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In case you missed it, there is an audio quality section in Spotify's Settings menu, and the default is "automatic", which might not be the highest. I'm not sur

In case you missed it, there is an audio quality section in Spotify's Settings menu, and the default is "automatic", which might not be the highest. I'm not sure but I think the "very high" setting is 320kbps ogg, which I've never heard of anyone being able to discriminate from lossless in a blind test. Also, Spotify is coming out with lossless later this year. (not affiliated with spotify and not very pleased with the service in general myself, just saying.)

willtim 6y ago
I have it set to "Very High" and have their normalisation turned off. I can provide samples demonstrating distortion and break-up; the waveforms even look completely different visually. It's even audible over non-audiophile headphones. On my HD800S it's unlistenable. I have no idea what they are doing to the sound, but I have found many recordings that sound awful on both Android and Windows.
- raverbashing 6y ago
  Then I'd think it's the "audio watermarking" some companies insist on using. Because for some rights holders, you're paying for their product but f-you nonetheless. Edit: watermarking not fingerprinting
  - xnx 6y ago
    Fingerprinting or watermarking?
- SSLy 6y ago
  Would you be able to share specific passages? The neighbour commenter mentioned fingerprinting, it might be that or bad master.
  - willtim 6y ago
    Sure, one example is the first minute opening of Osmo Vanska's Mahler 5. The big crescendo between 40-45 seconds sounds particularly bad, lots of break-up and distortion. Sounds fantastic on the CD.
    - kingosticks 6y ago
      This https://open.spotify.com/album/1V5q6IEheMUjOTYJar4f54 https://open.spotify.com/album/1V5q6IEheMUjOTYJar4f54 ? It sounds fine to me but the exact copy I get might well be different to you if we are in different regions.
      - kingosticks 6y ago
        The Spotify version sounds identical to the tidal "hifi" version (to me). I'm actually pretty curious now what this amazing CD version sounds like! I'm currently on a Tidal free trial but I won't be moving from Spotify when it's up. I personally can't tell the difference. Maybe I'm half deaf but ignorence is bliss.
        willtim 6y ago
        I've uploaded a small example, a small clip taken from the CD followed by the same clip captured from Spotify: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F3NvOpqcMfvNSmyyvbgfUlV6XMO1HLJ5/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F3NvOpqcMfvNSmyyvbgfUlV6XMO...
        kingosticks 6y ago
        Cool, thanks! I had a go at a comparison. This is Spotify ("Very high" and volume normalization disabled), then Tidal ("HiFi") and then yours (CD then Spotify). https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Stns23J5aRoj9EeZBVKrX35Cxfhjdg3C/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Stns23J5aRoj9EeZBVKrX35Cxfh... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rAITjrK39fiJYOT53ghq9DbC-e4AAlnn/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rAITjrK39fiJYOT53ghq9DbC-e4... If it's helpful for you, the code 'LIDLMUSIC' gives a free 6-month Tidal trial. It might be UK specific I have no idea.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- svantana 6y ago
  That sounds more like error on the label's/uploader's behalf? Most often that should be the same across platforms, including lossless. I've heard cd skips, vinyl crackle and tape warble on spotify so I know what you mean.
- jakub_g 6y ago
  Might be related: https://www.mattmontag.com/music/universals-audible-watermark https://www.mattmontag.com/music/universals-audible-watermar...
nr2x 6y ago
That's not high quality: Give me lossless, 24bit master or GTFO! ;-)
- ganoushoreilly 6y ago
  while it doesn't help today, they are in fact looking to do that by Q3, from everything i've seen. I'm holding on to Spotify for now for ease of use, but I too want something better. I didn't like tidal when I used it years ago, though i'm sure they've changed quite a bit.
deleted 6y ago
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willtim 6y ago

I have it set to "Very High" and have their normalisation turned off. I can provide samples demonstrating distortion and break-up; the waveforms even look completely different visually. It's even audible over non-audiophile headphones. On my HD800S it's unlistenable. I have no idea what they are doing to the sound, but I have found many recordings that sound awful on both Android and Windows.

raverbashing 6y ago
Then I'd think it's the "audio watermarking" some companies insist on using. Because for some rights holders, you're paying for their product but f-you nonetheless. Edit: watermarking not fingerprinting
- xnx 6y ago
  Fingerprinting or watermarking?
SSLy 6y ago
Would you be able to share specific passages? The neighbour commenter mentioned fingerprinting, it might be that or bad master.
- willtim 6y ago
  Sure, one example is the first minute opening of Osmo Vanska's Mahler 5. The big crescendo between 40-45 seconds sounds particularly bad, lots of break-up and distortion. Sounds fantastic on the CD.
  - kingosticks 6y ago
    This https://open.spotify.com/album/1V5q6IEheMUjOTYJar4f54 https://open.spotify.com/album/1V5q6IEheMUjOTYJar4f54 ? It sounds fine to me but the exact copy I get might well be different to you if we are in different regions.
    - kingosticks 6y ago
      The Spotify version sounds identical to the tidal "hifi" version (to me). I'm actually pretty curious now what this amazing CD version sounds like! I'm currently on a Tidal free trial but I won't be moving from Spotify when it's up. I personally can't tell the difference. Maybe I'm half deaf but ignorence is bliss.
      - willtim 6y ago
        I've uploaded a small example, a small clip taken from the CD followed by the same clip captured from Spotify: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F3NvOpqcMfvNSmyyvbgfUlV6XMO1HLJ5/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F3NvOpqcMfvNSmyyvbgfUlV6XMO...
        kingosticks 6y ago
        Cool, thanks! I had a go at a comparison. This is Spotify ("Very high" and volume normalization disabled), then Tidal ("HiFi") and then yours (CD then Spotify). https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Stns23J5aRoj9EeZBVKrX35Cxfhjdg3C/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Stns23J5aRoj9EeZBVKrX35Cxfh... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rAITjrK39fiJYOT53ghq9DbC-e4AAlnn/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rAITjrK39fiJYOT53ghq9DbC-e4... If it's helpful for you, the code 'LIDLMUSIC' gives a free 6-month Tidal trial. It might be UK specific I have no idea.
deleted 6y ago
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svantana 6y ago
That sounds more like error on the label's/uploader's behalf? Most often that should be the same across platforms, including lossless. I've heard cd skips, vinyl crackle and tape warble on spotify so I know what you mean.
jakub_g 6y ago
Might be related: https://www.mattmontag.com/music/universals-audible-watermark https://www.mattmontag.com/music/universals-audible-watermar...

nr2x 6y ago

That's not high quality: Give me lossless, 24bit master or GTFO! ;-)

ganoushoreilly 6y ago
while it doesn't help today, they are in fact looking to do that by Q3, from everything i've seen. I'm holding on to Spotify for now for ease of use, but I too want something better. I didn't like tidal when I used it years ago, though i'm sure they've changed quite a bit.

deleted 6y ago

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