Why are you still trying after three years? I used some of their music stuff long ago (before "Amazon Music") and it was difficult and annoying. Never gave them another chance even tho I suppose it is "included" in my services now.

 

[fatoldgit]

Amazon Music is just a "check the box" app for amazon...they make their money elsewhere (mainly AWS) and as such isn't a primary focus for them (unlike Tidal, Qobuz etc)...hence the crap support.

So what music don't the dedicated streaming services not provide?

Peter

 

[ejr]

1. My reason was that I was advised that Amazon Music Unlimted has larger catalog than its competitors and more in high resolution. And I couldn't find a lot of my music in Qubuz or Tidal.

2. Are you saying that no streamers work with this service without arbitrarily cutting out during playback (and none other than iOs devices that I have had any experience with will support gapless playback)?

3. Which services would you reccomend as a replacement for Amazon, which doesn't have the above issues?

 

[IsaacOscar]

(tidal did sound the best to me, though. And Spotify sounded horrible -- even the latest version.)

Spotify recently added lossless support (24-bit, 44.1kHz). I tried very hard to tell the difference between that with my favourite song on Tidals 24-bit @192kHz, and they were identical.
So any quality issue may be only with certain tracks (having different versions on the different platforms), or because you were using a low quality setting.

2. Are you saying that no streamers work with this service without arbitrarily cutting out during playback (and none other than iOs devices that I have had any experience with will support gapless playback)?

On Spotify you just download your playlists/albums and problems go away. (the downloads are encrypted, so you can only play them on Spotify, but you don't need internet to play them).
As for gapless playback, there is an option in Spotify, but I cannot for the life of me work out what it does. (it also has a crossfade setting, and an "automix" setting that allegedly gives seamless transitions between songs on "certain" playlist)

EDIT: I don't know anything about steeamers, I just use an Android phone and Windows PC.

3. Which services would you reccomend as a replacement for Amazon, which doesn't have the above issues?

Spotify (which I've used since 2020). I've also heard Tidal is just as good, and cheaper!

 

[AndyBell]

I use Qobuz - currently listening to it via WiiM Pro streamer.

Never had a problem with it using the streamer, PC, iOS and Android apps.

 

[ejr]

Tidal sounded best to me when I tried it, but its catalog seemed to be very limited.

I just got the following from "Rufus" (Amazon's AI tech support). It's long, but I am posting it here, in case it is of use to anyone reading this thread. I'm going to try downloading some titles to see if it works.

"
Unfortunately, the gapless playback and playback stopping issues you're experiencing are well-documented limitations of Amazon Music on streaming devices like the Fire TV Cube, not device-specific problems. Based on customer Q&A, Amazon Music runs as a standalone app within the Cube's system, which can cause these interruptions.

Since you've already tried $1,000+ streamers with the same issues, the problem lies with Amazon Music's streaming implementation rather than hardware limitations. The Fire TV Cube supports high-quality audio (up to 16-bit/192kHz) but Amazon Music's software doesn't provide true gapless playback on most streaming platforms.

Potential solutions:

• Use Amazon Music's desktop app or mobile app for better gapless performance
• Consider dedicated music streamers like Bluesound Node or Cambridge Audio CXN that handle Amazon Music better
• Download albums for offline playback in the Amazon Music app for improved gapless experience

Given this is a software limitation rather than hardware issue, yes, the Fire TV Cube would be returnable if it doesn't meet your music playback needs.
Customer question
does my amazon music unlimited subscriptions allow me to download muisc, or do I have to pay for downloads?
Yes! Your Amazon Music Unlimited subscription includes offline downloads at no extra charge. You can download songs, albums, and playlists in multiple quality formats including Standard, HD, Ultra HD, and Spatial Audio for offline listening.

Key points about downloads:

• No additional cost - Downloads are included with your subscription
• High-quality options - Download in HD, Ultra HD, or Spatial Audio formats
• App-only access - Downloaded music only works within the Amazon Music app
• Cannot export - You can't copy downloaded songs to CDs or other devices

Since you mentioned gapless playback issues with streaming, downloading your albums for offline playback might actually solve both the gapless and stopping problems you're experiencing. Downloaded music typically has better playback consistency than streamed content.

You can download music using the Amazon Music mobile app on iOS or Android - just select the song/album/playlist and choose "Download" from the menu options."

 

[ejr]

More ... "Rufus" goes on to say

"
The Amazon Music app on your Sony smart TV can only stream music in real-time, which means you'll continue to experience the same gapless playback issues and arbitrary stopping problems you've mentioned with your other $1,000+ streamers.

Amazon Music download support is limited to:

• Mobile devices (phones, tablets, iPad)
• Desktop computers with Amazon Music desktop app
• Not supported on any smart TVs (Sony, Samsung, LG, etc.), streaming devices (Roku Ultra, Fire TV Cube, etc.), or dedicated music streamers (Eversolo A6, etc.)

