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Apple vs Amazon

I'm not fully committed to streaming yet. DAC is low end. Finishing a 3 month free Apple Music trial. In truth, it doesn't sound that bad to me but tonight I started a 3 month Amazon Music trial and just after spending about an hour with it, it seems to sound better than Apple Music running through the exact same system. Fuller. Richer. More precise bass. No A/B testing, just a general impression. It might even be the music selection. I don't know. Is there any actual reason for this to be true? Or is it just me?
n80
freya77733
6 posts
 
Personally, I also prefer to use Amazon Music
lg1
199 posts
 
No experience with Amazon’s subscription service yet but am currently using Tidal and Apple.  I prefer Tidal’s SQ significantly over Apple Music but sometimes Tidal is so buggy as to evoke disgust from a pet rock.  I could definitely live with Apple Music if it were the only option but, as of today, I’ll be dropping the Apple trial subscription next month.  If Tidal goes on another 5 day connectivity-drunk, I may change my mind…
esputnix
19 posts
 
Yesterday I downloaded and installed the latest macOS Big Sur 11.4 on my Mac mini (Late 2014). After the install was completed the Music app (used to be iTunes) shows it is versions 1.1.5.74 now. In the the Music app’s Preferences (in Playback tab) there is now Audio Quality pull down menu that allows me to choose one of three Streaming Qualities: High Quality (AAC 256), Lossless (ALAC up to 24-bit/48 kHz) or High-Resolution Lossless (ALAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz (I picked the last one).
Mac mini is connected via a regular 10 dollars USB cable to a 24-bit/96 kHz DAC (GT40 Furutech) I purchased 10 years ago ($400 dollars) and then down to DK Design 360 Watts per channel hybrid amp driving 15" inches Tannoy Gold monitors. It sounds so good that I can’t work while it is playing as it takes all my attention away. I have been using 20 dollars a month Tidal HiFi subscription for years. It didn’t sound as good as Apple’s lossless on my system. Aside from a better quality it seems the selection of Lossless recordings on Apple is wider as it seems every album I click has that "lossless" icon indicating it is playing in high resolution. Lastly, as a side bonus, the Music app comes with Equalizer that I can play with when I want a bit juicier or beefier sound.
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