Spotify to launch 'Hi-Fi' CD Quality Tier.

[masterhw]

Just going to leave this here…

Not wrong, I was a Spotify fan but eventually joined Tidal. Now I would probably not even join a Spotify Hi-Fi tier if they offered one. They lost my business taking so long.

 

[Miguelón]

Just going to leave this here… (4 years ago almost to the day)

It remembers me my Human Resources director when she engaged me: local is in poor state, but he said “don’t worry, we’re looking to a new location”. She says that to all new employee, since 15 years

 

[Mark1]

It's Spotify's app that needs improvement. I can't get it to work the way I want a music app to. Doesn't even play the song I select etc.

 

[gvl]

Lossless or not, Spotify is still the best in terms of music discovery. I just fire up my “Discover Weekly”, and 3 out of 4 times it hits the spot. This counts.

 

[Miguelón]

Lossless or not, Spotify is still the best in terms of music discovery. I just fire up my Discover Weekly”, and 3 out of 4 times it hits the spot.

Yes, I have it just for that.

 

[pablolie]

Lossless or not, Spotify is still the best in terms of music discovery. I just fire up my Discover Weekly”, and 3 out of 4 times it hits the spot.

Agreed as to their library. And lossless is not that important for me - other than classical and some jazz, the quality is great at 320.

The user interface is atrocious, and half the time Spotify behaves weirdly, it refuses to give on full control of things and becomes stubborn. The two different queues it sets up are simply stupid ("next in queue" and "next" ... wtf) and when users complain there is a lot of clueless hand-waving as to why it makes sense... and why trying to play two playlists defeats the shuffle function and stuff like that...

 

[Miguelón]

Agreed as to their library. And lossless is not that important for me - other than classical and some jazz, the quality is great at 320.

The user interface is atrocious, and half the time Spotify behaves weirdly, it refuses to give on full control of things and becomes stubborn. The two different queues it sets up are simply stupid ("next in queue" and "next" ... wtf) and when users complain there is a lot of clueless hand-waving as to why it makes sense... and why trying to play two playlists defeats the shuffle function and stuff like that...

Are you playing from your computer? My iphone app is quite stable, I have more issues with Tidal than with Spotify…

 

[pablolie]

Are you playing from your computer? My iphone app is quite stable, I have more issues with Tidal than with Spotify…

I listen to Spotify on computer, smartphone, tablet. It is not at all about music not playing. It's about having stricter control of stuff that plays in my queue.

 

[Miguelón]

I listen to Spotify on computer, smartphone, tablet. It is not at all about music not playing. It's about having stricter control of stuff that

For instance I don’t find any issues when adding playlists to the queue and using shuffle mode, but I recognize that usually I only listen to one playlist.

Like also lyrics presentation, helps me in English comprehension of some songs, Tidal has not that function.

Post edited: Spotify is also more friendly with my eyes, I suffer from a genetic condition that requires bigger fonts to don’t fatigue and Tidal, Qobuz show little ones. Only Spotify accept resizing at my visual requirements

 

[pablolie]

For instance I don’t find any issues when adding playlists to the queue and using shuffle mode, but I recognize that usually I only listen to one playlist.

Like also lyrics presentation, helps me in English comprehension of some songs, Tidal has not that function.

Post edited: Spotify is also more friendly with my eyes, I suffer from a genetic condition that requires bigger fonts to don’t fatigue and Tidal, Qobuz show little ones. Only Spotify accept resizing at my visual requirements

Try adding a Playlist to your queue while playing a playlist... and try shuffle...

I am a loyal Spotify customer but that doesn't mean I don't think it could be improved... but my priorities fot that would be outside of bitrates.

 

[Miguelón]

Try adding a Playlist to your queue while playing a playlist... and try shuffle...

I am a loyal Spotify customer but that doesn't mean I don't think it could be improved... but my priorities fot that would be outside of bitrates.

I did it, reading for second time your post: it works fine, in order or shuffle, adds a second or a third playlist without problems.
I’m using an iphone or an ipad, in both is OK

 

[pablolie]

I did it, reading for second time your post: it works fine, in order or shuffle, adds a second or a third playlist without problems.
I’m using an iphone or an ipad, in both is OK

You may be adding to Playlist, not to Queue? Everybody in the Spotify forums complains about this.

 

[Miguelón]

You may be adding to Playlist, not to Queue? Everybody in the Spotify forums complains about this.

Nope. I added to queue, then verified was well added. After I also go to the latest track of the first playlist and wait if continue playing the first track of the second playlist. Works fine.
Also played shuffle mode and verify that mixes both playlists.
All that without stopping the music…

 

[pablolie]

Nope. I added to queue, then verified was well added. After I also go to the latest track of the first playlist and wait if continue playing the first track of the second playlist. Works fine.
Also played shuffle mode and verify that mixes both playlists.
All that without stopping the music…

Well doesn't work on the android or the windows app. Haven't tried the Linux app again. and Spotify says it's design intent. maybe Apple can strongarm them into a more predictable user experience.
I have found a way around it, but shall not post it publicly for fear Spotify shuts it down.
You can also go to one of your fav artists, play an album, shuffle it, then add another album to the queue...and tell me how well it shuffles..
I should check on an iPad, still have one from an ex.

