Amazon describe their SD tracks as “Lossy compressed audio files…Up to 320 kbps” https://www.amazon.com/music/unlimited/why-hdNot even sure it's 320k OGG or MP3, more likely it is 256k AAC, same as they stream to Chromecast Audio and other unsupported/uncertified devices (including web browsers). That would be Ok (you are unlikely to hear a difference between properly encoded 320k MP3 and 256k AAC) but it sounds like they are transcoding MP3 to AAC on the fly in this case and that really shows up.
What’s the purpose of having wiim showing bitrate/sampling of 16/44.1khz only to get lossy.
Yamaha music cast shows what type of music file being played such as flac, acc etc which give you idea if music is cd or lossy.Because lossy tracks still have a bit depth of 16 and a sample rate of 44.1 kHz, but are compressed. If they showed the bitrate as well (which has been asked for) e.g. 320Kbps or 1440kbps, that would tell you whether it was lossy or lossless.
See this or similar articles https://www.headphonesty.com/2019/07/sample-rate-bit-depth-bit-rate/
Yamaha music cast shows what type of music file being played such as flac, acc etc which give you idea if music is cd or lossy.
So it appears both Spotify and Apple Music streaming via Spotify connect/ Airplay 2 to the Wiim mini are lossy 24/44.1 (320kpbs or equivalent) streams. So both should sound the same. However when I do an A/B comparison of the same track on those that are Apple Lossless encoded I find that the Apple Music ones are noticeably better in my setup. Now my DAC does not have a readout that shows what signal is being received but given the testing done here by members it appears both are similar and lossy. I also found that when I changed the music resolution on both Apple Music and the Wiim mini from hi lossless (24/192) output to 24/48 the sound quality appeared to improve. Does this make any sense?Because lossy tracks still have a bit depth of 16 and a sample rate of 44.1 kHz, but are compressed. If they showed the bitrate as well (which has been asked for) e.g. 320Kbps or 1440kbps, that would tell you whether it was lossy or lossless.
See this or similar articles https://www.headphonesty.com/2019/07/sample-rate-bit-depth-bit-rate/
So it appears both Spotify and Apple Music streaming via Spotify connect/ Airplay 2 to the Wiim mini are lossy 24/44.1 (320kpbs or equivalent) streams. So both should sound the same. However when I do an A/B comparison of the same track on those that are Apple Lossless encoded I find that the Apple Music ones are noticeably better in my setup. Now my DAC does not have a readout that shows what signal is being received but given the testing done here by members it appears both are similar and lossy. I also found that when I changed the music resolution on both Apple Music and the Wiim mini from hi lossless (24/192) output to 24/48 the sound quality appeared to improve. Does this make any sense?
I personally find Apple Music over Airplay 2 (AAC 256) connected to WiiM (with optical out to external DAC) to sound excellent. Every bit as good as redbook CDs connected to same external DAC in my system. And Tidal Lossless (HiFi) sounds the same also in my system. Haven't tried spotify.So it appears both Spotify and Apple Music streaming via Spotify connect/ Airplay 2 to the Wiim mini are lossy 24/44.1 (320kpbs or equivalent) streams. So both should sound the same. However when I do an A/B comparison of the same track on those that are Apple Lossless encoded I find that the Apple Music ones are noticeably better in my setup. Now my DAC does not have a readout that shows what signal is being received but given the testing done here by members it appears both are similar and lossy. I also found that when I changed the music resolution on both Apple Music and the Wiim mini from hi lossless (24/192) output to 24/48 the sound quality appeared to improve. Does this make any sense?
as much as I was hoping for the flow values...which are not in the latest version
How do you raised ticket to wiim so I can add one myself?In response to a ticket I raised on their website about bitrate, they responded "I think we can add it, we will look into it and try to implement it". So, it may come soon
The implementation of 16/44.1khz on wiim might think you are playing loseless but even Spotify shows the same thing. I think having to show bitrate plus what type of file like music cast shows flac, acc make more sense.In response to a ticket I raised on their website about bitrate, they responded "I think we can add it, we will look into it and try to implement it". So, it may come soon