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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 22, 2022 15:33:12 GMT
Streaming - where we will all end up I'm on the journey to choose one. Hopefully this thread will help all of us. The voting list is taken from the market share shown by Business of appsUseful pie chart infogram.com/music-streaming-global-market-share-1hzj4o3wx817o4pI added Qobuz as not listed. Happy to add more. Streaming services do not all did the same thing and the choice of streaming service might pin you in to specific kit. Would also love to know how you drive it, EG Volumio, BubbleUPnP |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 22, 2022 16:18:25 GMT
Qobuz for best sound quality.
Spotify for the catalogue and in the car.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 22, 2022 16:23:39 GMT
How much more catalogue does Spot have over Qobuz ?
Still work in progress for me and liable to change
YouTube and Spot
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Post by MartinT on Jun 22, 2022 16:27:20 GMT
How much more catalogue does Spot have over Qobuz ? Not very much nowadays. I switch to Spotify mode maybe once a month at most. The most irritating omission is The Beloved (band). It'll come someday. |
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 22, 2022 17:11:57 GMT
Just Spotify with me, never tried anything else.
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Post by petea on Jun 22, 2022 17:31:16 GMT
I have accounts with both Qobuz and Tidal (that is missing from your list, Mike). Streaming is not my main source though. I purchase high resolution files either from HighResAudio (https://www.highresaudio.com/en) or via Qobuz Sublime and, where possible direct from the artist / record company. I am also steadily ripping CDs to file although I will of course also retain the CDs and keep 'favourites' accessible to play on my CDP in the UK. The files are stored on Fidata Music servers and fed directly to the DAC via USB.
In Germany I only use files / streaming. Qobuz is always first choice (for sound quality), but I have retained my Tidal account for the odd title I cannot find on Qobuz and for the streamer in the kitchen that doesn't support Qobuz (I could use the BubbleUPnP solution that I use in the Studio though).
In the UK I use files and streaming in the same way, but often play CDs directly as well as LPs.
The amount of royalties the streaming service pays the artists is an important factor too.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 22, 2022 18:47:40 GMT
How much more catalogue does Spot have over Qobuz ? Not very much nowadays. I switch to Spotify mode maybe once a month at most. The most irritating omission is The Beloved (band). It'll come someday. Poor VFM from Spot then I see you have The Beloved on YouTube ! |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 22, 2022 18:51:12 GMT
I have accounts with both Qobuz and Tidal (that is missing from your list, Mike). Streaming is not my main source though. I purchase high resolution files either from HighResAudio (https://www.highresaudio.com/en) or via Qobuz Sublime and, where possible direct from the artist / record company. I am also steadily ripping CDs to file although I will of course also retain the CDs and keep 'favourites' accessible to play on my CDP in the UK. The files are stored on Fidata Music servers and fed directly to the DAC via USB. In Germany I only use files / streaming. Qobuz is always first choice (for sound quality), but I have retained my Tidal account for the odd title I cannot find on Qobuz and for the streamer in the kitchen that doesn't support Qobuz (I could use the BubbleUPnP solution that I use in the Studio though). In the UK I use files and streaming in the same way, but often play CDs directly as well as LPs. The amount of royalties the streaming service pays the artists is an important factor too. Tidal, like Qobuz must be one of the "other". Will add (later, not sure I can add) HighResAudio looks interesting You subscribe to three then Which is the best sound quality Pete ? |
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Post by John on Jun 22, 2022 19:57:16 GMT
I do like watching a lot of live concerts on YouTube and albums I can do either spotify or YouTube
I would need a lot of equipment to get Quobuz to where I want but no longer want that complexity I guess it's all personal perhaps a £2000 plus streamer that has a bit more attention to the Ethernet connection might be a solution long term
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Post by petea on Jun 22, 2022 20:26:57 GMT
Sound Quality: files from the Fidata to my ears, Mike. Qobuz is better than Tidal, but then my streamers don't support MQA and so in theory at least I cannot access the highest quality from the Tidal streams.
I only buy files from HighResAudio (HRA) and do not subscribe to their streaming service. Assuming that the titles available are the same as you can buy then the catalogue would be much smaller than from the other services. My Qobuz Sublime account gives me a discount on files purchased from their service (you cannot do this with Tidal), but their metadata is often a bit of a mess and, being lazy, I often buy from HRA instead, especially as you get 'vouchers' to spend for each purchase. Plus the HRA content is fully validated as being genuinely high resolutions rather than up-sampled (although that seems to be less of an issue now than it was).
