High Resolution and Lossless Music. Which Music Streaming Service Is Better For YOU?

In this video, I go into detail explaining the difference with all of the different streaming services with regards to high resolution audio and lossless or CD quality music streaming. I compare services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, and YouTube Music.

Alright, let’s start with defining some terms. I’m going to use the term Lossless when the song is bit-for-bit the same as a Compact Disc. This is a 16-bit, 44.1Khz sample rate digital audio file. The same standard that’s been widely available since the mid 80s. I’m going to use the term High Resolution for Lossless audio that exceeds CD specifications, while still remaining bit-for-bit the same as the original master recording.

The bit-depth directly relates to the dynamic range. This can potentially benefit dynamic recordings, such as classical and traditional jazz by minimizing the distortion of the softer end of dynamics.

Alright, my first and favorite one to make fun of is Tidal. Tidal does offer Lossless CD quality audio with their HiFi tier. HiFi not to be confused with Hi Resolution, an important distinction to make with these buzzwords. This HiFi tier runs $9.99 a month

Where it gets entertaining is when it comes to their “High Resolution” tier, HiFi Plus. This tier is an absolute joke. They use a licensed proprietary format called MQA. This “High Resolution” is actually lossy, meaning it’s not bit-for-bit the same as the master recording. And to make matters worse, you actually need to spend money on specific external hardware to actually decode their “lossy” fake high resolution music. This tier of their service will cost you 19.99 a month.

I’m sure you can find some idiots in the comments section here who drank the MQA kool-aid making the most ignorant comments, so feel free to make fun of them in the comments section. These people are so unhinged that one of these morons actually called me a racist in a comment for making fun of an audio format.

And now on to Spotify. Good news! Spotify has announced that their Lossless audio will begin in 2021! (Crickets). No you didn’t click on an old video. We’re still waiting. However, rather than focusing on their Lossless audio streaming, they have wisely jumped into the world of NFTs!

Next up is Apple Music. The thing I like about them is that they actual use accurate terminology and don’t rely upon buzzwords to mislead consumers. They offer both Lossless and High Resolution music to consumers. The cost for the service is 9.99 a month and that includes the lossless and the high resolution music as well.

Another service that offers Lossless CD-quality audio is Deezer. If your inner 12-year old can stop from giggling at the name, you’ll find a genuine lossless audio tier with their service. However, they do not offer high resolution music at this time. They refer to their lossless audio tier as Hi Fi and it runs 14.99 a month.

Amazon Music Unlimited is another service that offers both lossless and high-resolution music. It refers to their CD quality lossless audio as Hi Definition. This is a bit of a misnomer, since it’s the same resolution that people were listening to music on in the 1980s. They call their high-resolution format Ultra High Definition, I guess to get people to equate that with video quality. Anyway, the cost for their streaming music is 9.99 a month.

Another quality choice for lossless and high resolution music is Qobuz. Qobuz is a French company, that’s been offering lossless and high resolution music much longer than all the others. In addition to streaming in high-resolution and lossless, they offer many of their tracks for purchase. The service is a very reasonably priced at 12.99 a month. While their focus has traditionally been classical music, they currently offer a massive catalog across all genres.

And lastly we have YouTube Music. Yeah, they don’t offer lossless or high resolution. And they also haven’t announced either of those, so I wouldn’t hold your breath, but the service is what it is.

So which service do I recommend? For straight up lossless, high-resolution audio, I would recommend either Amazon Music Unlimited or Apple Music. Your preference may be based upon which company you hate the least. However, Apple Music does have more music exclusives than Amazon Music Unlimited.

If you really enjoy classical music, or are looking to additionally purchase high-resolution music tracks, I’d highly recommend Qobuz for only $3 more.

I wouldn’t recommend Deezer to anybody, unless you like spending more money for a worse product.

One last thing that I’ll mention. All of these streaming services offer family plans for multiple users in the same family for about 50% more.

Written, Produced, and edited by Lorne Bregitzer, and Associate Professor for the University of Colorado Denver in the Music & Entertainment Industry Studies Department under the College of Arts & Media.

