When it comes to lossless audio tiers, there are several that you can opt for. But there are two main groups you can choose from – those that offer you a wide range of genres and those that focus on high-fidelity music. It’s important to know the differences between these two types of services before you sign up for one.
Apple Music
It’s no secret that Apple’s streaming service has a vast library of songs. Whether you’re in the market for a new playlist or want to enjoy an exclusive album, there’s a song for you on the app. The only downside is that the quality of your listening experience can vary.
For a start, Apple Music has a lot more content than Spotify. There are over 90 million songs in its catalog. Plus, it offers live performances and interviews with artists.
There’s also an impressive selection of music videos. And, there’s no shortage of podcasts. Additionally, the service also has a comprehensive selection of documentaries. All of these are accessible to those who opt for a paid subscription.
If you’re not ready to shell out for a premium subscription, you can try out the free version of Apple Music. However, if you’re willing to spend, you can unlock more features, including audiophile-grade quality and lossless streaming.
In February of this year, Spotify teased a HiFi tier. As of today, the service is still on track to roll out a HiFi plan later this year. With a HiFi subscription, you’ll get CD quality audio. But you’ll have to pony up $20 a month for the Dolby Atmos or Master Quality sounds.
Compared to its competitor, Spotify’s lossless feature has a few advantages. First, it will be easier to download. Second, it will be more efficient with data. Finally, it will be able to cover more songs.
In addition, a lossless service requires more data to stream, meaning it will use more bandwidth. That means a higher connection speed is necessary for smooth playback.
Other than the high-res version of Apple Music, the service will be launching a “lossless” tier at no additional cost. This tier will offer 75 million tracks in lossless audio.
Although the lossless streaming tier isn’t expected to be available until later this year, users can already take advantage of the Apple Music’s other features, like the music video, audiobooks, podcasts, and more.
Using a combination of algorithms, the company knows which songs you will enjoy. It recommends them based on your listening history, genres, time of day, and other factors. You can even search for songs by their lyrics.
Tidal HiFi Plus
The Tidal HiFi Plus plan is a great choice for music melomaniacs. It offers the best streaming quality possible. With up to 9216 kbps, users can enjoy Dolby Atmos Music and Masters audio quality.
Tidal’s catalog of over 90 million songs includes a wide variety of genres. In addition to music, Tidal provides live concerts and interviews with artists. They also have an extensive library of exclusives.
The Tidal app has a simple interface, which makes it easy to find what you’re looking for. The search bar allows you to narrow down your searches by genre or mood. There’s also a sound delivery system icon that lets you switch between audio sources. You can even go offline.
Tidal offers a wide variety of integrations, including those with many audio hardware makers. For example, you can hook up a Sonos smart speaker with Google Assistant to stream your music to it. Also, the company has a connection with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, which is designed to give listeners a concert experience.
A major feature is the My Activity tab, which provides a daily snapshot of your streaming habits. Each artist receives royalties based on how often they are played.
Tidal also has a direct-to-artist payment program. Artists who make the most streams will get a monthly payment. These payments are made in addition to the streaming royalties that artists receive from their streaming services. This is a great way to help support musicians.
Users have the option of selecting a free trial. However, a subscription is required. Compared with Spotify, Tidal’s pricing plans are a bit higher.
However, Tidal’s tiers have some unique features that will appeal to a range of music lovers. Especially the HiFi Plus tier, which delivers a full range of Master quality audio and Direct Artist Payouts.
Besides the obvious benefits, such as a massive catalogue of music, Tidal has also developed an innovative program that will allow artists to benefit directly from their biggest fans.
Tidal is available on a wide range of devices, including smartphones, computers, and smart speakers. It’s also available on Android TV.
Amazon Music HD
If you have been on the lookout for a music streaming service that offers high-resolution audio, you may want to consider signing up for Amazon Music HD. This service provides ultra-high-definition (UHD) streaming and a library of more than 70 million songs.
Amazon offers a free trial of Amazon Music HD and you can also purchase a subscription for just $5. The service supports many smart devices, including Android phones, Fire tablets, and Echo speakers. You can also stream the service using a web browser, as long as you have an Amazon account.
While the Amazon Music app itself isn’t quite as intuitive as some other music services, the user interface is designed to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. Users can filter their library by genre, artist, album, or playlist. There are also several filters that help users discover new music.
In addition to its UHD streaming capabilities, Amazon Music HD includes CD-quality audio and a growing collection of Dolby Atmos tracks. To make the most of your audio experience, you should choose the highest-quality headphones. Streaming high-resolution content quickly consumes your data cap.
While there are other streaming services that offer 320 kbps or higher, Amazon Music HD is the first to offer lossless audio. It uses the FLAC format, which preserves more of the original recording file. For the best sound, your speakers and headphones should support the same audio codec.
In addition to its high-resolution audio features, Amazon Music HD is also an integrated part of the Unlimited subscription plan. You’ll get ad-free listening and access to a library of over 70 million songs. And you can also play your music offline.
Amazon Music HD comes with a 30-day free trial. You can also buy a subscription for $5 per month for the Unlimited plan.
Amazon Music HD is compatible with many devices, from PCs to Android and iOS phones. Unlike most other services, you can also listen to your favorite songs on a variety of smart speakers. Those devices include Amazon’s Echo and Echo speakers, as well as the Sonos speakers.
Spotify’s algorithms create playlists
There is a lot of music to choose from when using Spotify. It offers 82 million songs and 4.5 billion playlists. The platform’s catalog is getting larger every day. With the help of its algorithms, Spotify creates personalized and curated playlists.
Aside from the free plan, Spotify also has a Premium tier. This provides users with ad-free listening, lossless audio quality, and 320kbps streaming. Users can also customize their stream with a number of other features. Currently, the free tier is limited to randomized playlists.
Users can also create playlists with their friends. Spotify offers a collaborative play feature. Friends can also share what they’re listening to on social networks. For example, they can post their Spotify content on Instagram stories, Snapchat, or WhatsApp.
Spotify has also partnered with other social networking sites to provide a variety of options. You can use a “Spotify Code” to share your music with friends. These codes are similar to custom QR codes. To share, you can scan a code with your phone or a camera.
Other features include a Release Radar segment that reveals upcoming artists you might enjoy. Spotify also offers a “Daily Mix” playlist. Like TIDAL’s My Mix, this playlist combines the music you’ve listened to the most recently.
Spotify supports a wide array of devices. It is compatible with many smart speakers, games consoles, wearables, and other devices. And it’s even available as a web player. However, the native desktop app is more intuitive.
In February 2020, Spotify made a number of key changes to its mobile interface. Among them, the navigation bar was moved to the top of the playlist. This gives users a better overview of what’s playing. Also, there are now more filters to choose from.
Spotify’s upcoming HiFi tier will offer CD quality audio. The service has been working on this for a while, but it’s still in beta. Until then, the free tier only streams up to 96 Kbps.
In addition to offering a variety of playlists, Spotify is also a great resource for discovering new music. Each day, the platform adds 60,000 new songs to its library.