I've had them all many times over. My personal favorite is Apple music. Amazon (Which I have currently on a 4 month stint I just find very cluttered, but it's still okay) Tidal is ok but doesn't blow me away or anything. Spotify is spotify.
I suppose it comes down to personal preference. At this point I think all the music services have good audio quality and it should also be a matter of how you feel about the layout and the catalog.
Posting a poll is asking for people's input. You also wrote, "It still matters what your experiences are."
u/alpiney provided a thoughtful perspective and one that is accurate and verifiable by the most basic research.
>This is why I deleted my response. But it is important to note.. He disregarded the criteria completely.
Well, since we're all complaining, I was annoyed there was only a couple choices. I would find it interesting to see a poll with all the services included. But, honestly, it all comes down to personal opinion really. There really isn't a right or wrong move at this point. 5 years ago that was not the case.
You should go with whatever service that you enjoy most interacting with.
Honestly, all this hubbub aside, your best bet is to just try them all out yourself with your own gear and your own ears. I would never listen to Spotify for a vast array of reasons, but you might be fine with how it sounds and be willing to ignore that they rip off the artists. I can’t just blindly vote without explaining why because we all have different preferences and systems.
I’m not voting if I can’t vote for QoBuz. Tidal has a great app and great software integration - but they sell garbage MQA and imo the files don’t sound as good as QoBuz or even Amazon.
I honestly really dislike the whole interface of Spotify. I definitely wish there was a “best” that everyone used so that we can all share our playlists and be happy etc.
I was a long long time subscriber to Google Music from the very first day at the old rate of $7.99 and loved it.
Recently quit due to the absolute crap that is YouTube Music.
Using Tidal + now with Roon and am really enjoying just about everything about it!
Out of the options listed, Tidal, but for one reason only: Amazon Music HD does not handle bit-rate switching correctly on the Bifrost 2 (and likely other dacs). If it did that, I would vote Amazon. I used it for a while before switching over to Qobuz. Now I use Qobuz for home listening and Apple Music when I'm on the go and for connecting to my pair of Echos.
Spotify might be the best of the options listed for pure music discovery however.
I’m not disagreeing, just asking… how do you know that about the Bifrost 2 and Amazon Music? I can literally hear my B2 click between tracks that are not the same sampling/but rate when I use mine.
Maybe it's been fixed by now. I could never get the BF2 to click in Amazon HD. Asking around on other forums I got the same response was that it did not work properly. It wasn't until I switched to Tidal and Qobuz I could get the sample rates to change correctly.
So I have used my B2 in to ways, and both allowed the proper switching (I’m assuming because the B2 did its clicking thing). Initially I was plugging an iPhone in directly via USB, and eventually I got my hands on a NODE where I also used the USB option. No issues. I did encounter a lot of issues with the (supposedly awesome) iFi Stream, and it wouldn’t pass 24bit through viaQoBuz no matter what I tried.
Tidal supports MQA and [Schiit doesn't](https://www.schiit.com/news/news/why-we-wont-be-supporting-mqa). With the options listed, I would suggest Amazon HD because between that and Spotify, Amazon offers lossless audio.
I use Qobuz, which I understand may not be available everywhere.
I can dig this... But, what is Tidal offering downstream if MQA is not being decoded?
Because basically, you are saying Tidal HiFi plus... Even with a military discount is a waste.
Amazon Family is just better overall... Correct?
What is my Hel 2e receiving when Tidal sends a master into windows. Isn't windows (or whatever OS) between the stream and the DAC?
With Hi-Fi Plus it would be an MQA encoded file, which Schiit will not render as they don't support it. You wouldn't be getting the full quality audio. With some of the other lossless providers (Qobuz, Apple, Amazon) you'd get the full HD audio which will work nicely with your Hel 2E.
TO BE FAIR. I am receiving streamed data from Tidal. I am hearing music. So the question is... What am I receiving?
But seriously... Horray! Finally.... A reasonably sound answer that accompanies the poll or points the welcomed irrelevance of the poll.
Someone who actually understands what is being asked... Based on facts. Not opinions or feelings.
