A community for discussion around all topics related to headphones and personal audio.
Yep. It's good enough that you don't need to worry about it. As long as you uncheck the option for volume normalisation, you will be good to go.
If you later down the line will want to experiment, you can start experimenting with higher end source material.
In my experience, which master was being sent out for which media/streaming service matters far more than a higher bit-rate number than Spotify can provide.
Volume normalization for the normal and quiet versions don't actually impact sound quality now, if I'm not mistaken. It's only the loud ones that affect the actual data.
yes
I can't tell a difference between Spotify premium and Amazon Music HD, but I choose Amazon because it's cheaper for me as a current prime member.
Spotify Premium audio quality is fine for most people, but there are other reasons why I think it's a bad choice. Namely, artist revenue.
I take it you dont shop at big chain supermarkets because they pay farmers less too? I doubt it buddy.
there are multiple online tests (blind tests) helping you to decide on your own. I practiced a little and now I can tell the difference between 320kbps in some, but far from all, cases in these tests. With my headphones (msr7b) and Dac/amp (Fiio Q3) it's easiest, with cheap IEMs and the Q3 still noticable, otherwise (Headphones or IEM in phone aux) impossible for me to tell the difference. After gettimg used to it and some ear training I prefer lossless (airier, cleaner high frequencies, esp. some female voices or violins), but still use spotify in most cases for convenience as differences are not that severe.
Spotify Premium is good enough for most people. I'm sure u might have someone around u friends or family who have a high quality streaming plan from Amazon/Apple/Tidal etc check out for urself to see or just play a lossless music file thru ur phone/pc on the Senns via da Qudilex.
I still think Spotify has a good social element to it. IMO music should be fun and enjoyable first but you do you 👍
Yes. A good number of people claim to hear a difference between high quality MP3s and lossless, and I'm not going to call them all idiots hyped up on placebo, but the fact of the matter is that the differences in a listening situation, even in a worst case scenario, are extremely small.
You might not, but I certainly do, they are morons lol
As someone who can hear the difference, it is extremely small and I only really notice it while ABing. But I just want the best no matter how impractical it is :3
I would say yes. The tidal hifi plan is the same price as spotify premium so it might be worth a try.
https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/06/02/411473508/how-well-can-you-hear-audio-quality
Take that. 128kbps are supposedly dogshit tier, unlistenable encodings if you believe the bozos around here. How many can you pick out with your setup?
I'd bet 80% of the bozos here who like to think they have golden ears couldn't pick the wav for any of these without getting lucky.
Some of these are bad samples to test, you need music with "lots of things going on at the same time" - that's where 128kbps compression would be noticeable
Compare it to the Hd files over at Amazon Music for yourself
Yes, but sometimes the masters on spotify/streaming are very bad. I mostly listen to jazz and for a lot of jazz it's really shitty 2000's Rudy Van Gelder Remasters which are just abhorrent. Also, if you are getting deep into music you'll probably find a lot of stuff you want to listen to that's just not on spotify. But other than that it's fine
It’s good enough in terms of bitrate of the highest quality. You probably wouldn’t be able to distinguish it from lossless. That said, I still got a Qobuz subscription so I could use it with Roon and get the ability to use all my EQ settings no matter whether it’s my own library or streamed content.
Spotify - free tier - no. Paid tier - yes. Make sure to turn off volume normalization and set quality to highest in the settings, as it is the main reason a lot of people think it sounds bad.
How is the qudelix 5k? Was looking for DAC/Amp. I heard some people use FIIO K7 too
Yes , make sure to put audio quality settins on "very high"
Yes , make sure to put audio quality settins on "very high"
Definitely yes was subscribing do deezer/tidal or downloading flac when I'm starting on my audiophile journey but end up using spotify anyways lul the difference is sometimes not audible or so little you know spotify is so so convenient
As others have mentioned, make sure in the settings you select “Streaming quality: very high” or else you may be steaming less than 320kbps
I wouldn't know to be honest with you, I still use CD Players to listen to music with my set up.
Honestly I found it interesting to compare different sources myself. I just did trial memberships with different platforms and compared side by side. I did hear differences although I am not sure if just one is a tiny tiny bit louder than the other. Out of spotify, tidal, Qobuz and Amazon music I prefered Qobuz almost every single time blind testing, but it could be what I mentioned above. It sounded definitely different from Tidal even though it had the same Resolution / lossless files.
Yes
Spotify premium at very high audio quality? (320kbps)
If so then probably yeah, its enough. I have qobuz and spotify, and honestly I hear no difference, the fact that i would have to really commit and HEAR for the difference rather than naturally perceive it means that the difference, if there is any is extremely minimal
I pair my HD-650s with a Bottlehead Crack.
Going against the grain here, but personally I wouldn't decide based on the opinions of other people's ears. Test some different files out for yourself, you may or may not perceive small differences between low and high bit rate MP3's and AAC's, and lossless FLAC, WAV etc. I personally see no reason to choose a lossy source, when lossless is available. That's my opinion and people will downvote me for it.