Amazon Music

Kingrex said:
I dumped Tidal and kept Qobuz. I may dump Roon too and go with JRiver. Roon is a lot of money to allow me to listen to what I already own. I play Qobuz with their app.
I will probably try Amazon as I have Prime for my business.
I guess having a server such as mine is a benefit as I can play any source I want. I'm not limited by the manufacturer software. This may become a larger issue for Aurender, Lumin etc. If enough turn over in the market starts limiting their customers access to content, they will be forced to adapt or loose sales.
Click to expand...

I just dumped Qubuz, kept Tidal and signed up for Amazon since I'm a prime member. Never know.
 
jdandy said:
I'm not streaming from a laptop ever again. Owning the Aurender N10 and N100H music servers has completely spoiled me for better sound quality. When and if Amazon can be streamed through Aurender's Conductor app like Tidal and Qobuz, then and only then would I consider it. The price is enticing, especially for us Prime members. Perhaps that will pressure Tidal and Qobuz to reduce their monthly subscription fees for their premium tiers, although my guess is that will be unlikely.

I log many more hours listening to my own personal music library than to Tidal. Sure, there's interesting music to discover from streaming services, unfortunately there's far more crap masquerading as music that I don't have time or desire to wade through. Streaming is okay, but it isn't my primary access to music content. Even though Tidal lured me back with the 3 months for $9.99 deal, I am now back to paying $19.99 and once again considering canceling the service. Access to their library is one thing, but actually using it is another.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. I use Aurender as well and once they offer seamless integration i will check it out.
 
I joined the Amazon HD Streaming tonight (already a Prime member), and am enjoying what I am hearing over my workstation PC with Bose computer speakers. My music listening to date has been limited to ripped CDs to .flac and bluray. I have never streamed internet files to my better audio equipment. I have 3 HTPC's (Assassin and Steiger Dynamic Maven) and 2 music servers (PS Audio and Mojo Audio), using jRiver Media Center with various DACs. So, now I am wondering how to get started with streaming.......gotta admit I am in the stone age for streaming music. If nothing else, I will use Amazon HD to screen music to see what I want to buy and rip.
 
If a person is getting started on streaming, for $250 plus an Amazon Music subscription one can get high def streaming that is voice controlled.

Here is the cost breakdown:
-Amazon Link ($200)
-Amazon Echo Dot ($50), and
-Amazon music HD ($12.99/mo. for prime members).

You use the Amazon Echo Dot for voice commands; the Echo Dot communicates with the Echo Link wirelessly; and the Echo Link connects to your DAC digitally (toslink). All of the sudden you got your own DAC playing high resolution files on command. And yes, you can use a tablet to control it as well.

In fact the Echo Link has its own DAC so one could actually connect the Echo Link directly to your amp.

Cheaper than Sonos and higher resolution as well. And... if one does not need to connect multiple locations or a state-of-the-art music database (like Roon), then this can be a killer solution for many folks.
 
You all realize an Aurender is no different than a Lumin, Innuos, Mojo. They are all a computers with special hardware and software. I believe "popular" servers of the future will have to adapt to new services. Really, it's just a tech updating software to run Amazon, Primephonic, Spotify. What ever you want. Maybe Aurender and others are letting you down to some degree by not providing software more open to more service choices. If Amazon takes off and Tidal fails, they will have to do something.
FYI, my system, My Mojo Audio Server is loaded with windows and I can add what services I want. Mojo Audio ultimately wants to only provide linux like others which limits choices unleas they too write the software to administer other applications. Everyone like Linux "from what I hear" as its locked, avoiding the annoying forced Windows updates causing software developers to constantly update their application systems to work in the new windows architecture. It's expensive and bothersome to the end consumer.
 
As in this situation Amazon is the “big fish” and Audirvana, Roon, Conversdigital, Lumin Aurender, Auralic and others are the “little fish” the questions of if and when on integration are in Amazon’s court. At this point the companies whose products were Day 1 compatible are parts of large conglomerates no “little guys” on that list and may not be for some time.
 
Jack said:
As in this situation Amazon is the “big fish” and Audirvana, Roon, Conversdigital, Lumin Aurender, Auralic and others are the “little fish” the questions of if and when on integration are in Amazon’s court. At this point the companies whose products were Day 1 compatible are parts of large conglomerates no “little guys” on that list and may not be for some time.
Click to expand...

I don't see integration in Amazons court. I can run it on my server. My understanding is its only a matter of a technician writing some code to allow Amazon to drop the Application onto your computer. Maybe Amazon is dropping spyware that could cause problems unless the tech accounts for it. Maybe it becomes an ethical question of whether the maker of the server wants to allow Amazons application to access the rest of your network through their product and ship your files, images etc to Amazon.
 
