I in contrast Spotify lossless to Apple Music and Tidal and the loser is obvious

Lately, I obtained the replace from Spotify that permits me to entry their lossless streaming audio choices. I’m insatiably curious, so after years of Spotify promising to supply its 276 million customers (as of July 2025) with a lossless audio choice, I couldn’t assist however acknowledge the achievement of this years-long promise with a overview of the audio high quality on provide now.

What would a overview of Spotify lossless be with out evaluating it to a few of its opponents? In spite of everything, this new choice doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Streaming companies like Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, and Apple Music have had lossless audio for years now, so I may also evaluate and distinction a few them with Spotify Premium’s audio high quality.

Spotify lossless, solo’d

A critique of Spotify, towards itself

There are some things that go into the way you expertise sound, specializing in {hardware} and never your physiology. The supply(s) are Spotify and your cellphone. Then, you may want a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) to get the lossless audio out of your supply to your ears. Even the lightning or USB-C-to-3.5 mm adapters you should buy have miniature DAC chips. Final, you might have over-ear headphones, or in-ear displays (IEMs), or Bluetooth earbuds. That’s a simplified, condensed model of what goes into the expertise, nevertheless it’s an excellent start line for these new to lossless audio and for these of a sure age being reintroduced to it.

With that in thoughts, I grabbed a number of issues to check Spotify towards itself and a few opponents:

1. Google Pixel 9
2. iPhone 16 Pro Max
3. Questyle M18i USB-C/Bluetooth DAC
4. Sennheiser IE900
5. Campfire Axion IEMs with inline DAC and microphone
6. Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

The cellphone decisions are apparent; I wished to check on each Android and iOS. The DAC was chosen as a result of it’s extensively thought to be very clear, which implies I ought to hear the music as near the way it was recorded as doable, and the identical goes for the IE900’s sonic qualities. The Axion is an efficient product for testing as a result of all the things that you must hearken to lossless is in a single neat little package deal. And although I might use the Px7 S3 for wired listening, I selected to make use of it to see how Bluetooth would sound with lossless being compressed to go the sign to the headphones.

I wished to listen to the distinction between the audio choices with no heavy tuning, so I A/B-tested the Lossless setting towards the Regular setting with the M18i and IE900 first. I went by means of a playlist that covers a number of genres of music, from Hip Hop, Large Band Jazz, and Dubstep, to Rock, Pop, Orchestral, and movie scores. Was there a distinction? The IE900 permits you to hear each element in a bit of music, so there was certainly a distinction between the 2 settings. Right here’s the factor, although: it wasn’t evening and day. As a matter of truth, I don’t suppose that most individuals will discover a distinction until they’ve the suitable tools.

I do know this as a result of I’ve carried out A/B testing with of us I do know, and plenty of of them couldn’t hear a distinction between lossless and compressed streams, even with high-end listening gear. The songs I first listened to and located solely a delicate distinction had been:

1. Michael Jackson – “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”
2. The Roots – “Do You Need Extra?!!!?”
3. Esparanza Spalding – “I Know”
4. System of a Down – “Toxicity”
5. Paul Simon – “Diamonds on the Souls of Her Sneakers”
6. Charles Mingus – “Moanin'”
7. Michael Abels, Wolfgang Mozart – “Violin Duel”

Just a bit aspect word. I discovered that Spotify has a difficulty switching between codecs. For those who change listening codecs whereas taking part in a playlist, it’s supposed to change to the brand new format when the subsequent track begins, however I discovered myself having to exit one playlist, select one other, then come again to the one I used to be making an attempt to play to change again to Regular from Lossless. I’m positive it’s simply early days’ bugs, however beware if you happen to’re doing your personal testing.

Spotify vs Apple and Tidal

Spotify has some severe competitors

I talked in regards to the distinction, in numbers, between the file specs that Spotify selected and what Apple presents in this article. With Apple and Tidal each providing FLAC information streamed at as much as 24-bit/192kHz, it was a curious option to go together with 24-bit/44.1kHz. Amongst a number of different causes, doubtless it is as a result of people can’t hear something past what Spotify’s lossless choice presents. Nicely, dangerous information, I can hear the distinction.

A/B testing Spotify towards Apple Music and Tidal on the Pixel 9 and iPhone 16 Professional Max, with all of the gear, Apple and Tidal tracks sound audibly higher than Spotify’s tracks. What you get with competing companies’ lossless choices highest resolutions is streams of 9,216kbps versus Spotify’s 2,116kbps. Theoretically, extra knowledge equals extra dynamic sound. You have to the right equipment to maximise these variations, however the soundstage opens up, better texture and nuance are revealed, and bass extension is deeper and darker when listening to larger high quality tracks on Apple Music and Tidal by way of a high quality DAC and IEMs with a 4.4mm Balanced connection.

There’s one catch right here: “UP TO.” Apple and Tidal each provide lossless tracks with the caveat, “as much as 24-bit / 192kHz.” What meaning is your mileage could range. You could hear a observe on Spotify that sounds nearly as good because it does on Apple or Tidal, and if you happen to test the decision, it could be the identical throughout the companies. Whenever you discover tracks supplied at their highest resolutions, the distinction needs to be fairly conclusive with the suitable {hardware} in play.

Spotify Wrapped

Spotify’s lossless stream is extra of a drip

Spotify gives users plenty of reasons to love the service they’re getting! From AI DJs to an algorithm for discovery that folks love, stable social sharing instruments, and a improbable shuffle algorithm, Spotify has what many people like, and their subscriber numbers help that.

Lossless, although, isn’t one of many causes to go together with Spotify over different choices in the marketplace. I’m glad its there, and who is aware of, perhaps in some unspecified time in the future they’ll improve the decision. For in the present day, although, my cash’s going elsewhere once I need all of the bit-perfect sound my audio setup can ship.