 

[Miguelón]

Well doesn't work on the android or the windows app. Haven't tried the Linux app again. and Spotify says it's design intent. maybe Apple can strongarm them into a more predictable user experience.
I have found a way around it, but shall not post it publicly for fear Spotify shuts it down.
You can also go to one of your fav artists, play an album, shuffle it, then add another album to the queue...and tell me how well it shuffles..
I should check on an iPad, still have one from an ex.

Is the first time I do add albums to the queue, both Tidal and Spotify add any album immediately after the current track and let the first album at the end (adding album seems to be an operation that prioritizes the chronological order of operation, whereas in playlists addition preserves the order of the playlists).

Random playing affects both albums on the queue in Spotify and Tidal.

It seems to be Spotify in Android devices have currently some issues to correct.

I remembered having a lot of issues with Spotify at the beginning of the app, many years ago but iPod and iPhone users complained a lot (was the preferred streaming service in iOS) and since many years it became the more stable of the 3 or 4 existing ones. Except of course Apple Music, but the playlists suck in that app

 

[Tell]

I perceive the difference from loselees to mp3 or OGG in blind tests, though I find not very important except for classical music.

OGG at what bitrate?

 

[Miguelón]

OGG at what bitrate?

320 kbps if I remember correctly. Not so difficult in classical, I think (not sure) that hear some harmonics on instruments that I know so well and could better discriminate instruments.

In electronic music I was unable to distinguish them, and in rock and pop I could after multiple attempts. The test gave me a p value under 0.1 against null hypothesis of random answers once averaging all tracks.

I repeated in other tests but with mp3 256 kbps or 320 (I don’t remember exactly), similar results.

In speakers was unable to differentiate anything apart classical, better discrimination with headphones.

Post edited: I did another test more recently specifically on OGG: It was mostly pop and rock, some electronics. Curiously I obtained a p value under 0.05 (95% probability of differentiating loseless from compressed) but because I FALIED majority of ABX trials. Was so fun, I studied that possibility in medicine but never experienced, failing way more attempts than expected value from random shows discrimination

 

[Old_School_Brad]

320 kbps if I remember correctly. Not so difficult in classical, I think (not sure) that hear some harmonics on instruments that I know so well and could better discriminate instruments.

In electronic music I was unable to distinguish them, and in rock and pop I could after multiple attempts. The test gave me a p value under 0.1 against null hypothesis of random answers once averaging all tracks.

I repeated in other tests but with mp3 256 kbps or 320 (I don’t remember exactly), similar results.

In speakers was unable to differentiate anything apart classical, better discrimination with headphones.

And those tracks were from the same source, so you verified they weren’t from different masters? If that’s the case, your listening skills are genuinely impressive (no sarcasm intended).

I have to say, I don’t envy you. I’m quite content not being able to distinguish between Spotify’s OGG format and redbook or hi-def audio. I enjoy Spotify’s features so much that I wouldn’t want to switch to anything else. I do share some frustrations, like the annoying “smart shuffle” feature and those videos they assume people enjoy. I just want the music and some album artwork -nothing more.

 

[Miguelón]

And those tracks were from the same source, so you verified they weren’t from different masters? If that’s the case, your listening skills are genuinely impressive (no sarcasm intended).

I have to say, I don’t envy you. I’m quite content not being able to distinguish between Spotify’s OGG format and redbook or hi-def audio. I enjoy Spotify’s features so much that I wouldn’t want to switch to anything else. I do share some frustrations, like the annoying “smart shuffle” feature and those videos they assume people enjoy. I just want the music and some album artwork -nothing more.

Yes, were test made with same tracks and controlled levels, ABX: X is track control and you have to choose A or B tracks that you think corresponds to the X.

In classical music is more difficult to accept compression (to my ears) because expression depends on very subtle balance between instruments and also has a lot of melodic lines to identify at same time.

Of course if room response is so strong, it dominates totally over minor extra harmonics or noise added in compression algorithms, or some little sacrifices in high frequencies (which use to be attenuated or suppressed in compressed files).

But in near field analytical listenings and specially by headphones it worths to me listening to loseless files.

Otherwise, I enjoy so much Spotify and is my main streaming source to pop, rock, punk, metal…, I have Tidal exclusively for jazz and classical.

 

[pablolie]

Is the first time I do add albums to the queue, both Tidal and Spotify add any album immediately after the current track and let the first album at the end (adding album seems to be an operation that prioritizes the chronological order of operation, whereas in playlists addition preserves the order of the playlists).

Random playing affects both albums on the queue in Spotify and Tidal.

It seems to be Spotify in Android devices have currently some issues to correct.

I remembered having a lot of issues with Spotify at the beginning of the app, many years ago but iPod and iPhone users complained a lot (was the preferred streaming service in iOS) and since many years it became the more stable of the 3 or 4 existing ones. Except of course Apple Music, but the playlists suck in that app

That's not how it works for me, and -again- it's a common complaint in the Spotify discussion forums. Example:

I add one album (George Benson "Guitar Man") to the queue, in shuffle mode:

Then add another ("In Flight"):

Voila! Shuffle mode defeated even though it's supposed to be there... it's worse with playlists.