View Full Version : YouTube vs Spotify
I have noticed for sometime now that there is quite a difference in Sound quality between YouTube and Spotify so tonight I did some evaluation and compared the same track played on both and found in almost all cases YouTube sounded better. Much fuller sound and better soundstage, detail and depth. Spotify by comparison sounds thin and a bit weak.
Anyone else notice this?
Sherwood
21-02-2019, 20:18
I have noticed for sometime now that there is quite a difference in Sound quality between YouTube and Spotify so tonight I did some evaluation and compared the same track played on both and found in almost all cases YouTube sounded better. Much fuller sound and better soundstage, detail and depth. Spotify by comparison sounds thin and a bit weak.
Anyone else notice this?
You can't have set Spotify up correctly or you are using the free version. The bitrate for Youtube audio is pretty low. It generally sounds OK but is noticeably less detailed than the 320k Spotify feed.
Geoff
You can't have set Spotify up correctly or you are using the free version. The bitrate for Youtube audio is pretty low. It generally sounds OK but is noticeably less detailed than the 320k Spotify feed.
Geoff
I was only using the free version of Spotify. Is the bitrate for YouTube the same for all material on there?
Sherwood
21-02-2019, 21:18
I was only using the free version of Spotify. Is the bitrate for YouTube the same for all material on there?
It is usually around 126 kbps AAC.
Geoff
Spotify premium set to High Quality Streaming sounds a good bit better than youtube imho
Premium Spotify may sound good but I have heard some excellent Youtube sound quality. I don't buy the fact it is all low bit rate especially when you can view 4K material on the site. I am sure some of the music videos are far higher than 126 kbps.
Premium Spotify may sound good but I have heard some excellent Youtube sound quality. I don't buy the fact it is all low bit rate especially when you can view 4K material on the site. I am sure some of the music videos are far higher than 126 kbps.YouTube has changed a lot in the last year or so but a while back I remember reading something about no matter what quality you record and render your audio at YouTube simply reduces the quality to a site standard.
Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
Why would it render audio to a low site standard when you can view 4K video?
Is there a way of looking at the bit rate you are getting or is there somewhere that tells you what Youtube use?
Why would it render audio to a low site standard when you can view 4K video?
Is there a way of looking at the bit rate you are getting or is there somewhere that tells you what Youtube use?I wouldn't begin to question YouTube's methods
Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
Have both YouTube Music and Spotify Premium.
Worth it for being ad free and access to squizillions of high quality music videos, docs all the usual stuff.
The music app sounds terrific to me, far better than Amazons effort.
As to what sounds best between it and Spotify, my take is “It depends”.
Agree with James that with 4k video it makes no sense the audio stream would be crap, and in fact it sounds really very good in my setup, no complaints.
A good indicator of YouTube sound quality, and it’s not even 4K: it’s1080p/50 stream, is this from Agnes Obel.
https://youtu.be/JfEoxFsF7x4
Bit of a test track for me actually as the new kit is running in.
You can’t really judge the sound quality if your watching it through a laptop speaker...
Nowadays use YouTube as much as a valid music source as any other, sounds terrific.
Have both YouTube Music and Spotify Premium.
Worth it for being ad free and access to squizillions of high quality music videos, docs all the usual stuff.
The music app sounds terrific to me, far better than Amazons effort.
As to what sounds best between it and Spotify, my take is “It depends”.
Agree with James that with 4k video it makes no sense the audio stream would be crap, and in fact it sounds really very good in my setup, no complaints.
A good indicator of YouTube sound quality, and it’s not even 4K: it’s1080p/50 stream, is this from Agnes Obel.
https://youtu.be/JfEoxFsF7x4
You won’t really get an idea of the sound quality from a laptop speaker unfortunately..
Bit of a test track for me actually as the new kit is running in.
Ah, one of my favourite artists Gaz! She should be bringing something new out this year!
I would not be surprised to find as Youtube does 4K video it also does 24bit sound quality. If only it could be verified?
Ah, one of my favourite artists Gaz! She should be bringing something new out this year!
I would not be surprised to find as Youtube does 4K video it also does 24bit sound quality. If only it could be verified?
Can you not download the video and check the file with mediaInfo (PC), this would give you the video and audio info.
Anyone compared Qobuz with Tidal?
Thinking of taking out a Qobuz trial for a month.
Thanks.
Spectral Morn
07-03-2019, 06:44
Have both YouTube Music and Spotify Premium.
Worth it for being ad free and access to squizillions of high quality music videos, docs all the usual stuff.
The music app sounds terrific to me, far better than Amazons effort.
As to what sounds best between it and Spotify, my take is “It depends”.
Agree with James that with 4k video it makes no sense the audio stream would be crap, and in fact it sounds really very good in my setup, no complaints.
A good indicator of YouTube sound quality, and it’s not even 4K: it’s1080p/50 stream, is this from Agnes Obel.
https://youtu.be/JfEoxFsF7x4
Bit of a test track for me actually as the new kit is running in.
You can’t really judge the sound quality if your watching it through a laptop speaker...
Nowadays use YouTube as much as a valid music source as any other, sounds terrific.
Very nice, hints of Bat for Lashes in that.
Anyone compared Qobuz with Tidal?
Thinking of taking out a Qobuz trial for a month.
Thanks.
Talking about this last night with some friends and we all agreed Qobuz sounds better than Tidal.
Depending on how demanding the recording is you can get away with a low bitrate. A sparse production with no big dynamic swings is not going to show it up. Recording quality and the type of music will have a much bigger effect on perceived quality than the sampling rate or the bit rate.
Anyone compared Qobuz with Tidal?
