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

Not too long ago, 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 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 any case, this new choice doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Streaming providers 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 may 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 amazing 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 needed to check on each Android and iOS. The DAC was chosen as a result of it’s broadly thought to be very clear, which implies I ought to hear the music as near the way it was recorded as attainable, and the identical goes for the IE900’s sonic qualities. The Axion is an efficient product for testing as a result of every part it’s worthwhile to take heed to lossless is in a single neat little bundle. 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 cross the sign to the headphones.

I needed 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 via 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 allows 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 reality, I don’t suppose that most individuals will discover a distinction until they’ve the best tools.

I do know this as a result of I’ve carried out A/B testing with people 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 refined 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 Footwear”
6. Charles Mingus – “Moanin'”
7. Michael Abels, Wolfgang Mozart – “Violin Duel”

Just a bit aspect notice. I discovered that Spotify has a difficulty switching between codecs. If you happen to change listening codecs whereas enjoying a playlist, it’s supposed to modify to the brand new format when the following music begins, however I discovered myself having to exit one playlist, select one other, then come again to the one I used to be attempting to play to modify again to Regular from Lossless. I’m positive 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 in regards to the distinction, in numbers, between the file specs that Spotify selected and what Apple gives 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, probably it is as a result of people can’t hear something past what Spotify’s lossless choice gives. Properly, unhealthy 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 providers’ 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 increased high quality tracks on Apple Music and Tidal by way of a top 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 might range. You might hear a observe on Spotify that sounds pretty much as good because it does on Apple or Tidal, and in case you examine the decision, it might be the identical throughout the providers. While you discover tracks provided at their highest resolutions, the distinction ought to be fairly conclusive with the best {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 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 immediately, although, my cash’s going elsewhere once I need all of the bit-perfect sound my audio setup can ship.