Amazon unlimited

[Ashmore]

I see Amazon is going on a frontal attack at Spotify with a new service that looks a lot like Spotify premium but quite a bit cheaper for those with a prime account.

There's nothing about quality in their faq so I wrote to amazon and got a swift response saying it's variable encoding but they ain for 256kbps generally (not verbatim, just my brief summary).

I've been a Spotify premium customer for a number of years and rate the service highly Nevertheless thinking dispassionately if the services are equivalent and it's easy to switch then it's hard to justify staying.

So, questions. has anyone signed up to prime unlimited and it so what's it like?

Do any of the pi services (volumino et al) give access? As an old squeezebox devotee I still squeeze player via picoreplayer to access my ripped collection, Spotify and iplayer. anyone know if obe of the squeeze developers is planning a plug in?

ta

Simon

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

[struth]

Not to my knowledge re rpi... ive got it on trial at moment...there is another thread re this and i will merge them later. As to quality, its not redbook, but its good. The interface is decent too. If you use chrome browser on laptop, you can cast it to a chromecast dongle(currently on black friday sale at currys for £15). Sounds decent on stereo. Probably even better on earphones. Was listening to dire straits yeaterdat and it boogied tbh.
There is a quality switch in settings for auto low med and high

[jandl100]

Spotify Premium gives 320KB/s - a tad below 'CD quality' although imo not enough to notice. Dropping to 256 may be a step too far.

[jandl100]

Amazon Prime costs. doesn't it? I have no use for it - so I'd have to compare the AmPrime+Unlimited for a proper price comparison.

And I'll bet the breadth of music catalogue can't compare with Spotify.

[Ashmore]

struth - sorry to replicate posts, I looked but didn't see one.

I should probably offer amazon's specific response since I shouldn't inadvertently misrepresent. to follow.



Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

[Ashmore]

Here's amazon's response.

"I can tell you that all files are in MP3 format, free of any software that may restrict how you play or store your music, and can be played with most music player applications and portable music devices.

Here are some specifics about the digital music files sold on Amazon.co.uk:

BIT RATE: Where possible, we encode our digital music files using variable bitrates for maximum audio quality and smaller file sizes, aiming at an average of 256 kilobits per second (kbps). Using a variable bitrate allows us to allocate a higher bitrate to the more complex sections of music files while using a smaller bitrate for the less complex sections. The average of these rates is then calculated to produce an average bit rate for the entire file that represents the overall sound quality. Some of our content is encoded using a constant bitrate of 256 kbps. This content will have the same excellent audio quality at a slightly larger file size.

FILE SIZE: A typical 3-minute song takes up approximately 5MB storage space."

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

[struth]

Amazon Prime costs. doesn't it? I have no use for it - so I'd have to compare the AmPrime+Unlimited for a proper price comparison.

And I'll bet the breadth of music catalogue can't compare with Spotify.


Maybe Jerry, i dont know, but its about 40million with amazon, so not bad. Plus as i have bought a lot of music including lps there they are all there in mp3 format too.
After the month i intend keeping it for a couple more months to extend trial. If you buy a alexa device i think you can get it for that unit only ffor a lot less. Not really for me, and im happy enough with it on ipad/phone plus streaming it to stereo. Tbh i will use it mostly on the portables i think.

[struth]

Here's amazon's response.

"I can tell you that all files are in MP3 format, free of any software that may restrict how you play or store your music, and can be played with most music player applications and portable music devices.

Here are some specifics about the digital music files sold on Amazon.co.uk:

BIT RATE: Where possible, we encode our digital music files using variable bitrates for maximum audio quality and smaller file sizes, aiming at an average of 256 kilobits per second (kbps). Using a variable bitrate allows us to allocate a higher bitrate to the more complex sections of music files while using a smaller bitrate for the less complex sections. The average of these rates is then calculated to produce an average bit rate for the entire file that represents the overall sound quality. Some of our content is encoded using a constant bitrate of 256 kbps. This content will have the same excellent audio quality at a slightly larger file size.

FILE SIZE: A typical 3-minute song takes up approximately 5MB storage space."

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

Sounds fair enough reply. Certainly has been good so far. Im a prime member so get it a couple of quid cheaper too

[jandl100]

;)

I'm a bit grouchy at the moment as the effing wild boar in the Forest of Dean have dug up my grass verge AGAIN!
It's a right pain to put it all back - and the bleeders may well return tonight.
Grrrr. :steam:

I saw the advertising blurb that was emailed about the Amazon streaming service and I was well unimpressed. Talk about a superficial level of information and as for the explanatory video that went along with it .... :doh: Total twats made that.

The 40 million claim - I suspect that is tracks or 'songs', not albums.

Grouch Grouch

:D

[MarginWalker]

this can be had for £3.99 a month if you use it solely through the Echo or Echo dot. If these had optical out as the chromecast audio does i would be all over it.

[struth]

The dot has an analogue out i think for speakers so could be used i guess, but who knows what the dac inside it is. The older amazon tv fire box has a optical out so that could be used i guess

[MarginWalker]

The dot has an analogue out i think for speakers so could be used i guess, but who knows what the dac inside it is. The older amazon tv fire box has a optical out so that could be used i guess

That's the issue. Having just bought a new DAC i'm loathe to start using an unkown internal dac in the Echo Dot to stream through. From what i have read to get the £3.99 a month deal you have to order it directly through the Echo and can then only stream using that device, so the Amazon Fire TV idea is a no go.

[struth]

Lol. Got us covered eh. Intended trying them all via trials but tbh googles one looks bloody awful, plus usa guys n gals get a 3 month trial and we get 30 days so they can shove it. Spotify interests me. Tidal is way too expensive. I cancelled my audible account to try this as i think i will use it more

[Stryder5]

;)

I'm a bit grouchy at the moment as the effing wild boar in the Forest of Dean have dug up my grass verge AGAIN!
It's a right pain to put it all back - and the bleeders may well return tonight.
Grrrr. :steam:

I saw the advertising blurb that was emailed about the Amazon streaming service and I was well unimpressed. Talk about a superficial level of information and as for the explanatory video that went along with it .... :doh: Total twats made that.

The 40 million claim - I suspect that is tracks or 'songs', not albums.

Grouch Grouch

:D

Have you tried using alarm mines to deter the wild boar?

[Rothchild]

If you can find a way to get a student card (NUS Extra) Spotify Premium is £4.99 a month, which is about right IMO.

I'd be interested to see more info about the amazon service though, I'm sure it won't take long for someone(geek) to getting a working linux implementation running.

[struth]

Still trialling Amazon, but also have a weeks trial of Spotify... yeah i know...1 lousy week lol. Running them pretty much side by side through mobile and headphone amp and earbuds. Both are pretty good, but time will tell which i prefer. Spotify may be slicker though of first impressions, although the search is a bit odd.

[struth]

Will give it a try again tomorrow. so far so good. Will try the cast possibilities too

[mr sneff]

How are you finding gapless playback with Amazon Unlimited, Grant? I've found with music in my Amazon Music Library (not Unlimited) that often there is an audible gap between tracks. That alone would deter me from switching from Spotify.

[struth]

Not sure. Might not have it set that way. I will check and try for you next time ive got it on. Using spotify at moment David:)