just gone premium (spotify)

[smuggs]

listened to coldplay and i thought not alot had changed but then put nils lofgren on and why from 160 to 320 it really is better alot warmer and not so harsh at the top end. And thats through hdmi to my denon 1909 with restorer on, cant wait for the next three weeks to go till i have my dacmagic and put it through my arcam.

What did other people find when they went premium

 

[ESP2009]

British Gas stopped whittering on about 'your world' for one thing!

I now listen via both my earphones (via amp/DAC) when away from home, and via my DACMagic at home.

I don't get particularly analytical about it, but can safely say that there is an increased clarity and detail present. I am certainly noticing more blemishes on tracks!

On balance I believe it is well worth it: the price of one album per month for your own personal online juke box? No brainer, mate! I didn't think the ads from free Spotify would bother me, but eventually they did, particularly as I often listen to classical music.

Excellent!

 

[Anonymous]

ESP2009:

British Gas stopped whittering on about 'your world' for one thing!

Those ads on spotify work .... after hearing the british gas ad a zillion times, I ended up signing onto British Gas ....

about 2 weeks ago, was a knock on the door ... was a british gas rep .... he had a hand held computer, punched in a few figures and reckons I will save more than £25 a month on gas/electricity as opposed to N-Power which I am currently subscribed to ....

there is no cost to change, so should be connected withing the next few days ....

 

[ESP2009]

A-ha! Snared!

To be fair, the ads on Spotify weren't too intrusive except when I was listening to classical pieces.

 

[daveyjay]

I've been thinking about 'going premium' for a while now. Something I've been meaning to ask, though. Do albums that have tracks that merge into one another play continuously, unlike with the free version that always has a gap between tracks? I'm thinking (hoping) they do, but thought I'd find out before I sign up.

 

[ESP2009]

daveyjay:I've been thinking about 'going premium' for a while now. Something I've been meaning to ask, though. Do albums that have tracks that merge into one another play continuously, unlike with the free version that always has a gap between tracks? I'm thinking (hoping) they do, but thought I'd find out before I sign up.

Good point. Sad to say, generally, in my experience there is still an irritating break. It must be something to do with the way they are 'recorded' by Spotify. I know that when I have recorded tracks for holiday mp3 use in the past, some software allows you to choose between putting a break or not. It seems that Spotify haven't ticked the right box!

 

[idc]

Can't say I have noticed the breaks between tracks. The improvement in SQ is minimal. I feel it rather than hear it with an increase in depth and soundstage. My headphones fell more full of music. The best part is being able to download music onto the laptop, so in the evenings, when internet speeds slow, I can still listen uninterupted by cut outs and adverts.

 

[crusaderlord]

interestingly i used to have the premium service but eventually decided to go back to normal and use the £10 per month to buy a couple of cd's per month or some vinyl instead

i find that spotify is a great way to find new music but i much prefer using the monthly fee to actually own the hardware than pay for the streaming and have nothing long term to show for it

its a matter of perspective i guess

 

[idc]

I suppose it isdown to what you are comfortable with. I am happy imaging my massive online library; it is a wooden challet deep in the Swedish woods where the music is tended by blonde maidens.

 

[ESP2009]

crusaderlord:interestingly i used to have the premium service but eventually decided to go back to normal and use the £10 per month to buy a couple of cd's per month or some vinyl instead i find that spotify is a great way to find new music but i much prefer using the monthly fee to actually own the hardware than pay for the streaming and have nothing long term to show for it its a matter of perspective i guess

A fair perspective, and I agree about discovering new music. I have mentioned elsewhere that I am now combining Spotify with the 'what are you listening to?' thread on these forums. Excellent.

Yes, and every now and then I will actually buy a CD because I also like to own the real McCoy. However, as I say, for £9.99 a month, I think it's a brilliant concept and well worth using, particularly if you want to use your moby (which I don't) or listen offline.

Don't know where all these competitions and offers are lurking, though.

 

[jimdonnelly]

idc:I suppose it isdown to what you are comfortable with. I am happy imaging my massive online library; it is a wooden challet deep in the Swedish woods where the music is tended by blonde maidens.

LOL. But who is tending to you and more importantly who is tending to the collection of cans that you no doubt have?

