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I'm thinking of dumping Spotify. Should I?

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Posted on July 9, 2024 at 08:16:28
Doktor Brahms
Audiophile

Posts: 616
Location: Southeast
Joined: November 25, 2004
 Greetings, Fellow Inmates.

I was recently notified that the price of Spotify Premium is going up $1 a month. Not financially ruinous, to be sure, but it has caused me to consider possibly switching to another streaming service.

Some context: for serious listening, I'm a physical media type (CD and SACD). My main system does not have a streaming device. I use Spotify to listen via a modest (but decent) desktop system while working on the computer. My primary interest in streaming is twofold: (1) auditioning new releases for possible purchase and (2) comparing performances. Over the years I must say that I've been impressed with the depth and breadth of Spotify's classical catalog, though it's not alway easy to find specific titles. (Cataloging classical music seems to be the Achilles's heel of just about every streaming service, based on what I've heard from others.) But Spotify Premium offers only mp3 quality, and my impression is that they are placing increasing emphasis on podcasts, which interest me very little.

So I'm casting about for other candidates. I'd like to make sure that the new service's classical catalog is at least as deep as Spotify's. I also need a desktop app for my Mac Mini, given my listening habits. (This unfortunately eliminates Apple Classical, at least for now. Tidal and Qobuz apparently lack desktop apps as well.) Apple Music and Amazon are currently on my short list. Any advice you can offer? And Chris, before you respond, please be aware that I have no immediate plans to install 27 additional speakers around my computer desk, so Atmos is not a high priority for me, at least for the time being. :-)

 

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LOL! I have only two speakers on my computer system too! ;-), posted on July 9, 2024 at 10:49:29
Chris from Lafayette
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  Since: February 6, 2012
 The only observation I'd make is that if Spotify is only mp3 quality, you might notice a difference if you switch to streaming services which offer a range of, say, from CD quality to fairly high-rez (24/192). Qobuz is very good in this regard.

OTOH, I have Apple Music and Qobuz right now and am considering not renewing Qobuz, just because of the redundancy. If you download stuff though, the Qobuz offerings seem quite a bit more extensive (in terms of resolution choices) than the Apple offerings do. OTOH, my own listening these days is tilted so much in favor of streaming, that downloads are less of an issue for me than they used to be.

I'm a little confused about your statement that Apple, Tidal and Qobuz all lack desktop apps. I can't speak for Tidal, but both Apple and Qobuz do have desktop apps, although I play Qobuz through its Audirvana interface. And I know I may have indicated that I mostly play Apple Music though the Apple TV 4K device, but Apple's "Music" app plays just fine on the desktop in my "computer room", and I have the same access to the same files as on my Apple TV 4K device. The interface on the desktop is better too - way quicker, mainly because I can use a keyboard rather than the small remote. (But of course, no Dolby Atmos in my computer room!)

 

RE: LOL! I have only two speakers on my computer system too! ;-), posted on July 9, 2024 at 14:05:12
Doktor Brahms
Audiophile

Posts: 616
Location: Southeast
Joined: November 25, 2004
 Thanks for the reply! Sorry for the confusion. Apple Music definitely has a desktop app--it came preloaded on my Mac Mini--but so far Apple Classical (formerly known as Primephonic) is available only for iPad and iPhone. And just before posting I searched for Qobuz on the app store. The result: "No Mac app results found. Showing iPhone and iPad app results."

By the way, to revisit a question you asked sr11, I've ordered CDs and SACDs issued by Tower Records Japan from both CD Japan and World Shopping. CD Japan offers the simpler process because there is no separate step required to pay for shipping. Everything's folded into a single transaction. But here's the catch: for whatever reason CD Japan does not offer every Tower disc on its website. For example, I've never been able to find Tower's SACD set of the Nathan Milstein Bach Sonatas and Partitas on the CD Japan website. Odd.

 

You're correct about Apple Classical's availability only for the iPhone, posted on July 9, 2024 at 16:02:29
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 27471
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
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  Since: February 6, 2012
 So, to some extent, if you're a classical listener using Apple Music, you have to get used to fighting the interface if you just want to stick to a desktop or a laptop. I've gotten used to it myself, but it took me awhile.

