Do you still use Spotify?

I've had Spotify since it was free and I think for the cost it is brilliant but I very rarely use it anymore as I find the sound quality to be below what I would like for critical listening.  My son uses it all the time in his bedroom and its still there for testing the odd album I haven't heard but that's about it

I would not say 10 quid is too much given what we spend on the black boxes. It is a question of value which I do not see any justification spending given what it offers (the sound quality and variety).

Here in Canada, my Spotify account is bundled with my cell phone plan at "no additional cost" (I suspect they want to encourage us to stream more data as it counts against one's data allowance!) Sound quality? Well, I use it extensively with my naim system and no different than other formats, some tracks/albums are great and others not so much. In this respect it can be better than numerous cd rips. What else? I don't have to faff around with file transfers or mobile device storage limitations. I can also access it wherever I am - out of the country as I am now. 

I doubt I will bother with Tidal (here, $20 a month) -  I will continue to download higher quality music I hear via Spotify or internet radio...

my 2c

DrPo posted:

@Olek_K: fully agree with the cost argument. But I have a rather different view on Tidal "Naim" app, I prefer it to the "native" Tidal app (on iOS at least)...and (in tandem with the SQ) thus ended up using
Tidal on regular basis

personally I miss some elements of the 'real' Tidal app like full titles of tracks. And my naim app is kinda slow.

Use Spotify as I have a free acount with them.

Solid Air originally posted:

"My elder son uses Spotify extensively on the Naim, but I've rarely used it - just enough to know the sound is rasping and unpleasant ....."

I too currently have Spotify and Tidal running on both my Naim/Hugo and Linn streamers, and will be faced with the same dilemma as many others when the free Tidal trial runs out. Strange though - although I agree that Tidal does sound quite a bit better, my impression of Spotify via Naim is quite the opposite of the comment above. I find that the sound of Spotify is warm, rounded, not at all unpleasant, but certainly not offensive. It just lacks that bit of extra 'sparkle' and detail you get from local CD quality and above steaming. 

I think I will retain one of the services, but I will be torn between the two. I am very reluctant to pay the £20 or so monthly fee for Tidal. Now, if it was offered in the UK at the equivalent of the US price, I may well be tempted.

As a matter of interest, how do others view of the Spotify sound compare with mine, or that of Solid Air? 

I should add that I am using Spotify Premium.

Just trying Tidal for the first time today.  Impressive sound and UI.  I do see the reason people like it.  Still, I like the way Spotify works with Naim, even if you have to jump between Spotify and Naim apps.  Looked for "Around the Corner" by The Evens:  Spotify is Yes; Tidal is No.  For me, Spotify is about discovery and choice; and while uncompressed does generally sound better, I have always said Spotify sounds better than I expect, most of the time, and occasionally, better than CDs I have.  

89 days to go in the trial.

Nick 

Hmack posted:

As a matter of interest, how do others view of the Spotify sound compare with mine, or that of Solid Air?

I'm with you Hmack: on SuperUniti I find a bit "more" with Tidal (and local CD streams from the NAS) compared to Spotify, but I have zero objection to the Spotify sound... and it is not grating or harsh or irritating to me. I find myself lucky in this regard, as others clearly do not enjoy the lossy feed. 

I had no issues with the Connect interface and enjoyed jumping out to the Spotify app. I find the integrated Tidal interface that lives inside the Naim app even more clever. This is a toss up for me - both work really well. 

Some have had streaming issues that ruin their experience. I have had one evening (possibly two) where Tidal seemed to be offline. In fairness, I rate both services very highly for QoS and reliability. 

Both catalogues seem vast to me, both have good search functions but I give Spotify the nod for browsing; Tidal offers far fewer albums by genre to scroll through. Spotify also gets the nod for recommendations based on prior listening... but I listen to Tidal playlists much more often and with more overall success (ie I leave them on longer, skip fewer tracks, etc.). 

I have had Spotify on subscription for a year, and am half way through my free Tidal period. Not sure yet what I will do after Xmas. It may end up being both, or it may end up being Tidal (much better on downloads to my iPhone with an external DAC and headphones, for airplanes) or it might be Spotify (happy with the sound, half the money). 

Great thread, thanks if you read this far!

Regards alan

I can hear a difference but it's not night and day (I'll no doubt hear from someone here saying my kit isn't good enough etc...) but generally I find Spotify quality fine and in fact with music of the more electro persuasion I think Spotify hits a little harder than tidal (not always though!) . But generally there's no doubt that tidal streams at a higher bit rate, it's just that sometimes it's doesn't necessarily sound much better or make me much happier. The Spotify discovery features do however make me very happy. 

There's a long running topic on the Spotify forum called 'lossless streaming 16bit 44.1khz CD quality' which, in a nutshell, is asking (in some cases demanding) Spotify for lossless streaming. If everyone reading this adds to the topic Kudos count it might move higher up the queue. 

I find Spotify sound unpleasant but am very happy with Tidal sound - I also enjoy Radio Paradise so it's not just about bit rate. This through a humble Superuniti.

Is anybody can give answers to those:

- I use Spotify Premium from time to time. Should I connect directly with cables from my router or PC for better quality or if the wireless mode is sufficient ? If yes what type of cables ?

- Do I need the best Internet speed available ?

I used Spotify quite a lot pre-Tidal integration but mainly as a try before you buy.  I found SQ OK on Muso but rather too bass-heavy on Unitilite and also now SU.  I find Tidal SQ really good on SU & Muso  (but not quite up there with  upnp streamed lossless CD rips). What I have found is that I am more than happy to listen to stuff for a long while on Tidal before committing to buying.  I stopped Spotify subscription very quickly after Tidal integration as SQ was so much better to my ears.   I'll be renewing Tidal for sure, unless drop-outs get a lot worse - and there seems to have been a marked improvement recently (although still worse in evenings).

I've kept Spotify, as IME, it has the biggest selection of music. I also have Deezer and Tidal at the moment. Regarding sound quality, some tracks sound better on Tidal, but not all; only about one-third of Tidal tracks are high/ higher quality, and so there is often no difference in sound quality between my three streaming services. Without any doubt, the quality of the production is much more important than the format. 

Spotify is not a 'high quality' stream, I accept that; but their music selection is the widest I've found, and that is very important.