Guide
Qobuz: 5 ways to improve your audio streaming experience
by Florian Bodoky
Which streaming service is right for you?
20.6.2025
With millions of songs, dozens of podcasts and countless audio books, audio streaming services are as much a part of everyday life as phone contracts. The question is, which one should you use? I took a look at the six most popular services and compared them to find out.
Audio streaming is the most common way to listen to music these days. Each streaming service has its advantages and drawbacks. They differ not only in their song selection, but also in aspects such as audio quality, available additional content and fairness towards artists.
Choosing the right audio service is totally different to series and film streaming, for example. When it comes to audio, you usually only have one service, not several. And there’s very, very little exclusive content, which is usually the dealbreaker when choosing between Netflix, Disney+ and the like. So, which service should you opt for? I’ve carried out a comprehensive comparison of the main services so you don’t have to.
Which services am I testing and how am I comparing them?
Disclaimer: it’s impossible to avoid a certain amount of subjectivity and individuality with non-quantifiable criteria, such as the interface or importance of quality. So, do take this into account. Ultimately, this guide isn’t the be-all and end-all. Its aim is to give you criteria to consider when making your choice.
Music selection
Additional content: podcasts, audiobooks, stuff for kids
I don’t just listen to music. What also makes a service valuable for me are good podcasts, audiobooks, audio plays and content for children. I like being able to find everything in one place without needing to take any detours.
Sound quality
When I listen to music with high-quality headphones or speakers, I want the best sound. MP3 doesn’t cut it. I check to see if the service offers lossless formats such as FLAC or hi-res. This is the only way I can really enjoy music to its full depth. But for podcasts and audiobooks, it’s not so important.
App and functions
A good app makes all the difference. I want to be able to find music quickly, create playlists easily, get recommendations and, if possible, upload my own music. It’s also important to bear in mind that I often stream on speakers or in the car, so it has to run smoothly.
Artist remuneration
I want the artists I listen to be paid fairly. That’s why I find out how much goes to them per stream – and whether the service uses a transparent model. Making music should be worthwhile for artists, not just the platform.
I’ll be comparing the services in the same order as I published my streaming tips ).
Spotify – the industry king
Spotify is the top dog in the streaming market with its huge music catalogue, excellent personalisation and strong podcast presence. The app is well thought-out, fast and has its own social media profiles. However, Spotify has weaknesses when it comes to music quality and artist remuneration.
Music selection
Additional content
App and functions
The Spotify app is clear and easy to use. You’ll find functions such as your Discover Weekly playlist, the lyrics display or Spotify Connect, which you can use to play music on different devices. An AI-supported DJ mode is also available. All in all, you get a stable, well thought-out user experience.
Hi-res availability
Spotify doesn’t currently offer lossless audio quality. You can listen at up to 320 kbit/s in Ogg Vorbis format. For many people this may be enough for day-to-day listening, but it’s annoying that Spotify doesn’t offer a lossless format. Especially since the introduction of a hi-fi option has been announced several times but hasn’t yet been implemented.
Remuneration
Apple Music – for Apple users
Apple Music combines high-quality sound with exclusive releases and strong device integration in the Apple universe. It’s aimed at discerning iOS users. The app has a lot to offer, but it’s overloaded in places and is less attractive for Android users.
Music selection
Apple Music also offers over 100 million tracks. In addition to well-known international releases, you’ll discover exclusive content, especially from major artists. The editorially maintained playlists focus less on algorithms and more on targeted recommendations from various genres, including classical, jazz and alternative music. You can connect your old iTunes library to the streaming service and integrate your own music.
Additional content
App and functions
Hi-res availability
Remuneration
YouTube Music – for fans of community content
Music selection
The music library isn’t clearly delineated and instead is fed by everything that’s been uploaded to YouTube. This allows you to find rare recordings and special versions. As a result, you may need to spend more time to find exactly what you’re looking for. The platform doesn’t always distinguish between official and unofficial material.
Additional content
App and functions
The app allows you to switch between video and audio view. Recommendations work well, especially through Google’s search technology. You can save playbacks, create playlists and listen to content offline. However, there’s no differentiated music management.
Hi-res availability
Remuneration
Payment to artists on YouTube Music is very low compared to other services. A lot of content is ad-financed, which has a negative impact on per-stream remuneration. The platform prioritises reach and algorithmic success through targeted support. Artists with viral hits benefit, while smaller acts only generate low revenues despite high views.
Deezer
Music selection
Additional content
Deezer offers a solid selection of podcasts, audio plays, children’s content and audiobooks. The material is well structured, clearly categorised and well sorted. Although there’s a lack of major exclusive content, the range is more than sufficient for daily requirements. Deezer is particularly appealing for families thanks to its kids’ section and easy navigation.
App and functions
The app is functional and, with the Flow feature, offers a mix of familiar and new songs to suit your taste. You can upload your own music files, which gives you additional flexibility. The app runs stably on many devices, from smartphones to smart speakers. Its user interface, meanwhile, is pleasantly minimalist.
