YouTube vs Spotify

[jandl100]

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.

[Kit1cat]

This page gives the audio quality for YouTube Music Premium members.

https://support.google.com/youtubemu..._topic=6313524

[Jimbo]

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?

[struth]

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.

[Macca]

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.