Spotify Premium vs CD

[JoelSim]

Just done a quick test.

The CD is much fuller sounding, the bass is very much in evidence, being deeper and much more involving.

That isn't to say Spotify sounds bad as it doesn't.

 

[Anonymous]

Agree. I play spotify through the QBD76 from a Macbook, and cd's also through the same DAC using Cyrus CD8X as a transport. I can't quite put my finger upon it but there's just that little bit more solidity and weight to instruments, greater texture overall and a more airy and spacious quality to the soundstage.

Playing tracks from itunes (lossless) through the DAC gives the same results as cd more or less and is better than Spotify.

As joel says, Spotify still sounds pretty good though.

(Gyrodec sounds the best of all but I don't want another digital vs analogue flame-war okay!)

 

[idc]

I can only make the comparison of Spotify vs Lossless as I don't have a CDP, but I find Spotify to be an overall more satisfying sound. It has a greater dynamic and I get more goosebumps moments. In terms of pure sound quality, there is no great difference, but I cant tell the difference between 320kbps and lossless anyway, most of the time. I would love to get a loan of a CDP to try a comparison, but even if the CDP was better, I cant see me going back to it. Streaming has too many other advantages.

 

[Anonymous]

hi again idc, i also find it hard to tell any differences between the 320kbps and
lossless, and i am now really enjoying my music again thanks to spotify
i am not listening to the hifi anymore,, but enjoy the music instead and now have
millions of tracks or albums to choose from great stuff..

 

[Gerrardasnails]

crimsondonkey:
Agree. I play spotify through the QBD76 from a Macbook, and cd's also through the same DAC using Cyrus CD8X as a transport. I can't quite put my finger upon it but there's just that little bit more solidity and weight to instruments, greater texture overall and a more airy and spacious quality to the soundstage.

Playing tracks from itunes (lossless) through the DAC gives the same results as cd more or less and is better than Spotify.

As joel says, Spotify still sounds pretty good though.

(Gyrodec sounds the best of all but I don't want another digital vs analogue flame-war okay!)

With your DAC and a better source than iTunes (Foobar bitperfect plugins or similar), you would beat your cd's

 

[Anonymous]

its not just the bass joel the mids have more detail as do the highs plus more air if you know what i mean

i ditched spotify its not worth the compromise

 

[John Duncan]

one off:i ditched spotify its not worth the compromise

Depends on whether you want to listen to music or to hifi...

 

[Anonymous]

it was actually more than that jd an unnecessary jibe if i may say so im not a hifi snob like some

world music and classical music arent that well represented nor is music of the twenties through to the fifteies so unless you like anglo us rock spotify isnt going to satisfy

dont dispute its a terrific idea just not for me plus the slight downgrade in sound quality

the other problem irrespective of all that is spotify doesnt introduce you to music like radio does so i actually prefer my roberts to spotify

edit that should be new music

 

[Anonymous]

JoelSim:
Just done a quick test.

The CD is much fuller sounding, the bass is very much in evidence, being deeper and much more involving.

That isn't to say Spotify sounds bad as it doesn't.

What you are listening to is HI-FI. Not some Ipod nonsence.

 

[Anonymous]

one off:

world music and classical music arent that well represented nor is music of the twenties through to the fifteies so unless you like anglo us rock spotify isnt going to satisfy

sort of reminds me of the recent ad on spotify where the Irish guy phoned in complaining that there was not enough 'dance music' on spotify

 

[John Duncan]

one off:
it was actually more than that jd an unnecessary jibe if i may say so im not a hifi snob like some

world music and classical music arent that well represented nor is music of the twenties through to the fifteies so unless you like anglo us rock spotify isnt going to satisfy

dont dispute its a terrific idea just not for me plus the slight downgrade in sound quality

the other problem irrespective of all that is spotify doesnt introduce you to music like radio does so i actually prefer my roberts to spotify

edit that should be new music

It was, yes, for which I apologise. But I disagree that it doesn't introduce you to new music, because that's what it's done for me more than anything - their genre/decade and artist 'radio', together with 'similar artists', has broadened my listening habits (in excellent quality through a DAC, might I add) more than radio has.