 

[idc]

jimdonnelly:idc:I suppose it isdown to what you are comfortable with. I am happy imaging my massive online library; it is a wooden challet deep in the Swedish woods where the music is tended by blonde maidens. LOL. But who is tending to you and more importantly who is tending to the collection of cans that you no doubt have?

I am trying to arrange someone to care for my cans............but it appears I will have to do all of the buffing myself.

Additions to the catalogue just keep on coming and I am now going to see three bands who I would never have found if it was not for the site. The total cost of the concerts for me and the wife, just under £60. There is so much good music out there that it just begging to be discovered.

 

[Anonymous]

idc:

I am trying to arrange someone to care for my cans............but it appears I will have to do all of the buffing myself.

 

[idc]

dim_span:idc:

I am trying to arrange someone to care for my cans............but it appears I will have to do all of the buffing myself.

 

[ESP2009]

Lumme, is that how they clean hi-fi out in Sweden?

 

[idc]

I think she is what they mean by a server.

 

[ESP2009]

idc:I think she is what they mean by a server.

Ah, must be a Cylon then.

 

[Gusboll]

smuggs:

listened to coldplay and i thought not alot had changed but then put nils lofgren on and why from 160 to 320 it really is better alot warmer and not so harsh at the top end. And thats through hdmi to my denon 1909 with restorer on, cant wait for the next three weeks to go till i have my dacmagic and put it through my arcam.

What did other people find when they went premium

Correct me if I'm wrong as I know nothing about Spotify, but is this is a suggestion that 320kbps is somewhat surprisingly better than 160? Both are garbage - Hi-Fi/music in general is in danger of becoming very Lo-Fi.

 

[Dave_]

Gusboll:smuggs:

listened to coldplay and i thought not alot had changed but then put nils lofgren on and why from 160 to 320 it really is better alot warmer and not so harsh at the top end. And thats through hdmi to my denon 1909 with restorer on, cant wait for the next three weeks to go till i have my dacmagic and put it through my arcam.

What did other people find when they went premium

Correct me if I'm wrong as I know nothing about Spotify, but is this is a suggestion that 320kbps is somewhat surprisingly better than 160?Yes.Both are garbage - Hi-Fi/music in general is in danger of becoming very Lo-Fi.Actually Spotify @ 320kbps sounds pretty damn good-Not as good as full fat music,but not that far off either........

 

[smuggs]

it makes me laugh that people moan for £2.50 a week you get a chance to play whatever album you want while having dinner/playing with the kids/washing/ironing checking dream team on laptop playing fifa10 on xbox360 live all them this is fine an if you want to still down and study the sound then we can put a cd/vinyl on and take it in. But on the whole to try before buy,get playlists on your iphone and as lounge about/background music its great value and i would almost say that its getting a must really.

 

[Gusboll]

That's me down the charity shop for the Alba then.

 

[smuggs]

you being silly now, dont get me wrong im getting bored of playing through my deon1909 and br1's thats why everyone will hear the scream GET IN when on april the 10th i get to buy a dac magic and can put it through my arcam and br5's. You have very top kit but not everyone has that money, and can not afford to but 12 albums a month so its nice i have about 140-160 cd albums but have played them to death so its been a treat to listen to new stuff. You are probaly just ahaving a laugh sorry for the on slaught long day

 

[Gusboll]

Hey I've been downloading/streaming since 1997 (Dave Matthews was my first I think) (and it's taken me years of hard-earned to get the kit I have) but it ain't hi-fi; it's ***-fi. There are many other posts on the subject but I'm just worried that if we are in a generation where 320 becomes the perceived gold standard, we may as well all pack up and go home. Make no mistake, the record companies are carping themselves and will do anything to save their skins.

 

[John Duncan]

Gusboll:That's me down the charity shop for the Alba then.

Have you heard Spotify at 320kbps?

 

[idc]

I have found that kbps with streaming means less than the codec used in terms of sound. Sky Songs streams at 48kbps yet a small sample found they preferred it

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,39029432,49303980,00.htm

The codec difference of Ogg Vorbis to AAC appears to be far more important.

I find Spotify Premium has more depth and a lushness to it over itunes Apple lossless. Neither is necesssarily better, it often depends on the music, but they are different.