If your CD player / DAC has a digital input, why not buy a streamer and use that plus its associated app? I use Naim NDX / NDX2 streamers, but do not use their internal DACs and instead take the digital output to an external DAC. In my case I use the Lab12 DAC1 Reference and, in the UK, that receives the digital output from my CD player as well. I use USB from Fidata to DAC and co-axial from both the CD player and streamer to the DAC.
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Post by petea on Jun 22, 2022 20:28:13 GMT
Oh, and you can Airplay / Chromecast to the streamer and so get decent audio for YouTube etc.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 22, 2022 20:29:43 GMT
I do like watching a lot of live concerts on YouTube and albums I can do either spotify or YouTube I would need a lot of equipment to get Quobuz to where I want but no longer want that complexity I guess it's all personal perhaps a £2000 plus streamer that has a bit more attention to the Ethernet connection might be a solution long term Hadn't realised the complexity Glad I started the thread |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 22, 2022 20:34:03 GMT
Sound Quality: files from the Fidata to my ears, Mike. Qobuz is better than Tidal, but then my streamers don't support MQA and so in theory at least I cannot access the highest quality from the Tidal streams. I only buy files from HighResAudio (HRA) and do not subscribe to their streaming service. Assuming that the titles available are the same as you can buy then the catalogue would be much smaller than from the other services. My Qobuz Sublime account gives me a discount on files purchased from their service (you cannot do this with Tidal), but their metadata is often a bit of a mess and, being lazy, I often buy from HRA instead, especially as you get 'vouchers' to spend for each purchase. Plus the HRA content is fully validated as being genuinely high resolutions rather than up-sampled (although that seems to be less of an issue now than it was). If your CD player / DAC has a digital input, why not buy a streamer and use that plus its associated app? I use Naim NDX / NDX2 streamers, but do not use their internal DACs and instead take the digital output to an external DAC. In my case I use the Lab12 DAC1 Reference and, in the UK, that receives the digital output from my CD player as well. I use USB from Fidata to DAC and co-axial from both the CD player and streamer to the DAC. Thanks Pete I'm learning more and more Currently have the Bluetooth adaptor going into the TAD CD/DAC/Pre Working out where I go from there. |
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Post by petea on Jun 22, 2022 20:34:52 GMT
You can avoid the complexity by buying an off-the-shelf streamer. To use the example of the NDX2, it has Qobuz, Tidal and Spotify built in plus internet radio, Airplay, Chromecast and BlueTooth. You just plug it into your network / WiFi give it your Qobuz / Tidal / Spotify account details, download the app to your tablet / phone and off you go!
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Post by petea on Jun 22, 2022 20:42:11 GMT
I'm not a fan of the Naim sound, but fortunately the streamers (even the all-in-one units such as the Uniti Atom) seem pretty neutral in that respect.
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Post by speedysteve on Jun 22, 2022 23:43:13 GMT
Qobuz for all the reasons listed.
Very occasionally YouTube.
Have Spotify family for Sonos and family!
Rarely listen to music in the car or on phone.
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Post by brettj on Jun 23, 2022 1:31:50 GMT
My family has Spotify.
Easy with my iPhone 8, bluetooth to headphones.
Use this when building things, or out for a walk.
Will try Qobuz next month.
Tidal was good, but preferred my music on hard drive.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 23, 2022 8:48:07 GMT
You can avoid the complexity by buying an off-the-shelf streamer. To use the example of the NDX2, it has Qobuz, Tidal and Spotify built in plus internet radio, Airplay, Chromecast and BlueTooth. You just plug it into your network / WiFi give it your Qobuz / Tidal / Spotify account details, download the app to your tablet / phone and off you go! Thanks Pete Don't have a paid for service yet being a CD punter. This thread will help me work out the best for me. YouTube starts favourite but isn't available on most streamers. Might go for more than one service in the future. Prefer to find the best one for me first Forcing myself to stream via the tablet but still much prefer CD |
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Post by MartinT on Jun 23, 2022 9:53:01 GMT
You already have a DAC so you only really need a streamer. It'll take an ethernet feed in and will generate USB or S/PDIF out to the DAC.
There's no harm done in using Spotify (Premium is on two months free) for getting it all up and working, including the controlling tablet/laptop, before going any further.
Prove the concept then you can refine it and try other services.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 23, 2022 10:02:03 GMT
You already have a DAC so you only really need a streamer. It'll take an ethernet feed in and will generate USB or S/PDIF out to the DAC. There's no harm done in using Spotify (Premium is on two months free) for getting it all up and working, including the controlling tablet/laptop, before going any further. Prove the concept then you can refine it and try other services. Can the streamer take wifi ? I'm already up and running with free YouTube music and Spot. Tablet or laptop talk to the Bluetooth adaptor which goes into the DAC If YouTube has the most music the streamer decision becomes more interesting doesn't it ? |
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