As for Qobuz, its App may not be on the App Store, but you can still download it from the Qobuz site (link below). It's kind of amusing that the basic Apple Music subscription is $10.99/month, while the basic Qobuz "Studio" subscription is $10.83/month. (I wonder how they came up with that price?)

Regarding CD Japan vs. Tower Japan, as you may have seen from my exchange with srl1, I can't seem to get my credit card to work with CD Japan, so it's Tower Records Japan for me going forward (assuming the delivery is OK). Funny, I used to order a lot from HMV Japan, but, as I mentioned, I'm mostly streaming these days. I just checked and it looks like HMV Japan is still around.

 

RE: You're correct about Apple Classical's availability only for the iPhone, posted on July 9, 2024 at 16:07:40
Mali
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Posts: 2276
Location: Wyoming
Joined: June 12, 2003
Contributor
  Since: November 11, 2009
 I've often ordered from CDJapan and have never had any problem with my credit card being accepted. Wonder what's the problem with yours?

 

CD Japan says it's calling my phone to give me a six-digit authorization code, posted on July 9, 2024 at 16:39:39
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 27471
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
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  Since: February 6, 2012
 But then the phone never rings. If I could, I'd change it to call my cell phone with a text message, but I haven't found where to do that.

I had this same problem with eClassical for a short time - but then, it mysteriously corrected itself. Ah, technology!

 

RE: I'm thinking of dumping Spotify. Should I?, posted on July 9, 2024 at 17:07:55
kh6idf
Audiophile

Posts: 1534
Location: Texas
Joined: May 2, 2001
 I switched from Spotify to Qobuz a number of years ago. I listen to mostly classical and have been pretty satisfied with the Qobuz classical catalog.

For your Mac mini, why not run the Qobuz web player from a browser? That's what I do with my Windows desktop, even though I think they have a Windows app. I think this is because with the app, the music would stutter sometimes but with the web player it doesn't.

 

RE: CD Japan says it's calling my phone to give me a six-digit authorization code, posted on July 9, 2024 at 20:42:51
Mali
Audiophile

Posts: 2276
Location: Wyoming
Joined: June 12, 2003
Contributor
  Since: November 11, 2009
 Strange.

 

Qobuz and Tidal do have desktop apps, posted on July 9, 2024 at 21:02:39
rkw
Audiophile

Posts: 348
Joined: July 12, 2000
 Qobuz and Tidal have desktop apps (Mac and Windows), and both also play from a web browser.

The Apple Music app and Apple Classical app (on iOS only) have the same classical music catalog. Apple Classical just has a UI interface that is more tailored for classical music. I had hoped it would be something special but I actually prefer the Qobuz interface for classical music. One advantage of Apple is that they signed deals with orchestras and record labels to offer some new releases exclusively for 3 months before they become available elsewhere.

All of the music streaming services offer a free trial period (1-3 months depending on special deals). You can try all of them for free before deciding which one to stay with for the long haul.

 

RE: You're correct about Apple Classical's availability only for the iPhone, posted on July 9, 2024 at 21:23:32
rkw
Audiophile

Posts: 348
Joined: July 12, 2000
the basic Qobuz "Studio" subscription is $10.83/month. (I wonder how they came up with that price?)
That is actually their $129.99/year prepaid subscription, which works out to $10.83/month. The Qobuz standard monthly subscription plan is $12.99/month.

 

Thanks, rkw! [nt], posted on July 10, 2024 at 00:59:08
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 27471
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012

 

Got an old phone? , posted on July 14, 2024 at 18:34:06
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 39092
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Easy to hook one up to your main system via a 3.5" to RCA cable just like a CDP. I take that approach in the garage system to stream SiriusXM and Bandcamp with my little integrated amp.




My media server software supports Qobuz directly and offers a nice classical catalog in high sample rate 24 bit lossless.






 

Follow-up, posted on July 19, 2024 at 07:55:27
Doktor Brahms
Audiophile

Posts: 616
Location: Southeast
Joined: November 25, 2004
 First, thanks to all of you who responded. I assumed that Qobuz didn't have a desktop app because it didn't show up in Apple's app store. It didn't occur to me that such could be downloaded directly from their website. So thanks for the clarification--it will be filed away for future reference.

