Post by Owen Y on Feb 23, 2021 9:38:02 GMT 12
As just reported by The VERGE (22 Feb '21): Spotify will join Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer and Amazon in offering a new ‘hifi’ tier with offer CD-quality streaming to all Spotify apps – smartphone and desktop – as well as Spotify Connect-enabled audio devices. " Spotify HiFi will be available later this year. " According to DARKO: " Currently, Spotify’s Ogg Vorbis-based lossy encoding sees streams top out at 320kbps. CD quality streaming will see data rates rise to anything between 700kbps and 1400kbps. " " Spotify is the world’s number one music streaming service, not only in terms of subscriber numbers but also with brand recognition and, let us not forget, territorial reach. " No word yet on pricing. Spotify Premium currently costs US$9.99/month with 320kbps maximum streaming quality. Amazon Music HD costs US$14.99/month (or $12.99 for Prime customers) Tidal's 'Hi-Fi' plan costs US$19.99/month. 
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Pundit
Post by cartridge on Feb 23, 2021 19:56:16 GMT 12
Spotify Hifi will kill the likes of Tidal - it's just going to happen.
The mainstream are coming for the niche and the niche has got nowhere to turns...
As an aside, I LOVE that they're using Billie Eilish!
So relevant and they're both clearly into the concept of HiFi - watch them enthuse younger people :-)
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Post by Owen Y on Feb 24, 2021 10:46:23 GMT 12
DARKO expands further on the potential significance of the SPOTIFY announcement: " Reaching far beyond audiophile niche interests, Spotify’s announcement puts the issue of better streaming source quality in front of mainstream listeners. With 286 million subscribers, it’s the world’s number one music streaming service, six times the size of Amazon Music...
The Swedish service also covers far more of the globe than Tidal and (especially) Qobuz...
And perhaps most important of all, Spotify has the brand recognition that – Apple aside – rivals cannot touch. " And what of the audiophile community? " Will we see Spotify integrated by Roon? No.... Spotify doesn’t need Roon.Spotify is determined to keep its users inside its own app. (Spotify Connect) "
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Post by Owen Y on Feb 24, 2021 10:52:59 GMT 12
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Post by michaelw on Feb 24, 2021 11:51:27 GMT 12
At least they didn't try to pass off CD quality as high resolution  Kill Tidal ? Nah, it will take a big bite but won't be fatal. Tidal still leads in teh quality stakes true hi-res 192/24 streaming.
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Pundit
Post by cartridge on Feb 24, 2021 12:30:32 GMT 12
At least they didn't try to pass off CD quality as high resolution Kill Tidal ? Nah, it will take a big bite but won't be fatal. Tidal still leads in teh quality stakes true hi-res 192/24 streaming. I think you may over estimate Tidal... they have a market share of, what... 5%?
They were close to going under about 3 years ago, even after massive cash injections they still fail to make a mark. And look who they are up against, Apple, Amazon... now their only real point of difference is going to be significantly eroded. Quobuz never made more than a ripple, but when Spotify 'goes loud', Tidal will be hammered.
Basically, Tidal and Quobuz either need to 'get gud' or get out
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Post by Citroen on Feb 24, 2021 13:07:12 GMT 12
I think that Tidal unfortunately will now die off, even if they're cheaper.
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Post by andrewp on Feb 24, 2021 22:08:29 GMT 12
What a bunch of big fat meanies Apple and Amazon are...
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Pundit
Post by beeman on Feb 25, 2021 8:55:52 GMT 12
Big news. If there is no Roon integration the spotify ap will have to get much better to match Roon that in it self is enough to stay with Tidal
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Post by Citroen on Feb 25, 2021 17:39:43 GMT 12
The intersection out of all streamers using Tidal and Roon users won't be large enough to sustain a Tidal competitor that features same sound quality and a much larger library.
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Post by andrewp on Feb 25, 2021 20:22:57 GMT 12
Thing that gets me is how big does ones library need to be..?? There are squillions of songs to be accessed from Qobus or Tidal...Theres no way that anyone could have a lack of choice..
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Post by Citroen on Feb 26, 2021 10:19:52 GMT 12
For me, a large database is more about being able to find that particular song or album I'm looking for, rather than what to choose.
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Pundit
Post by cartridge on Feb 26, 2021 11:27:13 GMT 12
Tidal's search is woeful.
Roon's is excellent.
However Spotify and YouTube are easily the market leaders in music search.
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Post by Citroen on Feb 27, 2021 19:57:48 GMT 12
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Post by andrewp on Feb 28, 2021 12:39:39 GMT 12
Thanks for posting Citroen...very interesting. I really like his videos.
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Post by Citroen on Jan 10, 2022 18:35:01 GMT 12
"Spotify HiFi delayed indefinitely as the company says it has no ‘timing details to share’Spotify first announced its plans to roll out a new Spotify HiFi level in February last year, saying it would launch “in select markets” before the end of 2021. As we covered last month, Spotify HiFi is still nowhere to be found. that deadline has come and gone. Now the company has given a new “update” on the matter and it does not instill much hope. In a new thread on the Spotify Community site, Spotify users continued to express frustrations over the company’s inability to fulfill its HiFi promise. In a response, Spotify promised to provide an update to users whenever it can, but right now it still has no timing details to announce regarding the launch of Spotify HiFi. The full answer from the company: We know that HiFi quality sound is important to you. We feel the same and are excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future. But we do not have timing details to share yet.
We will of course update you here whenever we can.Again, Spotify had originally said that its HiFi feature would be launched before the end of 2021 and that it would be an additional cost surcharge for Spotify Premium subscribers." heromag.net/spotify-hifi-delayed-indefinitely-as-the-company-says-it-has-no-timing-details-to-share
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