 

[the record spot]

Yup, that's the benefit of it for me too. I only use the free service and have no need of laying out a tenner a month on something that needs an "always on" PC connection on top (thus making the monthly cost even higher). I use it sparingly when I have the time and find the features John mentioned above to be most useful, although the Pandora's Box of just sticking in a title and seeing what comes back is pretty good fun too.

 

[Anonymous]

Gerrardasnails: With your DAC and a better source than iTunes (Foobar bitperfect plugins or similar), you would beat your cd's

Yeah that's what I'd have thought - can you point me to what you're suggesting please & why (bear in mind I have a macbook and macmini)

 

[Gerrardasnails]

crimsondonkey:
Gerrardasnails: With your DAC and a better source than iTunes (Foobar bitperfect plugins or similar), you would beat your cd's

Yeah that's what I'd have thought - can you point me to what you're suggesting please & why (bear in mind I have a macbook and macmini)

Sorry but I haven't a clue when it comes to Macs. PJ Pro is the man who knows a lot about this sort of thing and JD is a Mac man.

 

[John Duncan]

I use iTunes with apple lossless and error correction on and am perfectly happy with that. I haven't tried Max or XLD, primarily because they looked too scary (though now have a couple of day's Linux under my belt...)

 

[Anonymous]

no problems john and i accept your point

i didnt explore spotify much before concluding it wasnt for me but it did illustrate after id listened to a few bands that there was good reason why id never bought their cds in the first place and also how much my taste has changed

id take shakira over pink floyd any day

 

[John Duncan]

one off:id take shakira over pink floyd any day

What you do in the privacy of your own home etc etc...

 

[Anonymous]

So do people think that premium is worth the outlay over the ad-funded service?

I'm finally getting my (first ever) broadband connection fitted today so looking forward to some time browsing through what's on offer.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

one off:
no problems john and i accept your point

i didnt explore spotify much before concluding it wasnt for me but it did illustrate after id listened to a few bands that there was good reason why id never bought their cds in the first place and also how much my taste has changed

id take shakira over pink floyd any day

I wish people would stop comparing Shakira and Pink Floyd, it's happening all the time these days. I just don't see it - for me they are nothing like each other.

 

[Anonymous]

Gerrardasnails:one off:
no problems john and i accept your point

i didnt explore spotify much before concluding it wasnt for me but it did illustrate after id listened to a few bands that there was good reason why id never bought their cds in the first place and also how much my taste has changed

id take shakira over pink floyd any day

I wish people would stop comparing Shakira and Pink Floyd, it's happening all the time these days. I just don't see it - for me they are nothing like each other.

Yeah, stupid comparison.

 

[idc]

the record spot:.....although the Pandora's Box of just sticking in a title and seeing what comes back is pretty good fun too.

Sadly Pandora is not available in the UK. If it was I would bang on about it endlessly

 

[Anonymous]

Garland Genoho:Gerrardasnails:one off:
no problems john and i accept your point

i didnt explore spotify much before concluding it wasnt for me but it did illustrate after id listened to a few bands that there was good reason why id never bought their cds in the first place and also how much my taste has changed

id take shakira over pink floyd any day

I wish people would stop comparing Shakira and Pink Floyd, it's happening all the time these days. I just don't see it - for me they are nothing like each other.

Yeah, stupid comparison.

totally agree how can dsotm compare with oral fixation

 

[JoelSim]

tractorboy:
So do people think that premium is worth the outlay over the ad-funded service?

I'm finally getting my (first ever) broadband connection fitted today so looking forward to some time browsing through what's on offer.

Er yes. Better sound quality and no ads...

£10 per month. No question. Even if I only use it 3 times a month it's the price of a pint.

 

[JoelSim]

Gerrardasnails:one off:
no problems john and i accept your point

i didnt explore spotify much before concluding it wasnt for me but it did illustrate after id listened to a few bands that there was good reason why id never bought their cds in the first place and also how much my taste has changed

id take shakira over pink floyd any day

I wish people would stop comparing Shakira and Pink Floyd, it's happening all the time these days. I just don't see it - for me they are nothing like each other.

I agree Warren.

Watership Down is much better