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

Not too long ago, I acquired 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 possibility, I couldn’t assist however acknowledge the success of this years-long promise with a evaluate of the audio high quality on supply now.

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

Spotify lossless, solo’d

A critique of Spotify, in opposition to 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 telephone. 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 purchase have miniature DAC chips. Final, you could have over-ear headphones, or in-ear screens (IEMs), or Bluetooth earbuds. That’s a simplified, condensed model of what goes into the expertise, but it surely’s an incredible place to begin 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 in opposition to 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 telephone selections 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 suggests I ought to hear the music as near the way it was recorded as potential, and the identical goes for the IE900’s sonic qualities. The Axion is an effective product for testing as a result of the whole lot you want to take heed 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 move 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 in opposition to the Regular setting with the M18i and IE900 first. I went by a playlist that covers a number of genres of music, from Hip Hop, Massive 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 chunk of music, so there was certainly a distinction between the 2 settings. Right here’s the factor, although: it wasn’t night time and day. As a matter of truth, I don’t assume that most individuals will discover a distinction except they’ve the fitting gear.

I do know this as a result of I’ve completed A/B testing with of us I do know, and lots 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 have 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 Footwear”
6. Charles Mingus – “Moanin'”
7. Michael Abels, Wolfgang Mozart – “Violin Duel”

Just a bit aspect observe. I discovered that Spotify has a problem switching between codecs. For those who change listening codecs whereas enjoying a playlist, it’s supposed to modify to the brand new format when the following tune 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 modify again to Regular from Lossless. I’m certain it’s simply early days’ bugs, however beware in case you’re doing your personal testing.

Spotify vs Apple and Tidal

Spotify has some severe competitors

I talked concerning the distinction, in numbers, between the file specs that Spotify selected and what Apple affords in this article. With Apple and Tidal each providing FLAC recordsdata 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 possibility affords. Nicely, dangerous information, I can hear the distinction.

A/B testing Spotify in opposition to 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 information equals extra dynamic sound. You will have the right equipment to maximise these variations, however the soundstage opens up, larger texture and nuance are revealed, and bass extension is deeper and darker when listening to increased high quality tracks on Apple Music and Tidal through a high quality DAC and IEMs with a 4.4mm Balanced connection.

There’s one catch right here: “UP TO.” Apple and Tidal each supply lossless tracks with the caveat, “as much as 24-bit / 192kHz.” What meaning is your mileage could differ. You could hear a observe on Spotify that sounds pretty much as good because it does on Apple or Tidal, and in case you test the decision, it could be the identical throughout the companies. Once you discover tracks supplied at their highest resolutions, the distinction must be fairly conclusive with the fitting {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 implausible shuffle algorithm, Spotify has what many people like, and their subscriber numbers assist that.

Lossless, although, isn’t one of many causes to go together with Spotify over different choices available on the market. I’m glad its there, and who is aware of, possibly in some unspecified time in the future they’ll enhance the decision. For at this time, although, my cash’s going elsewhere after I need all of the bit-perfect sound my audio setup can ship.