Unfortunately, this means none of your high-end audio equipment can take advantage of Amazon Music's download feature to solve the gapless playback issues. The problem is with Amazon Music's streaming protocol implementation across all these platforms, not the hardware capabilities of your devices.

Your best option for gapless Amazon Music playback would be using the mobile app on your iPad with downloaded music.

"

So, I can see why you are recommending that I ditch Amazon Music. (The only other viable option appears to be replacing my iPad with one with a lot more storage and forget about buying dedicated streamers.)

Thanks.

 

[IsaacOscar]

So, I can see why you are recommending that I ditch Amazon Music. (The only other viable option appears to be replacing my iPad with one with a lot more storage and forget about buying dedicated streamers.)

Just buy a small Windows PC, e.g. my father uses a small NUC (you can get one for AU$500) connected to the TV.

Alternatively, Bluetooth + some external storage device might work.

Or, connect an existing computer via some long cables.

(Spotify by the way, let's you control playback of other devices, e.g. you can use your phone as a remote to control the music on your PC; Amazon music might have something similar).

 

[AnalogSteph]

Potential solutions:

• Use Amazon Music's desktop app or mobile app for better gapless performance

That would certainly explain why I've never had much of any issues - it's not my primary means of listening to music anyway (more of a convenience thing), but if so I'm using the desktop app. I wouldn't mind if you could e.g. turn off the playing animation to reduce CPU overhead (my Ivy Bridge era bedside-fi laptop 1 foot from my head doesn't have the quietest fan ever, and it will eventually come on unlike when just using Foobar2000), and there has been the odd quirk or hiccup, but usually it works.

 

[IsaacOscar]

That would certainly explain why I've never had much of any issues - it's not my primary means of listening to music anyway (more of a convenience thing), but if so I'm using the desktop app. I wouldn't mind if you could e.g. turn off the playing animation to reduce CPU overhead (my Ivy Bridge era bedside-fi laptop 1 foot from my head doesn't have the quietest fan ever, and it will eventually come on unlike when just using Foobar2000), and there has been the odd quirk or hiccup, but usually it works.

Shouldn't it be smart enough not to bother if you've minimised it?
Regardless, you're problem is that your not listening loud enough! (Or wear headphones).

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

I've used Amazon for a few years, and I do have two examples that fit what you describe.

Before that though, I stream from phone to office system without problems. I stream at home through the phone (headphones) and the Wiim app on my phone (main system) without problem. Unless one thing happens. Mostly android phone but occasionally pc, btw.

Early on, things did go wrong, but reinstalling the app fixed things. Or just rebooting my phone sometimes. I haven't had to reinstall the app for over a year now, so whatever was going on doesn't seem to be an issue anymore for me. But I did have to do that multiple times early on. Currently, if my phone has not been rebooted for a month or two, I might get some weirdness on the phone end, but things still play.

Currently, if my wife watches one specific app on our google tv, and does NOT back out of it but just hits the home button when done, then I am very likely to get a "one song at a time" issue when using Amazon through the TV. Things will play, but won't cue up the next track in an album or playlist. Rebooting the tv AND avr fixes this.

So, my suggestions, if you want to see if you can make this work, are....

Uninstall Amazon, reinstall latest version.

Shut EVERYTHING down, then just reboot what you need for music. See if that works. If not, I would bail out on Amazon.

See if there is a pattern. Does it happen after using other apps? Does it only happen after a certain time the device runs?

Does it matter if you have "repeat" or "shuffle" on? When I was trying to diagnose things, that did seem to help for some reason. But not always.

Why does this happen? My guess, and it is only a guess, is that Amazon integrated its app in some way that creates conflicts. As in "end of file.... NO says another app, I am not at the EOF!" Or there is some bug with the phone call interrupt. Or a lot of little things that conflict with OS and app operation. And that is because I have never had this kind of things happen with a full power up restart. But leave things on for a while, and it becomes more likely to happen.

The Amazon Music app on your Sony smart TV can only stream music in real-time, which means you'll continue to experience the same gapless playback issues and arbitrary stopping problems you've mentioned with your other $1,000+ streamers.

I can certainly download music to my phone, but it does need the app to play back.

 

[ejr]

The problems I have been seeing are intermittent, but enough of a hassle for me to want to address them. I do use one of my computers to stream to my DAC from Fubar, but only for my own compositions when I am working on them. I wouldn't want to listen to other music that way, and certainly not all the time. I listen for short or long periods, off and on, all day. Sometimes, very critically. Other times, I just want something in the backround or to help me fall alseep. I really like being able to just turn a device on and off when I feel like it and not have start up a couple of machines and wait for them to power up or down.

