Maybe someone here can accompany me on my decent into madness... as Spotify has recently upgraded its sound quality to lossless, I was really happy. I very much prefer the user experience of the Spotify app over all the other competitors. So Spotify has been my standard app for mobile use (iPhone and car) whereas Qobuz has been my choice for "serious listening" on my big stereo.
When Spotify finally upgraded its service to lossless, I was really happy – hoping, I could finally consolidate my streaming experience on just one single app and get rid if the whole Soundiiz-sync hassle... Just... I still hear a huge difference in the sound quality between the two streaming services. And I do not know why. Qobuz is clearly (!) better.
Maybe someone here can help?
- It is not a question of high resolution. I have been cautious to only compare tracks with CD resolution and have confirmed that on the display of my DAC.
- I have tried to choose the same source CD material to avoid differences in the mastering (which, IMHO does have the biggest impact on the sound quality)
- I have tried to play both services with the same loudness level (Qobuz is a bit louder out of the box)
- I have used both services in the "connect" functionality with their respective app as the frontend
- Both apps are turned to the lossless sound quality on the respective device
My hardware is a Zen Mini Mk3 on the current software version 3.3.4.
Am I becoming a victim of my own confirmation bias? Am I getting mad? Am I starting to hear things that are not there?
I am usually NOT an audiophile with golden ears... I value sound quality, but I am no high-end-taliban who put crystals on his loudspeakers to "distress" the waves...
NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE READING THIS!!!
Happy for anyone to share their experience!
Regards
Tom
When Spotify finally upgraded its service to lossless, I was really happy – hoping, I could finally consolidate my streaming experience on just one single app and get rid if the whole Soundiiz-sync hassle... Just... I still hear a huge difference in the sound quality between the two streaming services. And I do not know why. Qobuz is clearly (!) better.
Maybe someone here can help?
- It is not a question of high resolution. I have been cautious to only compare tracks with CD resolution and have confirmed that on the display of my DAC.
- I have tried to choose the same source CD material to avoid differences in the mastering (which, IMHO does have the biggest impact on the sound quality)
- I have tried to play both services with the same loudness level (Qobuz is a bit louder out of the box)
- I have used both services in the "connect" functionality with their respective app as the frontend
- Both apps are turned to the lossless sound quality on the respective device
My hardware is a Zen Mini Mk3 on the current software version 3.3.4.
Am I becoming a victim of my own confirmation bias? Am I getting mad? Am I starting to hear things that are not there?
I am usually NOT an audiophile with golden ears... I value sound quality, but I am no high-end-taliban who put crystals on his loudspeakers to "distress" the waves...
NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE READING THIS!!!
Happy for anyone to share their experience!
Regards
Tom
