Roon with Tidal for playback duties
It’s still Roon w/ TIDAL and Qobuz for me at home. And Apple Music on the go.
I used to use Spotify as well … but …
Spotify’s client is terrible, especially on macOS - where you can’t even choose the output device; you’re stuck on “System Output”. That’s a major PITA.
The iOS version would invariably decide that any offline music couldn’t be played without online verification … JUST as I had no internet access.
And then it’s the lowest audio quality (to a quite audible degree with some DACs) of the available options. Even pre-lossless Apple Music and non-Lossless TIDAL options were better.
Finally, its recommendations don’t come anywhere close to those that Roon comes up with. Put another way, I’ve bought countless albums based on music Roon has suggested/queued up in its “Radio” feature … and literally zero from Spotify’s.
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I agree on ROON with Qobuz at home, but I use either Qobuz or Apple Music on the go. ROON Arc sometimes in the car.
What do you make of ROON’s new Korean partner? And do you include Apple Classical or is the interface irritating to you?
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I have TIDAL and Qobuz on my phone. I just almost never use them as I’m normally using AirPods Pro 2 there (despite having the W4 and IE600 for mobile listening also) and Apple Music is easier.
I think new partnerships are a good thing, overall.
But KKBOX isn’t available here (and I’m not twatting about with VPNs and odd payment methods to get access), so it’s somewhat meaningless to me on a practical level. We’ll see if/when it comes here and what the status of TIDAL/Quboz is at the time.
99.99% of my classical listening is on FLAC rips of stuff I’ve bought. So other than piddling around briefly, I’ve not tried Apple’s Classical offering properly. Also, 99% of my classical listening is critical … which is rare for me when traveling.
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Spotify always takes the cake. The interface is user-friendly, and their Discover Weekly playlist has introduced me to so many new tracks and artists I wouldn’t have found otherwise. They have the best algorithm because they always get my music taste.
I got the $5.99/month plan, which includes access to Hulu. They always have the best deals. Found it on DontPayFull, they’ve got deals and discounts for almost all music playback apps.
JazzRadio.com app for streaming specific jazz genres! Hard to beat this app when i want to kick back and lock in a style of jazz going back as far as the 50s or 60s or further.
Also had Tidal for years, but ditched it for Qobuz last year due to Tidal’s (soon to be retired) MQA files…had issues utilizing UAPP eq on MQA files…also the bitrates on MQA files left me wondering if it really was the best bittate available…so I got Qubuz at the same time to compare same song bitrates…Qobuz seemed to win out at that point. And Qobuz was cheaper too.
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I should mention UAPP is how i like streaming Qobuz as it clarifies the resolution level and allows eq options.
But for Jazz i always goto the trusty JazzRadio App to lock in some Hardbop, or piano trios, or classic vocals.
Yeah Finally,
Bye Bye MQA & 360* Audio
Welcome FLAC and Dolby Atmos 
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Thank God, and good riddance!
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So you like Dolby Atmos?
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Oh yes, it is a very impressive presentation, especially for classical music and live concert recordings.
I have the option of using an additional “orchestra setting” on my ONKYO receiver, which expands the sound image far beyond the actual size of my room.
This gives the impression that you are in the middle of the action, just like in a blockbuster, which is quite thrilling.
However, I prefer “normal” recordings in the conventional stereo mode.
So that the musical action takes place in front of your seat, with the stage as realistic as possible.
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I glanced upthread and didn’t see this question addressed directly: which of the quality streaming services (i.e., SQ) has the most comprehensive catalog? I currently use Apple Music a bit, but for all Apple’s ubiquity, the depth of its offerings is pitiful. MAJOR releases by MAJOR current artists (the Stones? Joni Mitchell?) on MAJOR labels are missing; forget about deeper cuts and less popular genres.
I am blessed and cursed by extremely diverse musical tastes and a service that provides outstanding classical coverage but limited jazz or punk offerings is of no value to me. Has anyone found a single source that satisfies itches across the spectrum?
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When I don’t find a recording in Apple Music, I check in the Itunes Store. Much of the time I find it there. Clicking on the Listen button in the upper right corner transfers the selection to Apple Music.
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Here’s a link to a good article about music services and their range of content.
Streaming services and content
You may not be aware that there is a servce called Apple Music Classical that is the revival of classical service Primephonic which Apple bought a while back.
The bottom line is there isn’t a single service with deep and wide coverage of all genres.
Apple Music plus Apple Music Classical seems to be the best single service option.
The other option is with two services - Idagio or Presto Music for classical plus whatever service has the most of the other genres you require.
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Thanks for the reminder Nick!
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Thanks so much Nick! I was aware of the separate Apple classical app, which helps me tremendously by recommending new pieces and artists. I wish there was a similar app for jazz! I will definitely give that article a read.
For years I have been haunting used record and CD stores to compile a comprehensive-for-me library that isn’t subject to DRM restrictions and honestly I hate the very notion of paying for any service that rents me music to listen to. But I have resigned myself to the modern realities and subscribe to the one – Apple Music. But the coverage of stuff other than “the hits” is really pathetic.
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The music business remains a business. Some of the stuff that sold in the millions a few decades ago is now (1) available for free per used CDs, LPs, and cassettes, and (2) now of interest to an older and shrinking market.
Streaming is driven by young pop-oriented listeners. Some of the old “hits” are mere streaming footnotes today. I’ve watched complete catalogs be compressed down to boxed sets or Greatest Hits albums. The bands are now dead and gone, with no new content expected. With dozens to hundreds of new releases per month, these are surely easy business decisions.
I have a Google/Youtube Music account and it lists subscribers for each artist. Examples (millions):
- Rolling Stones = 3.25
- Led Zeppelin = 3.54
- Beatles = 8.34
- 50 Cent = 16
- Coldplay = 26.4
- Nicki Minaj = 26.9
- Billie Eilish = 52.1
- Taylor Swift = 59.3
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As are many of their fans but I am trying to ignore that particular reality!
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Shrink for yourself, Pink Frog. Listening to Radio Paradise on the way home, rock mix, they tossed in the long version of When the Music’s Over (the Doors, young’uns). Hit my demographic. Rolled down the windows and cranked the volume. Stock radio on the Caddy (19 speaker AKG) sounded pretty good.
I can tell by other replies to your posts that the old fart demographic is still 55% 
or more alive.
Bogus statistic courtesy of Bogus Statistics, LLC.
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The replacement kits Focal makes for BMW (and the OEM Harmon Kardons) aren’t true hifi but are really nice. They’ve given me lots of joy.
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