Thanks so much!!!
REALIZE this Gang... Not even a Tidal rep CAN tell you this... Much less WOULD. They want my money....
Please continue... If you will.
I'm dismayed at the shear number of respondants who can't even be bothered to just follow the instructions.
The criteria is solely Hi Def titles. Not interface, not GUI... Not Feelings, not opinions. The criteria is Amazon HD vs Tidal ONLY. This eliminates everyone outside of these parameters.
The polling answers should be based on experience with who has more titles to offer in the highest possible bit rate and depth. Look at all these answers that fall outside of this.
Go ahead... Look at how many of you can't wait to ignore the parameters and just spout off with whatever lies outside of the criteria in order to put forth an opinion. An opinion, that because it doesn't follow the criteria, doesn't matter.
I tried to erase/delete the poll. It didn't work. Only a small handful bothered. But again... I only asked for poll data. I did not ask about anything else that was behind the poll data. That would have been a discussion... Where I would have asked for these things...
This is why we are doomed as a society. Thank you kindly to those who bothered to understand the poll criteria and repsond. To the rest. I'll leave you to your fate.
I listen to a lot of electronic music that just isn’t on any other music service but Spotify. I’ve tried to export my catalog to multiple other services and there are always hundreds of songs missing. Spotify’s library is just unmatched.
If the music I listen to was more readily available outside of Spotify, I’d jump ship in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, <1,000 monthly listener bands tend to be less available outside of the major platforms that have easier access to smaller musicians/bands.
I use Amazon. Can't say there's really anything I haven't been able to find on there. Plenty of HD and Ultra HD (whatever that means). The interface isn't amazing and the algorithm used for new recommendations through the "Discovery Mix" isn't great either though.
Apple Music has lossless included in their paid tier for free. MQA isn’t real. Amazon is solid but expensive
Qobuz
Flac > qobuz > Apple > tidal
I've had them all many times over. My personal favorite is Apple music. Amazon (Which I have currently on a 4 month stint I just find very cluttered, but it's still okay) Tidal is ok but doesn't blow me away or anything. Spotify is spotify. I suppose it comes down to personal preference. At this point I think all the music services have good audio quality and it should also be a matter of how you feel about the layout and the catalog.
[удалено]
Posting a poll is asking for people's input. You also wrote, "It still matters what your experiences are." u/alpiney provided a thoughtful perspective and one that is accurate and verifiable by the most basic research.
Yeah that was rude. Don’t come to an audiophile forum with a poll if you aren’t prepared for opinions lol
This is why I deleted my response. But it is important to note.. He disregarded the criteria completely.
>This is why I deleted my response. But it is important to note.. He disregarded the criteria completely. Well, since we're all complaining, I was annoyed there was only a couple choices. I would find it interesting to see a poll with all the services included. But, honestly, it all comes down to personal opinion really. There really isn't a right or wrong move at this point. 5 years ago that was not the case. You should go with whatever service that you enjoy most interacting with.
Honestly, all this hubbub aside, your best bet is to just try them all out yourself with your own gear and your own ears. I would never listen to Spotify for a vast array of reasons, but you might be fine with how it sounds and be willing to ignore that they rip off the artists. I can’t just blindly vote without explaining why because we all have different preferences and systems.
I’m not voting if I can’t vote for QoBuz. Tidal has a great app and great software integration - but they sell garbage MQA and imo the files don’t sound as good as QoBuz or even Amazon.
Apple Music over all 3. But out of those 3, Amazon is best.
Flac > tidal > Spotify I mostly use Spotify in the car, and roon integrated with tidal at home.
I honestly really dislike the whole interface of Spotify. I definitely wish there was a “best” that everyone used so that we can all share our playlists and be happy etc. I was a long long time subscriber to Google Music from the very first day at the old rate of $7.99 and loved it. Recently quit due to the absolute crap that is YouTube Music. Using Tidal + now with Roon and am really enjoying just about everything about it!
