Tidal/Qobuz/Spotify Connect Lossless

[cyayon]

Hi,

I did not find a topic specifically addressing the recent comparison in Connect mode (direct device) between Tidal/Qobuz/Spotify.

As a long-time subscriber, I was impatiently awaiting Lossless from Spotify.

With my new hi-fi set (PMC Prophecy7 + Atoll AM300evo + Bluesound Node Icon), I have been comparing Qobuz, Spotify and Tidal for a few days (all 3 in Connect mode).

I quickly abandoned Qobuz because the interface and the application (CarPlay) are really not up to par. I want quality but not at this ergonomic price.

Concretely, in terms of sound quality, I compared a good twenty lossless tracks between the 3 (including in HD for Tidal and Qobuz), I didn't find much difference...

Maybe a small better and cleaner background noise on Tidal and Qobuz vs Spotify, but other than that it's really very subtle. And especially not on all the songs.

Please note, I am ONLY talking about the Connect version of the 3 steamers. It is therefore the device (Bluesound Node Icon in my case) which reads the track directly without going through the phone or the PC (and therefore bit-perfect).

I deliberately do not talk about app interfaces, ethics, philosophies or the catalogs of platforms. Simply in Connect mode, it's difficult to find a real difference on the few songs.

Afterwards, perhaps my ears are blocked (almost 50 years old), or my outfit is perhaps not high-end enough...

Your opinion?

thanks

 

[staticV3]

Hi @cyayon! Welcome to ASR.

I tested Spotify Lossless a while ago and it is indeed lossless:

Lossless Listening Arrives on Spotify Premium

It sounds great to me. Of course their previous 320kbps also sounded great too. I prefer to use Spotify over other services because their app is the best and their connect feature works with every device I have. I agree. As we have a family sub, with the other members using Spotify (various...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I'm considering switching to Qobuz.

 

[cyayon]

Thanks,
Did you found any difference ?

 

[staticV3]

Thanks,
Did you found any difference ?

Difference between?

 

[Keith_W]

You are asking an impossible question. If you are asking if there is a difference in SQ between A's lossless FLAC and B's lossless FLAC, there will be absolutely no difference if they are from the same master. The difference is in the mastering. And given there are literally millions of tracks on all streaming services combined, and you will only listen to a small subset of them, nobody can possibly know if Tidal uses better quality masters than Qobuz or vice-versa.

Simplest answer: pick the streaming service that has the music that you want and the features that you want, and a price you can afford. End of story!

 

[cyayon]

difference for sound quality in connect mode (in lossless only) of Spotify vs Tidal or Qobuz

Difference between?

difference for sound quality in connect mode (in lossless only) of Spotify vs Tidal or Qobuz

 

[cyayon]

You are asking an impossible question. If you are asking if there is a difference in SQ between A's lossless FLAC and B's lossless FLAC, there will be absolutely no difference if they are from the same master. The difference is in the mastering. And given there are literally millions of tracks on all streaming services combined, and you will only listen to a small subset of them, nobody can possibly know if Tidal uses better quality masters than Qobuz or vice-versa.

Simplest answer: pick the streaming service that has the music that you want and the features that you want, and a price you can afford. End of story!

Thanks for your answer.
The question is more about Spotify Lossless Connect as I am already subscriber (family account). I got a new good Hifi system, and tried Qobuz and Tidal to compare.
I didn't found any real difference as I am currently testing extensively Tidal Connect vs Spotify Connect (in lossless of course).
I am thinking about moving my family account from Spotify to Tidal, but I am not sure...

 

[staticV3]

difference for sound quality in connect mode (in lossless only) of Spotify vs Tidal or Qobuz

I don't have Tidal or Qobuz.

I only have Spotify, which I tested.

 

[cyayon]

I don't have Tidal or Qobuz.

I only have Spotify, which I tested.

Ok thanks. That I was understood. You just concluded that it is bit-perfect but no real comparaison against Tidal or Qobuz Connect.

 

[BetweenThePeaks]

My hi-fi system consists of a WiiM Ultra, Audiophonics AP300-S250NC power amp, and Teufel Ultima 40 Mk4 3-way floorstanding speakers.

I've tried quite a few streaming services on it: Deezer, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal.
For a long time, way before buying my current system, I bounced between Deezer and Spotify, and honestly couldn't hear much difference between them.
Then yesterday I decided to give Tidal a proper try.
I listened to some Tidal Max tracks (24-bit/192kHz), and wow... what a difference!
The sound quality is noticeably better than the other services I've used.

I've also got a measurement microphone arriving in a few days so I can run the WiiM's RoomFit calibration, which should improve things even further.

Looking forward to seeing what difference that makes.

 

[RDoc]

I use Tidal, initially so artists would be a bigger payment, but now I mainly listen to ATMOS recordings using a surround speaker setup. Highly recommended if you're willing to go down that path.

For streaming devices that support lossless stereo from Tidal via Connect using the full TIdal app there are lots of options. I use a Wiim with digital output and it works perfectly.

However, Connect mode is a bit of a mess when it comes to ATMOS. I'm unaware of any streaming device that supports ATMOS over the full Tidal app using Connect, although there are speakers and soundbars that do. The streamers all use a variant of the Google TV Tidal app that is a complete POS IMHO.

 

[BetweenThePeaks]

I use Tidal, initially so artists would be a bigger payment, but now I mainly listen to ATMOS recordings using a surround speaker setup. Highly recommended if you're willing to go down that path.

For streaming devices that support lossless stereo from Tidal via Connect using the full TIdal app there are lots of options. I use a Wiim with digital output and it works perfectly.

However, Connect mode is a bit of a mess when it comes to ATMOS. I'm unaware of any streaming device that supports ATMOS over the full Tidal app using Connect, although there are speakers and soundbars that do. The streamers all use a variant of the Google TV Tidal app that is a complete POS IMHO.

I've been doing some experimentation (in this very moment) with Tidal’s Dolby Atmos tracks on my WiiM Ultra.
Even though we know the WiiM Ultra doesn't natively decode Atmos into a multi-channel layout, the way it handles the 2-channel downmix of complex tracks, specifically Jazzrausch Bigband, is fascinating. It’s creating what I can only describe as a 'holographic play of sounds' that goes far beyond traditional stereo panning.
The sound doesn't just sit in the left or right speaker; there is a sense of depth and verticality in the space between speakers.

 

[xanalog]

I tested Spotify Lossless a while ago and it is indeed lossless:
I'm considering switching to Qobuz.

Is this 'switching' consideration based on your 'sonic' preference between these 2 contenders?