Streaming Music Service Preference

[Towen7]

I don't have or desire to have a large CD collection that I've converted to a digital library. I've been using the free version of Pandora for a couple of years but I'm more than a little tired of the ads and I find that the track list can get a little repetitive. Now seems like the perfect time to dip into an alternative service.

Any suggestions ... pros/cons?

 

[Wardsweb]

Have you checked into Spotify or if you're into high res music, Tidal. I just ordered a Auralic ARies Mini. It comes with a year subscription to Tidal. I will be checking it out.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Spotify is good, but their application is terrible. I haven't tried any other version but that for the PC.

Pandora is a service I used to subscribe to, and it was good as a background "radio" but one thing that irritates me and caused me to cancel is that they will suspend streaming if you do not "interact" somehow with the application every 3 hours (I think that's the time - it used to be 6 hours). I just want to hear continuous music while I'm working without having to do something with the application just to keep the music from being interrupted. Supposedly they do this so the music is not playing to an empty room, but hell, I was paying for the service and I should not have to put up with silly interruptions.

Of course these are lossy. If you want "CD quality", Tidal supplies that.

 

[Haywood]

I like Spotify a lot. We use it mainly on iOS, Android, Roku and Squeezebox devices and have had a very positive experience. I also use Amazon Prime Music to supplement, so I don't have to pay for multiple Spotify accounts.

 

[Towen7]

FWIW, I'm adding several Sonos receivers which will be the primary source for playback at home. Here's the sum total of research I've done so far. Mobile listening will be through headphones at the gym or via Bluetooth to a car stereo. Home listening will be +90% background music and the other 10% is just closing my eyes and relaxing (ie, not critical listening). I'm thinking that Tidal HiFi or other lossless service may be overkill for my needs.

Pandora Basic (64K) - Free

Pandora One - (up to 192K) - $5
Tidal Premium (AAC 320K)- $10
Tidal HiFi (FLAC, 16/44)- $20
Spotify Premium (96,K 160K, 320K)- $10

 

[mcad64]

FWIW, I'm adding several Sonos receivers which will be the primary source for playback at home. Here's the sum total of research I've done so far. Mobile listening will be through headphones at the gym or via Bluetooth to a car stereo. Home listening will be +90% background music and the other 10% is just closing my eyes and relaxing (ie, not critical listening). I'm thinking that Tidal HiFi or other lossless service may be overkill for my needs.

Pandora Basic (64K) - Free

Pandora One - (up to 192K) - $5
Tidal Premium (AAC 320K)- $10
Tidal HiFi (FLAC, 16/44)- $20
Spotify Premium (96,K 160K, 320K)- $10

Overkill my good man...everytime...overkill!! :banana-rock: :music-rockout:

 

[lulimet]

FWIW, I'm adding several Sonos receivers which will be the primary source for playback at home. Here's the sum total of research I've done so far. Mobile listening will be through headphones at the gym or via Bluetooth to a car stereo. Home listening will be +90% background music and the other 10% is just closing my eyes and relaxing (ie, not critical listening). I'm thinking that Tidal HiFi or other lossless service may be overkill for my needs.

Pandora Basic (64K) - Free

Pandora One - (up to 192K) - $5
Tidal Premium (AAC 320K)- $10
Tidal HiFi (FLAC, 16/44)- $20
Spotify Premium (96,K 160K, 320K)- $10

Aren't you an Apple fan? Apple Music is $10 a month and $15 for a family plan for up to 5 accounts. I think it's 320kbps AAC.
Plus Sonos plays well with Apple devices.

 

[Towen7]

Problem is that Apple's new subscription service, Apple Music, doesn't work on Sonos. I read some reports that it may be working by the end of the year.

 

[Botch]

Between my Amazon Echo and Amazon Prime account, I have more streaming choices than I'll ever be able to try; just wish they'd release an Echo with 5.1/HDMI output, so I could hook it into my "serious" system.

 

[Towen7]

Correct me if I'm wrong but your Prime library is made up of digital copies of music your purchased through Amazon. Right?

I don't have such a vast library of past purchases.

 

[Botch]

Correct me if I'm wrong but your Prime library is made up of digital copies of music your purchased through Amazon. Right?

I don't have such a vast library of past purchases.

That, but it also has a vast "free" bunch of streams of other stuff I haven't purchased.
And I think I've posted about this before, it's very artist-dependent. I thought I had everything released by Level 42, but that stream from AP plays a bunch of odd/B-side/live tracks I've never heard; Doobies stream plays everything, including albums I haven't purchased from Amazon (heh, most of them, I have them on vinyl!); Police: one song only.
It's a changing thing, that's for sure.

 

[Haywood]

Correct me if I'm wrong but your Prime library is made up of digital copies of music your purchased through Amazon. Right?

I don't have such a vast library of past purchases.

They have over a million songs included for Prime members on top of whatever music you have. For $25/year, you can upload/match up to 250,000 tracks and access them via Amazon Music.

 

[Rope]

Google: Play Music.

Rope

 

[jomari]

ive tried spotify, but cant seem to get it to 'continue' playing. it ends up stopping, and somehow it also has 'space' in some tracks, is that normal?

for now im just using google play, but annoying sometimes, their commercials or ads are louder than the music levels. at that point i switch to pandora.

my original service, Songza was an amazing app. my favorite until it was absorbed by google play.

 

[Haywood]

Correct me if I'm wrong but your Prime library is made up of digital copies of music your purchased through Amazon. Right?

I don't have such a vast library of past purchases.

They will match your existing library up to 250,000 tracks for $25/year. If you are a Prime member, they also have over a million songs that are free. Think of it as Spotify lite. You can use a Fire TV or Fire TV stick to access it on a main system. Roku does have an Amazon music channel, but it does not include the Prime feature and is limited to your own library.

 

[Haywood]

Google: Play Music.

Rope

I wish Amazon and Google would stop feuding, so I could go with NVidia Shield Android TV streamers. Right now, my access to Google Play Music is limited to phones and my new TV.