Digital Audio Streaming: What Spotify Lossless Means for Music Lovers

Digital Audio Streaming: What Spotify Lossless Means for Music Lovers
In the past, listening to music anytime, anywhere wasn't easy. Streaming music has changed people's listening habits dramatically. Listening to music is no longer limited to physical media, but also includes digital streaming music.
Digital audio streaming brings convenience and diversity to our daily life. More listeners move to digital and streaming platforms such as Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and so on, but there is one question for some Hi-Fi music lovers: does streaming really provide high-quality sound?
Streaming services deliver music as digital audio, and digital audio quality is decided by several factors such as file format, resolution, compression, and how the music is delivered to your audio system.
To explore this further, let's take Spotify Lossless as an example and look at what lossless streaming means, how it affects digital audio quality, and what it means for music lovers.

What Is Digital Audio Streaming?

In the past, people listened to music through physical objects such as vinyl or CD. Later, with the development of the Internet, listeners can download their music first and then listen to the music. But now, through the Internet, digital audio data is transmitted to an audio device over a network, allowing listeners to play it while it is being received.
Simply put, music can be compared to food, digital audio is like the packaging, and streaming is like the delivery service. Your food is put in a package, then the deliveryman try to deliver food to you.
Although audio is converted into a digital format, it doesn't mean worse sound quality.

What Is Spotify Lossless?

Lossless refers to a method of compressing digital audio without permanently removing information from the original audio data. Lossless answers the question of whether audio data is discarded during compression.
Spotify is one of the common music streaming platforms in listeners' daily life. Now Spotify supports Spotify Lossless, which means that music can be streamed in a lossless format that preserves the original audio data. Spotify Lossless supports up to 24-bit / 44.1 kHz FLAC.
But is there anything different or any advantage to Spotify Lossless? Otherwise, why would people pay for a Spotify Lossless subscription?
  1. Spotify Lossless retains more original audio data, which can help preserve more details from the original recording. Standard lossy compression normally discards part of audio data, however, Spotify Lossless will never delete those data.
  2. Bridging the gap between streaming and Hi-Fi. Streaming can also deliver high-quality audio. The idea that streaming music must always mean lower sound quality could be left in the past.

Misconception: Lossless Does Not Mean High-Resolution

"Lossless" and "High-Resolution" refer to two different dimensions of audio. Lossless focuses on the completeness of the original audio data. But High-Resolution focuses on digital resolution of audio. They are different aspects and cannot be directly compared.

Can Spotify Lossless Really Improve Your Listening Experience?

Spotify Lossless can indeed provide a better listening experience, but this experience is influenced by other factors. Spotify Lossless is not the only factor.

Recording & Mastering

Whether the original recording is clear and distinct affects all subsequent stages. When music is recorded, it should be done in an appropriate environment to make sure the sound is captured accurately.

Playback System

Different devices can affect sound. Your different audio devices should work together nicely. And the equipment should also be of sufficiently high quality to reproduce appropriate bass and treble without distortion, and so on.

Listening environment

Room acoustics can help create a better listening environment for enjoying music. Listening to music in a noisy place and listening music in a quiet room with professional design will significantly enhance the listening experience.

If those elements are properly addressed, Spotify Lossless can showcase the music effect nicely. It can then be played through your Hi-Fi system. Spotify Lossless doesn't create better sound by itself. Instead, it preserves more of the audio information from the source, giving a capable playback system more information to reproduce.

What Do You Need to Enjoy Lossless Music Streaming?

A Spotify Premium Plan

Spotify Lossless is not available for free users. That means users need to upgrade their Spotify account first. Then, users need a Lossless-compatible device and a suitable connection to actually preserve that audio quality during playback.

Audio devices that support Spotify

Audio devices that do not have streaming capabilities or do not support Spotify Connect cannot receive music directly from Spotify. Therefore, users should therefore check whether their device is compatible with Spotify.

A Suitable Audio System

It is definitely possible to play Spotify Lossless music from phones or computers. People can listen to music easily this way, but for music lovers who want to build a dedicated Hi-Fi system, adding a DAC, amplifier, streamer, or better speakers can provide a more suitable playback system for Spotify Lossless.

In short, enjoying Spotify Lossless is not just about having a Lossless subscription. Your playback device and audio system also affect how much of that source quality you can actually experience.

Do You Need to Replace Your Audio System for Spotify Lossless?

The answer is no. It is terrible to us to buy or exchange our audio devices only for adding Spotify Lossless to our audio system. Adding a streaming amplifier or streamer can support Spotify Lossless easily. Arylic supports Spotify Lossless and provides different solutions for adding Spotify Lossless to your audio system.

Integrate Spotify Lossless to Existing Audio System - Arylic LP Series

Most music lovers already have amplifiers, active speakers or a complete audio system they enjoy. Adding a music streamer is a simple way to bring Spotify Lossless into your setup instead of replacing the existing audio system.
The Arylic LP series is built to bringing more flexible streaming source to an existing music setup. Whether you want to stream Spotify Lossless, explore other music platforms, or access your digital music library, the LP Series can transmit music nicely.
For basic and simple streaming upgrades, users can check the LP10 music streamer.
For a more flexible upgrade, LP20 is a good choice.
For building a more complete Hi-Fi system, LP100 can serve as the center of a more complete Hi-Fi system.

Combines Streaming and Amplification into a Compact Setup - Arylic LA50

Some music lovers prefer using passive speakers or already have passive speakers. Adding a music amplifier can bring their audio system to life
Arylic LA50 streaming amplifier can have two roles in the audio system. One for an amplifier and one for a streamer. This reduces the number of components and connections in your setup, making it a straightforward way to build a compact two-channel audio system.

Hidden Gameplay: Multi-room

Can music follow you without moving audio devices or speakers? Arylic can answer yes. On compatible devices and supported connections, users can also enjoy Spotify Lossless as part of their multi-room setup.

LA50 vs LP10 vs LP20 vs LP100


LA50
LP10
LP20
LP100
Type
Streaming Amplifier
Music Streamer
Music Streamer
Music Streamer
Support Spotify Lossless
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Audio Format (Up to)
24-bit/192kHz (Hi-Res)

24-bit/192kHz (Hi-Res)

24-bit/192kHz (Hi-Res)

48kHz/16bits
Wireless Capability
Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz), AirPlay(2), Google Cast (Chromecast), Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, QQ Play, Bluetooth, UPnP, DLNA,
Roon Ready (LP100 only)
Multiroom
AirPlay(2), Google Cast (Chromecast)
Roon Ready (LP100 only)
Suitable for
Building a compact two-channel system

Simple streaming upgrade with active speakers or amplifiers
Flexible streaming upgrade with active speakers or amplifiers

Building a more complete Hi-Fi system
**Maximum supported format varies by input. For example, LA50's USB-C PC input supports up to 48kHz.

Enjoy Spotify Lossless

Spotify Lossless makes it easier for music lovers to enjoy original audio data. But it is not simply about choosing a higher-quality streaming option. The source, playback system, and listening environment all will affect listening experience.
With the right device, Spotify Lossless can bring a more enjoyable listening experience to your daily life.

Reading next

Music Streamer: Why Does Your Music Keep Cutting Out?
Multi Room Audio: From Dedicated Apps to Connected Home Audio

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