“Apple Music Classical”

[richardfinegold]

I tried it a bit this AM. First I tried the App on my Android phone, but it wouldn’t load. I then loaded the Apple Classical app on my IPad. Then I used my iPad to hunt for recordings of the Barber Piano Concerto. My streamer has both Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay. The iPad apparently won’t allow Chromecast, whereas my Android phone doesn’t do AirPlay. So I played a Naxos recording of the Barber via AirPlay with the iPad.
I then used the regular Apple Music app on the Android, typed in the same search data, and voila…got the same list of Barber Piano Concerto recordings , but this time was able to play it with Chromecast, was sounds much better than AirPlay.
Early days, but so far I think I will stay with the regular Apple search engine on the Android

[Sir Velo]

Early days, but so far I think I will stay with the regular Apple search engine on the Android

I think I'm unlikely to be swayed from my allegiance to Qobuz (with occasional forays to Spotify) but how would you compare the sound quality between AM and the other streaming services?

[richardfinegold]

I think I'm unlikely to be swayed from my allegiance to Qobuz (with occasional forays to Spotify) but how would you compare the sound quality between AM and the other streaming services?

I am most familiar with Qobuz and Spotify. Spotify is compressed so not part of the discussion. I used Qobuz for several years but changed to AM for reasons unrelated to sound quality. Qobuz sounds a tick better than AM. AM has put a lot into Spatial Audio, which for me is a non consideration but others may find important. A significant sonic consideration is the playback medium. Qobuz can be played directly from many streamers, without having to “beam” it from a mobile device. AFAIK, AM can be directly played from a computer, but not from a dedicated streamer. As I indicated previously, if “beaming” from a mobile device, Chromecast is far superior to AirPlay, which in turn is a slight improvement over Bluetooth (I haven’t heard the latest Bluetooth codec, so I may be out of date here). And one shouldn’t assume that AM will shortly be available to play directly over a streamer, as Apple is notoriously unwilling to work with other companies. So to reiterate, the mode of playback equipment is a significant determinant of what service will sound the best

[Nick Armstrong]

I think I'm unlikely to be swayed from my allegiance to Qobuz

I certainly haven’t been…

[Sir Velo]

I am most familiar with Qobuz and Spotify. Spotify is compressed so not part of the discussion.

Indeed. I should have added that Spotify's UI is streets ahead of Qobuz on Android/iOS and therefore gets the nod chez nous when sound quality isn't paramount - eg listening in the kitchen etc. For serious listening, the two are worlds apart.

[richardfinegold]

Indeed. I should have added that Spotify's UI is streets ahead of Qobuz on Android/iOS and therefore gets the nod chez nous when sound quality isn't paramount - eg listening in the kitchen etc. For serious listening, the two are worlds apart.

Spotify and other compressed services can sound pretty good in the car, with headphones, on a Bluetooth speaker, and such. However when run through the main system that most of us likely have, compressed sources will sound weak and anemic.
I had a thought after I wrote the previous post that if Apple offers to stream with a wired connection it will probably be through an enhanced version of the current Apple TV. That will have the virtue from Apples perspective of making every current ATV obsolete and getting people to purchase new ones

[Sir Velo]

That will have the virtue from Apples perspective of making every current ATV obsolete and getting people to purchase new ones

Remember when we used to hear about "futureproofing"? Wonder how they will "greenwash" this?

[richardfinegold]

Remember when we used to hear about "futureproofing"? Wonder how they will "greenwash" this?

I was unfamiliar with “greenwashing “ and had to look it up, but had intuited the meaning. Apple has been doing this for years. How many dead iPods are out there? Not to mention that a “wired” life depends upon unlimited availability to fossil fuels. It’s hard to rack up a couple hundred billion in yearly sales without leaving an environmental footprint , and the holier than thou excuses to justify that footprint