[PeteBuchwald]

I love it when I do a YouTube search, one one of my friends' videos comes up! Well done Lorne.

[macnet]

Thanks for sharing this. I did trial subscriptions on both Amazon Music HD and Qobuz and did an A/B test on my high-end sound system playing through my Bluesound Vault 2i. My ears preferred the Qobuz stream over Amazon and it sound fuller and had better low-end response over Amazon. I’ve listened to both services in my car on a Burmester sound system. Qobuz won hands down. It all depends on your priorities in life. I’m sticking with Qobuz and it sounds better to me on my sound systems. I do like Amazon’s algorithm for generating auto fill music but I prefer the quality of Qobuz.

[timaddison]

Great explanations, super simple for someone new to the scene like me to understand... and love the humour!

[ShterionUrumov]

You are awesome. Finally some honesty about these companies. Your mastering in reason studios was an eye opener. Can't smash that subscribe button hard enough! Looking forward to the next video! Cheers from Berlin!

[Jamic]

The only thing I would disagree with in this whole video, is in regards to your ex wife's lawyer. He seemed alright to me.

[norrmcd]

Thank you for the upfront reviews. Truly appreciated

[JuanSanchez-rpqw]

Thank you for such an educational and to the point video!

[deankim]

I wish you reviewed audio equipment. Your no BS assessment is great.

[GeoTheBlaxican]

The way this guy preempted the trolls in this video is hilarious 😆

[geopietro]

Professor, this was a fantastic video. You cut through all the hype and cut to the chase. I watched a number of these type of videos but you nailed it in such a concise package. Thank you! Could you please comment on Wim Hulpia's comment below? He says that even the basic Tidal (their "HiFi") is not lossless. Thank you again Professor!

[tudortigla]

Just a couple of minutes back I watched the GoldenSound video about MQA and as an Tidal owner I can confirm the fact that some Masters sounded a little bit strange i slould say… now that i found you guys and i have more knowledge I leaving Tidal for FLAC… thank you for makeing these videos, this comunity of audiophiles is great, it s a new passion for me and exciting the same time be cause in parallel i m learning sound engineering and all of this is great stuff… thank you!

[kanwarpreetbaweja]

Love your style
You deserve subscribers in 6 digits

[leetronix]

Deezer is 8.99 if you purchase it yearly I believe and I think 11.99 per month for the Lossless stream.

[trojan]

Awesome video. I’ve been suckered into the Apple ecosystem and had a free trial of Apple Music that I enjoyed. Now that I’ve bought a DAC and quality headphones I’ve been debating on which service but this video has sold me on Apple Music 👍🏼.

[LawrenceMarkFearon]

Great video. Some have a problem with Apple's upsample and downsample output on Mac's unless physically matching the bitrate for each song played. I can't hear a difference. I do hear a difference in the quality of a 24bit/96kHz stream vs a CD played on the same surround sound deck.

[nikhook]

Correct me if Im wrong, but if utilizing a lossless streaming format and a bluetooth conection to your stereo speakers or earbuds you are losing everything gained from lossless. Ive also heard that the operating system in Windows, and Apple will reduce the lossless transmision even if the source is wired to your stereo. So whats the point of a lossless streaming app when it can never match the quality of a cd???

[michaljiran]

great review ! super clear, thank you,

[robharvey-duffield]

I have just been gifted a Wiim streamer as even though I have a good quality hi fi I’ve ignored streaming up until now on the grounds I’m an old fart and its confusing and more importantly i’ve got over 6K LP’s and CD’s.. however this primer video has convinced me to stump up for a monthly streaming service.. most likely Amazon. The vid was really helpful and informative in making a choice.. many thanks!

[craigf]

Tidal is according to the reports adding hi res lossless flac in the coming months.

[jahmesz]

The only reason I’m going to switch to Tidal is that the Hifi family plan is 5, 72 USD for 6 people in my region. I used Spotify and apple music before.I can’t listen to lossless on my windows pc using iTunes.