Article on streaming services for classical listeners

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Posted on February 5, 2021 at 12:51:21

Posts: 26438
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
Since: February 6, 2012

Here's a link to an article about the pros and cons of the different streaming services available at present, with special emphasis on the classical content. Surprise - he likes Qobuz, but he also has some favorable things to say about the other services (except for Apple - LOL! - I've been a pro-Apple bigot since the mid-80's, but I think he's right about their streaming service!).

Maybe a lot of folks here have already made their move in this regard, and even though I'm a Qobuz subscriber right now, I still found it interesting to read about the other five services he discusses too.

Classical Streaming Services

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Very Helpful

jim thomas

07:06:08 02/23/21

RE: Article on streaming services for classical listeners

Tadlo

15:46:31 02/06/21

Interesting - I'm not familiar with Idagio - Thanks! [nt]

Chris from Lafayette

15:53:24 02/06/21

...

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Very Helpful

jim thomas

07:06:08 02/23/21

RE: Article on streaming services for classical listeners

Tadlo

15:46:31 02/06/21

Interesting - I'm not familiar with Idagio - Thanks! [nt]

Chris from Lafayette

15:53:24 02/06/21

RE: Article on streaming services for classical listeners

Tom

09:26:55 02/06/21

Thanks, Tom - I've never used Tidal myself [nt]

Chris from Lafayette

01:19:44 02/08/21

The Article is Incorrect or Incomplete in a Few Ways

Mel

06:47:18 02/06/21

Thanks, Mel - as I recall, he doesn't mention MQA at all. . .

Chris from Lafayette

11:09:30 02/06/21

I'm a believer in Qobuz, too. (it is not a conspiracy, btw...) nt

tinear

13:05:32 02/05/21

Whew! I'm so glad we believe in something that's NOT a conspiracy! [nt] ;-)

Chris from Lafayette

15:55:25 02/06/21

I'm a believer in Qobuz, too. (it is not a conspiracy, btw...) nt, posted on February 5, 2021 at 13:05:32
tinear Audiophile Posts: 65782 Location: Kansas City, KS Joined: April 9, 2006	j

The Article is Incorrect or Incomplete in a Few Ways, posted on February 6, 2021 at 06:47:18

Mel
Audiophile

Posts: 2993
Location: New York City Area
Joined: February 21, 2001

I've begun my own survey.

For Primephonic: The tracks are either in 44/16 or 48/24. I don't believe there are any others. However it doesn't indicate in any way which it is you are listening to. I took measurements to find out. It does deliver a true red book or 48/24 as promised.

For Tidal: I have no idea what you get when you play its "master" files, for to hear them "correctly" you need a MQA DAC which I do not have. In any event it is an artificial manipulation in which I have no interest. Tidal "HIFI" is supposed to provide true 44/16. It does not.* On my Chrome browser, it does not even come close. On their own app, it does come quite a bit closer but there's no telling precisely what its manipulation of the original red book data provides.

On both of these they have a long way to go for their search function. It is often difficult to find an album you are looking for. You have to persist. Sometimes it's better to search by orchestra than by conductor. A search by conductor may come up empty, but listing all albums for a piece of music may, among the many, yield the one you want.

*Keep in mind that when your DAC registers a number like 44 or 48 etc. it is only registering the container for the data and not the data itself.

RE: Article on streaming services for classical listeners, posted on February 6, 2021 at 09:26:55
Tom Audiophile Posts: 2081 Location: Arizona Joined: February 27, 2000 Contributor Since: March 16, 2002	Tidal DOES have "New Releases" under the "Classical" genre, but most are not are what I'd consider Classical (in the "classical sense...lol). I wish there was an easier way to uproot those.

Thanks, Mel - as I recall, he doesn't mention MQA at all. . . , posted on February 6, 2021 at 11:09:30
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26438 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012	. . . an omission which, as you imply, gives a distorted view of Tidal, and, as you also state, low-rez data in hi-rez containers can also be a problem.

RE: Article on streaming services for classical listeners, posted on February 6, 2021 at 15:46:31

Tadlo
Audiophile

Posts: 1925
Location: midwest
Joined: March 8, 2003

I use Idagio and I mostly like it very much. The various features have allowed me to find lots of music that I would otherwise never encountered. One thing I don't like is that sometimes the sound stops for a few seconds. I don't know whether that is a problem with Idagio or my wifi. It might be the Chromecast streamer. Sometimes the music will keep playing and not response to commands from the Iphone to stop. Another thing is that sometimes it the music will start playing on my Iphone speaker and it will take several commands to get it play through my stereo.

Interesting - I'm not familiar with Idagio - Thanks! [nt], posted on February 6, 2021 at 15:53:24
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26438 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012

Whew! I'm so glad we believe in something that's NOT a conspiracy! [nt] ;-), posted on February 6, 2021 at 15:55:25
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26438 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012

Thanks, Tom - I've never used Tidal myself [nt], posted on February 8, 2021 at 01:19:44
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26438 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012

Very Helpful, posted on February 23, 2021 at 07:06:08
jim thomas Audiophile Posts: 147 Location: Atlanta Joined: March 17, 2009	Thanks! Very informative

Classical Court

Article on streaming services for classical listeners

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