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

Just lately, I obtained the replace from Spotify that enables me to entry their lossless streaming audio choices. I’m insatiably curious, so after years of Spotify promising to offer 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 assessment of the audio high quality on supply now.

What would a assessment of Spotify lossless be with out evaluating it to a few of its rivals? 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 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 will have over-ear headphones, or in-ear screens (IEMs), or Bluetooth earbuds. That’s a simplified, condensed model of what goes into the expertise, nevertheless it’s an incredible 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 in opposition to itself and a few rivals:

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 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 it is advisable 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 go 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 by means of 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 enables 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 evening and day. As a matter of truth, I don’t suppose that most individuals will discover a distinction until they’ve the best gear.

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 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 word. I discovered that Spotify has a difficulty 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 positive it’s simply early days’ bugs, however beware in the event you’re doing your individual testing.

Spotify vs Apple and Tidal

Spotify has some critical 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 along 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. Nicely, 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 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 greater 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 which means is your mileage could fluctuate. You could hear a observe on Spotify that sounds nearly as good because it does on Apple or Tidal, and in the event you examine the decision, it could be the identical throughout the companies. Whenever you discover tracks supplied 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, strong social sharing instruments, and a improbable shuffle algorithm, Spotify has what many of us like, and their subscriber numbers assist that.

Lossless, although, isn’t one of many causes to go along with Spotify over different choices available on the market. I’m glad its there, and who is aware of, perhaps sooner or later they’ll enhance 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.