Your missing the point, it's always been available to Windows and Mac OS machines it's the streamer companies and "add on" software players.
 
I'm also using Qobuz. My 12-month Studio subscription expires 2/20. I'm trying Amazon HD and so far I like it. Given what I've experienced so far I don't see any compelling reason to stay with Qobuz. I don't know that it sounds any better than Amazon. Most of what I've searched for so far in Amazon HD is available. I'd like to be able to move my favorites and playlists from Qobuz to Amazon, but don't see a way to do that. Soundiiz doesn't support Amazon HD. Maybe that will change at some point.
 
garyalex said:
I'm also using Qobuz. My 12-month Studio subscription expires 2/20. I'm trying Amazon HD and so far I like it. Given what I've experienced so far I don't see any compelling reason to stay with Qobuz. I don't know that it sounds any better than Amazon. Most of what I've searched for so far in Amazon HD is available. I'd like to be able to move my favorites and playlists from Qobuz to Amazon, but don't see a way to do that. Soundiiz doesn't support Amazon HD. Maybe that will change at some point.
Click to expand...

Soundiiz does work with Amazon Unlimited. Maybe you do that as a first step and then use Amazon to convert from Ultimate to HD.
 
Amazon from the shear nature of it presence doesn’t do it for me for high-end audio. It’s target will be all of the non audiophiles, a very large market I am sure that benefit from the other Alexia.

For streaming, I’m staying the course with Qobuz and believe I will drop Tidal.

The Aurender was one of the best things I did as it’s a purpose built streamer and a server, and functions accordingly.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Had a nice long listen last night, all good so far. SQ is fine as expected. Interface is pretty good, had no problems finding what I was looking for. Really like the classical "Station" that I was listening to also. Keeper for me.
 
What I find really interesting about Amazon’s new Hi-Def streaming service is that they have deliberately chosen NOT to partner with MQA for its HD tier – as TIDAL has done for its so called “Masters” range.


Amazon Music HD catalog is in the lossless FLAC file format, instead of the MQA format that Tidal uses.


Beyond the obvious challenge to TIDAL (Amazon's service is cheaper) one wonders whether this is another nail in MQA’s coffin?
 
kiwi_1282001 said:
What I find really interesting about Amazon’s new Hi-Def streaming service is that they have deliberately chosen NOT to partner with MQA for its HD tier – as TIDAL has done for its so called “Masters” range.


Amazon Music HD catalog is in the lossless FLAC file format, instead of the MQA format that Tidal uses.


Beyond the obvious challenge to TIDAL (Google's service is cheaper) one wonders whether this is another nail in MQA’s coffin?
Click to expand...

You consider Google’s service a direct competitor to Tidal?
 
I think Amazon Music HD with its massive library and reasonably priced subscriptions will not only entice the masses – it will also (in time and as Ultra HD & industry relationships expand) steal audiophiles away from Tidal.
 
kiwi_1282001 said:
I think Amazon Music HD with its massive library and reasonably priced subscriptions will not only entice the masses – it will also (in time and as Ultra HD & industry relationships expand) steal audiophiles away from Tidal.
Click to expand...

I had taken your “another nail in the coffin” comment as meaning that Google was the first nail in MQA’s coffin.
 
Unfortunately, the new Amazon service uses a proprietary (closed) API, so no plug-in for those of us still using Squeezebox streamers or the open source Logitech Music Server software. Guess I'll stick with Tidal (will try Qobuz too) for now. Given Amazon's investment into their streaming infrastructure, I'm sure there will be MANY "Amazon HD Music compatible" receivers and (mid-fi) streamers forthcoming. Will be interesting to see if any higher end manufacturers "pony up" the licensing fee.
 
sleepysurf said:
Unfortunately, the new Amazon service uses a proprietary (closed) API, so no plug-in for those of us still using Squeezebox streamers or the open source Logitech Music Server software. Guess I'll stick with Tidal (will try Qobuz too) for now. Given Amazon's investment into their streaming infrastructure, I'm sure there will be MANY "Amazon HD Music compatible" receivers and (mid-fi) streamers forthcoming. Will be interesting to see if any higher end manufacturers "pony up" the licensing fee.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the information on Amazon's closed API.

Your thought about creating Amazon HD Music compatible devices is an interesting one. Here is a related thought: What about if Amazon buys Roon and in one move all Roon EndPoints become Amazon HD compatible devices? If that happens, it is likely that many if not most of Roon users who currently subscribe to Tidal or Qobuz would jump ship to AHD ( I would be one of them).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top