Second, I decided to take Apple Music for a test drive. Because I have a couple of days left on my Spotify Premium subscription, I can easily make comparisons between the two. The sound is clearly better on Apple, and it's cheaper (at least for now). But Spotify's user interface is superior IMO. Take, for example, a recently released album on Sony with some fairly obscure repertoire (Music for Young America/Louis Lane/Cleveland). Spotify's track listings include the composer's name for all selections; on Apple, the composers' names for some of the selections are nowhere to be found. Dumb. (Apparently Apple Music subscribers have been complaining about this for years, to no avail.) Also, some of the albums in my Spotify library appear to be missing from the Apple catalog. Then again, there could easily be music exclusive to Apple. I'm still exploring.

So swings and roundabouts, as they say. I'll use Apple's one-month free trial to get further acquainted and formulate an opinion. No clear winner yet. I can always switch back to Spotify Premium.

 

RE: Follow-up, posted on July 19, 2024 at 09:30:49
pbarach
Audiophile

Posts: 3405
Location: Ohio
Joined: June 22, 2008
 The iOS Apple Classical app **does** list the composers on that album. There is no separate Apple Classical app for Windows, and as you note, the Apple Music app doesn't list the "Music for Young America" composers.

But all of the recordings in Apple Classical are still there in the Apple Music app. I just searched in the Music app for "Copland An Outdoor Overture," and I got at least 20 versions, including the Lane/CLE recordings twice (it's on two different Sony releases). Not ideal.

 

You're absolutely right about the missing composers' names on Apple Music. . . , posted on July 19, 2024 at 10:55:46
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 27471
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 . . . on the individual tracks. Sometimes they're there, but oftentimes not. The workaround is to find the album title on another site, and then check the composers listed by track on that site. Amazon USED to be a pretty reliable source for this information, but, more recently, Sleazos and his minions have been very cavalier about showing the back covers of the new CD releases (where the composer/track info often lurks) - Presto Music is now a much more reliable source for this info IMHO.

In any case, yes, having to do this workaround is very annoying - and it's not always reliable itself.

OTOH, as you surmise, Apple Music has their own exclusive titles and early releases (e.g., Honeck's new Pittsburg Bruckner Seventh - available on Apple Music for weeks, but now just being released today through normal distribution), as well as. . . Dolby Atmos! ;-)

 

RE: Follow-up, posted on July 19, 2024 at 11:20:29
Sibelius
Audiophile

Posts: 1495
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Joined: April 4, 2000



I could not be happier than I am with ROON and Qobuz. I know, extra cost for ROON, but they work together seamlessly so far, and the Qobuz interface via ROON is, well pretty perfect.

And I don't have 27 speakers either, just the two, so Atmos is of no concern. I had Spotify for a long time, and I've used Apple Music as well, never tried Apple Classical though. One of the reasons I chose Qobuz, was because of meta data failure with Spotify and Apple, never consistent, and always organized by "song" which just doesn't fit classical.

Hope you find your solution.

 

Hey man! I've been brainwashed!, posted on July 19, 2024 at 12:16:45
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 27471
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 Now I call all those concerto and symphony movements "songs"!

 

RE: Follow-up, posted on July 19, 2024 at 13:05:18
Sibelius
Audiophile

Posts: 1495
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Joined: April 4, 2000
 Incomplete data on that one too. I had to look up "The Happy Hypocrite". Elwell. I mean, it's there, why can't they put it in the release on the work?

And wow, quite the release. I had no idea Lane was that prolific in his recordings. I think in all my cd collection I have one of his recordings, and it's on an album headlined by a Szell Beethoven Symphony.

 

Qobuz, posted on July 20, 2024 at 02:38:47
rkw
Audiophile

Posts: 348
Joined: July 12, 2000
 You may as well do a trial of Qobuz at the same time. Its interface for classical music is much better than either Apple Music or Spotify. Here's a screenshot of Music for Young America on the Qobuz desktop app for Mac. Notice that when a work is divided into movements, it tries to group it in a reasonable way instead of repeating the name of the work on each track. For me, a big bonus is also that on many newer releases (especially from independent labels) the album's program booklet may be available to open and read.

BTW, when your Spotify paid subscription ends, it will merely be converted to the free tier. It will play music at a lower bitrate, you lose some features such as Spotify Connect, and it may play some ads. However, you'll still be able to access and play the full catalog.




 

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