Based on what I have learned so far, I think the problem lies primarily with Amazon. So, I am seriously considering dropping its service for Apple's -- which, though still not ideal, at least has a library of similar size. More importantly, it makes and controls devices that will actually play it properly. Also, not having to sink a couple of grand into replacing the Eversolo streamers in living room and bedroom that I had to return would be a welcom savings. I could simply buy an Apple TV box for my bedroom television (replacing the Roku) and a DAC for my living room stereo that I can attach my iPad to (as I did originally). Then I can stop shopping for streamers and trying to find one that can handle Amazon Music properly.

 

[popej]

But I can't get Amazon to consistently play an album or a playlist without it arbitrarily stopping at some poin

I don't think Amazon has albums. It looks rather like playlists assembled from different releases. I can't otherwise explain, why tracks has different formats, like stereo, HD and Atmos in a single album.
I have used Amazon Music on FireTV stick, mainly to listen to Atmos music. I have no complains about playback, no problems with playing complete albums. I stopped because app on Firestick was so primitive that using it was really inconvenient.

 

[ejr]

It calls them "albums". And, where one track is supposed to seamlessly transition to the next, it inserts a second of dead air between them. Very jarring. Totally kills the mood. One it even places a gap at the start of the first track on the album. You never hear the opening chord of the intro. If I were the artist, I would be kicking up a hell of a fuss over that. Even someone wanted to listen to that song as a single wouldn't hear the whole thing.

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

I don't think Amazon has albums. It looks rather like playlists assembled from different releases. I can't otherwise explain, why tracks has different formats, like stereo, HD and Atmos in a single album.

They do have albums, but they also have "albums" as you describe.

Kind of Blue, Miles Davis. All tracks the same, ultra 360. Legacy edition of the same, all original tracks Ultra HD, all additional tracks HD.

I do see different qualities on occasion. Usually, when I notice, it's a popular song in higher res (I often look for new music by finding the popular songs for an artist and then picking albums that show up multiple times), and other tracks being lower res on the same "album". And more modern/popular music seems to do it more.

(does some digging)

Part of it is that the record label sometimes submits different quality tracks for an album, and Amazon can't do anything about that. They say they play the highest res available.

I think the other part is when they lose rights to an album, but have the rights to remastered songs, or lower res versions. They basically mix and match in that case to "fill out" the album, so it ends up being mixed resolution "playlist album".

Best I can find in 5 minutes on the topic.

 

[popej]

And, where one track is supposed to seamlessly transition to the next, it inserts a second of dead air between them. Very jarring.

IMO gapless playback is obligatory for music. I wouldn't use any device, which insert gaps. I stop breathing when this happens. Example of device not suited for music is Chromecast.
I don't remember gaps with Amazon Music on FireTV Stick. I was listening to a limited set of Atmos albums, but I think it included live concert of Clapton, I would have noticed gaps.

 

[jcarys]

I also had no problems using Amazon Music on a FireTV stick, connected via HDMI either directly to the TV or an AVR. This was over a year ago, but it seems like Amazon still allows their devices to access higher quality tracks more than they do other devices. However, after testing for awhile, I decided that ergonomic issues with their service just weren't worth the hassle to save a few dollars. I'm now using Tidal with no issues. I don't see that you've ever told us what music you find on Amazon that is not on the other services. There used to be major differences, but I now find that all the major services have the same catalog available to them, outside of a very few artist exclusives that usually go away after a short window. You said you've tried and not liked Tidal and Qobuz, so it sounds like your options are Apple or Spotify. The monthly price for either or both is far less than you've been spending on hardware changes. I would test Apple on your ipad and Spotify on the TV and decide which you like.

 

[JeremyFife]

FWIW I stream Amazon music via a Wiim Mini. I play albums mostly and it all just works.
The Amazon app is not the best, but I use the WiiM app anyway and it works for me.

Upstairs, I stream from the Amazon windows app using JRiver on my laptop.

I prefer the WiiM experience but, once music is playing, they are pretty much the same.

I'd agree though: if you have issues with Amazon then just try another service. I've used Qobuz before and was impressed.

 

[RDoc]

FWIW I stream Amazon Music for over an hour every night and have not seen anything like you're describing. That's not to say you're not seeing it, just that I'm not sure it's an Amazon Music issue directly. My streaming is router->ethernet->NVidia Shield TV Pro->Integra 3.4, selecting music with the Amazon Music app in my Android phone via connect to the Shield. I almost exclusively stream my own ATMOS only playlists, although I've also not had problems with HD or UltraHD. Their gapless is very hit or miss though.

This is all a bit fragile. Every time I start a listening session I do a force stop/restart to the phone app and occasionally also have to reboot the Shield.