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
I have used Spotify (lossless) for years through my Cyrus Hi-Fi with pre-amp, 2 monoblocks, and 2 intelligent power regulators and Q Acoustic Speakers. I have just found Qobuz.
I compare theses streaming apps to my Cyrus CD Transporter, which is ultimately superior than any streaming app.
Immediately, the difference was striking. The sound from Qobuz is robust, very detailed, excellent dynamics and has a 3D Holographic sound stage. In all ways, Qobuz completely out performs Spotify.
I find it hard to understand how people cannot hear this dramatic difference.
In comparison, Spotify is dull, dynamics are poor and there is no 3D Holographic sound stage, at all.
I've read some of people's "technical" answers saying that all three streamers sound similar. And you're technical answers are simply wrong.
These are the reasons why Qobuz is superior to Spotify (I've never heard Tidal):
FLAC is a lossless format, meaning when it is decompressed, the audio is bitwise-identical to the original source. MP3 is lossy, meaning it permanently discards audio data deemed "less audible" by psychoacoustic models.
FLAC uses Linear Predictive Coding to efficiently pack data, which involves creating a mathematical model of the audio signal. Because it is lossless, it preserves the exact, linear wave shape of the original recording.
MP3 compression (even at 320kbps) removes data, creating a less accurate representation of the original sound. This results in a loss of high-frequency detail (like cymbals) and adds artifacts (ringing/hissing), making the signal non-linear in comparison to the original.
FLAC preserves the full dynamic range, allowing sudden increases in sound (transients) to remain crisp, while lossy MP3s often compress these sounds, making them sound less detailed.
These are scientific facts but you don't need the facts when listening. The difference is staggering and Qobuz FLAC 24-bit/192khz produces almost high end CD quality sound.
If you can't hear the difference, you may have your hi-fi configured incorrectly.
That is literally what
@staticV3's
test shows. Such a test can be quite hard to do not because Spotify (or any streaming platform) intentionally manipulates the files they stream but because it's very hard to be sure they have the exact same master as the comparison file that was purchased.
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