Thinking of taking out a Qobuz trial for a month.
Thanks.
Been trialling Qoboz side by side with Tidal for a while. Got a 3 month trial of the former.... Cant say I hear much if any difference tbh on redbook versions. slight volume difference only, but not on all.... i like Qoboz interface better in many ways, although their catalogue isnt as good as Tidals, Classical exempted.
Weeman1973
07-03-2019, 13:13
Been trialling Qoboz side by side with Tidal for a while. Got a 3 month trial of the former.... Cant say I hear much if any difference tbh on redbook versions. slight volume difference only, but not on all.... i like Qoboz interface better in many ways, although their catalogue isnt as good as Tidals, Classical exempted.
This
oceanobsession
07-03-2019, 19:57
Just tried fireflies al di meola and youtube is definitely louder and does seem to have a bit more weight/body compared to spotify which is quieter and premium quality set to high quality . phil
Just tried fireflies al di meola and youtube is definitely louder and does seem to have a bit more weight/body compared to spotify which is quieter and premium quality set to high quality . phil
I have found YouTube has more weight and body with a fuller sound compared to Spotify. I am still waiting for someone to verify what bit rate music videos are generally putting out on YouTube.
I have found YouTube has more weight and body with a fuller sound compared to Spotify. I am still waiting for someone to verify what bit rate music videos are generally putting out on YouTube.
But are you still talking about free Spotify? You need to state free or Premium (set to high quality). If not you cause all sorts of confusion with your agbsolutist statement.
But are you still talking about free Spotify? You need to state free or Premium (set to high quality). If not you cause all sorts of confusion with your agbsolutist statement.
Absolutist???????? If you had BOTHERED to read the post you will have seen I mentioned that I had been using standard Spotify not Premium!
Absolutist???????? If you had BOTHERED to read the post you will have seen I mentioned that I had been using standard Spotify not Premium!
I had read the thread hence my comment. It would be better if you said "free Spotify". Otherwise it sounds like you're dissing both versions of Spotify, which is why I said absolutist (with typo). I get really great SQ with Spotify Premium via a Pi and Usbridge, it's hard to tell it apart from lossless. For some reason Spotify Premium via PC just isn't as good.
I had read the thread hence my comment. It would be better if you said "free Spotify". Otherwise it sounds like you're dissing both versions of Spotify, which is why I said absolutist (with typo). I get really great SQ with Spotify Premium via a Pi and Usbridge, it's hard to tell it apart from lossless. For some reason Spotify Premium via PC just isn't as good.
I am not dissing Spotify, I use it all the time and think it's great. I have heard Premium on a free trial so I know what it sounds like and it is good. Please do not assume and read into what I am saying that I think Spotify is rubbish because this is not the case.
I am simply trying to find out if YouTube music videos are streamed at a higher or similar bit rate as to my ears they often sound better than Spotify.
Bigman80
08-03-2019, 07:11
This raspberry pi is getting you in trouble Jim [emoji23]
https://www.h3xed.com/web-and-internet/youtube-audio-quality-bitrate-240p-360p-480p-720p-1080p
This raspberry pi is getting you in trouble Jim [emoji23]
Talking about anything digital gets me in trouble:rolleyes::)
Bigman80
08-03-2019, 09:27
Talking about anything digital gets me in trouble:rolleyes::)[emoji38]
You need to pop over again. I might have accidentally beaten my vinyl set up. [emoji50]
https://www.h3xed.com/web-and-internet/youtube-audio-quality-bitrate-240p-360p-480p-720p-1080p
Thanks Martin, although I see the article was from 2015. Maybe they have increased the bit rate on some material since then?
jandl100
08-03-2019, 10:15
I get really great SQ with Spotify Premium via a Pi and Usbridge, it's hard to tell it apart from lossless. For some reason Spotify Premium via PC just isn't as good.
I've had subscriptions on several of the streaming services - Spotify Premium, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Idagio.
The tonal presentation is markedly different between them, I find, with Tidal being the brightest, Qobuz about in the middle and Spotify a little dull in comparison.
I suspect that is at least part of the reason why Spotify sound quality can sometimes be disappointing.
I find that I have to tweak the system (speaker positioning and orientation, cabling) a bit when changing between streaming services or the sound can be adversely affected by the tonal differences. Set it up for Spotify or Qobuz and Tidal can be too bright and tiring, for example. Go from Tidal or Qobuz to Spotify, and Spotify can be a bit drab and lacklustre.
This page gives the audio quality for YouTube Music Premium members.
https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/9076559?hl=en-GB&ref_topic=6313524
I've had subscriptions on several of the streaming services - Spotify Premium, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Idagio.
The tonal presentation is markedly different between them, I find, with Tidal being the brightest, Qobuz about in the middle and Spotify a little dull in comparison.
I suspect that is at least part of the reason why Spotify sound quality can sometimes be disappointing.
I find that I have to tweak the system (speaker positioning and orientation, cabling) a bit when changing between streaming services or the sound can be adversely affected by the tonal differences. Set it up for Spotify or Qobuz and Tidal can be too bright and tiring, for example. Go from Tidal or Qobuz to Spotify, and Spotify can be a bit drab and lacklustre.
Interesting, I am comparing Qobuz and Tidal via Audirvana currently and I can concur with your observations. I think it is the tonal differences that mark them all out and maybe why I find a difference between Spotify and YouTube?
Equalify for spotify on win pc is very good at just lifting the performance of it. not terribly expensive either. i used it for a while when on spotty.
Thanks Martin, although I see the article was from 2015. Maybe they have increased the bit rate on some material since then?
Could be but that was the most recent thing I could find.
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