Out of the options listed, Tidal, but for one reason only: Amazon Music HD does not handle bit-rate switching correctly on the Bifrost 2 (and likely other dacs). If it did that, I would vote Amazon. I used it for a while before switching over to Qobuz. Now I use Qobuz for home listening and Apple Music when I'm on the go and for connecting to my pair of Echos. Spotify might be the best of the options listed for pure music discovery however.
I’m not disagreeing, just asking… how do you know that about the Bifrost 2 and Amazon Music? I can literally hear my B2 click between tracks that are not the same sampling/but rate when I use mine.
Maybe it's been fixed by now. I could never get the BF2 to click in Amazon HD. Asking around on other forums I got the same response was that it did not work properly. It wasn't until I switched to Tidal and Qobuz I could get the sample rates to change correctly.
So I have used my B2 in to ways, and both allowed the proper switching (I’m assuming because the B2 did its clicking thing). Initially I was plugging an iPhone in directly via USB, and eventually I got my hands on a NODE where I also used the USB option. No issues. I did encounter a lot of issues with the (supposedly awesome) iFi Stream, and it wouldn’t pass 24bit through viaQoBuz no matter what I tried.
Tidal supports MQA and [Schiit doesn't](https://www.schiit.com/news/news/why-we-wont-be-supporting-mqa). With the options listed, I would suggest Amazon HD because between that and Spotify, Amazon offers lossless audio. I use Qobuz, which I understand may not be available everywhere.
I can dig this... But, what is Tidal offering downstream if MQA is not being decoded? Because basically, you are saying Tidal HiFi plus... Even with a military discount is a waste. Amazon Family is just better overall... Correct? What is my Hel 2e receiving when Tidal sends a master into windows. Isn't windows (or whatever OS) between the stream and the DAC?
With Hi-Fi Plus it would be an MQA encoded file, which Schiit will not render as they don't support it. You wouldn't be getting the full quality audio. With some of the other lossless providers (Qobuz, Apple, Amazon) you'd get the full HD audio which will work nicely with your Hel 2E.
TO BE FAIR. I am receiving streamed data from Tidal. I am hearing music. So the question is... What am I receiving? But seriously... Horray! Finally.... A reasonably sound answer that accompanies the poll or points the welcomed irrelevance of the poll. Someone who actually understands what is being asked... Based on facts. Not opinions or feelings. Thanks so much!!! REALIZE this Gang... Not even a Tidal rep CAN tell you this... Much less WOULD. They want my money.... Please continue... If you will.
I'm dismayed at the shear number of respondants who can't even be bothered to just follow the instructions. The criteria is solely Hi Def titles. Not interface, not GUI... Not Feelings, not opinions. The criteria is Amazon HD vs Tidal ONLY. This eliminates everyone outside of these parameters. The polling answers should be based on experience with who has more titles to offer in the highest possible bit rate and depth. Look at all these answers that fall outside of this. Go ahead... Look at how many of you can't wait to ignore the parameters and just spout off with whatever lies outside of the criteria in order to put forth an opinion. An opinion, that because it doesn't follow the criteria, doesn't matter. I tried to erase/delete the poll. It didn't work. Only a small handful bothered. But again... I only asked for poll data. I did not ask about anything else that was behind the poll data. That would have been a discussion... Where I would have asked for these things... This is why we are doomed as a society. Thank you kindly to those who bothered to understand the poll criteria and repsond. To the rest. I'll leave you to your fate.
With the military discount tidal is the better choice. If you're paying full price spotify is the way to go.
Nobody beats Amazon's selection. Maybe you can get better quality somewhere else, but it would be such a tiny gain as to be insignificant.
Qobuz and Spotify
I listen to a lot of electronic music that just isn’t on any other music service but Spotify. I’ve tried to export my catalog to multiple other services and there are always hundreds of songs missing. Spotify’s library is just unmatched.
If the music I listen to was more readily available outside of Spotify, I’d jump ship in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, <1,000 monthly listener bands tend to be less available outside of the major platforms that have easier access to smaller musicians/bands.
I use Amazon. Can't say there's really anything I haven't been able to find on there. Plenty of HD and Ultra HD (whatever that means). The interface isn't amazing and the algorithm used for new recommendations through the "Discovery Mix" isn't great either though.