Hi-res availability
Via its hi-fi subscription, Deezer offers music in FLAC with 16 bit and 44.1 kHz, i.e. lossless CD quality. This is a clear advantage over MP3 streaming and ensures clean sound on good speakers or headphones. Deezer doesn’t currently provide true hi-res playback beyond CD quality. Nevertheless, it offers a good balance of quality, range and usability.
Remuneration
Deezer is actively working on a user-centred payment model where artists are only paid when a user actually listens to them. This should be particularly beneficial to independent artists. The model is being tested right now in several countries. Compared to Spotify and YouTube, Deezer is in a much fairer position thanks to this approach, even though it’s not yet implemented this practice globally.
Qobuz
Qobuz is the home for audiophiles and lovers of classical music and jazz. With hi-res streaming, booklets and detailed metadata, the service delivers a high-quality listening experience. While it provides very little in the way of mainstream tracks and no podcasts, it hones in on pure music at a high quality level.
Music selection
Qobuz focuses on classical music, jazz, world music and sophisticated pop and rock productions. You’ll find fewer mass-market tracks, but the app makes up for it with high sound quality titles and extensive metadata. A lot of albums come with digital booklets, additional information or artist features. If you want to experience music more intensively, Qobuz offers an alternative to the mainstream.
Additional content
Qobuz doesn’t offer podcasts, audiobooks or dedicated children’s content. Instead, the platform focuses entirely on music and provides editorially prepared material such as artist portraits, music histories, reviews and album critiques. The editorial content is knowledgeable and aimed at a music-savvy audience that’s interested in more than just listening. However, Qobuz isn’t the service for you if you’re looking for additional format.
App and functions
The app is simple but focused on functionality. You get access to album booklets, you can save your music offline and choose between different audio qualities. There’s no social component, nor is it possible to manage your own uploads. But what it lacks in that regard it makes up for with in-depth information on songs, composers and producers, which is particularly helpful for classical music lovers.
Hi-res availability
Qobuz is one of the few platforms to offer genuine hi-res audio without proprietary formats. You can stream music at up to 24 bit/192 kHz, while FLAC is standard. Many albums are available in various quality levels. If you use high resolution headphones or speakers, you’ll clearly hear the difference.
Remuneration
Qobuz pays comparatively fair licence fees, especially to independent labels. This service isn’t owned by a tech group and pursues a more sustainable business model. There’s no user-based payment procedure, but transparency and long-term cooperation with rights holders at the forefront.
Tidal
Tidal is clearly aimed at audio enthusiasts. With FLAC and a focus on artist remuneration, the service sets itself apart from others. Meanwhile, its app is comprehensive but sophisticated. This makes it perfect for listeners with high sound standards and an interest in urban music.
Music selection
Tidal offers around 90 million songs with particular emphasis on urban, hip-hop, R&B, soul and jazz. A lot of artists, especially those from the US, regularly publish exclusive content here. Live recordings, remixes and master versions are also available for discerning listeners. The depth of its catalogue is also impressive, with classic and independent artists, although Tidal doesn’t have the same breadth in international pop as Spotify or Apple Music.
Additional content
Tidal offers editorial content such as interviews, essays and recommendations on cultural topics. However, podcasts and children’s content are largely absent. If you see music as a cultural product and like to delve deeper, this is a great place for discovering material that goes beyond just listening.
App and functions
The app seems comprehensive, providing lyrics, producer information and credits for each track. You can use equalisers, save offline playlists or stream via multi-room systems. The interface is somewhat denser but is clearly aimed at users who want to engage intensively with music.
Hi-res availability
Tidal offers two sound levels: standard quality (AAC) and high-fidelity (FLAC, hi-res FLAC). The latter reach up to 24 bit/192 kHz and are aimed at audiophiles with the appropriate equipment. For a lot of users, the FLAC level alone should already be a clear advantage over AAC. This makes Tidal one of the most audiophile-friendly providers on the market.
Remuneration
Tidal was an early advocate of fairer payment for artists. With the so-called fan-based model, a larger share of its subscription revenue goes directly to the artists that a user actually listens to. Via the HiFi Plus model, artists also receive additional amounts if they’re amongst a subscriber’s most listened-to musicians. This clearly positions Tidal as artist-friendly and going beyond the standard market pro rata model.
How do I calculate the scores?
I’ve created a ranking for each category. The most appealing service in each receives ten points. Eight points go to the runner-up, six to the third, four to fourth, two to fifth and one point to the last-placed. I then multiply the points by the weighting factor and add up the results of all categories. The scores are in:
If a category is less important to you, you can select it in the key. It’s then deactivated and the ranking is automatically recalculated without this criterion.
Verdict: Apple Music is the best all-rounder but won’t satisfy all tastes
The ranking shows clear differences in the focus and overall quality of the streaming services. In my opinion, Apple Music* takes the top spot thanks to its high sound quality, fair remuneration and large selection of music, It’s a better-paying Spotify for users in the Apple ecosystem, so to speak. That being said, if you like particularly niche music or are a podcast junkie, it’s probably not quite the right thing for you.
Spotify comes right behind with a solid app experience, large selection and unbeatable podcast presence. However, it loses points due to weak sound quality and artist remuneration. You can’t go far wrong with Spotify, unless you really want a hi-res subscription.
Deezer offers a solid overall package with fair remuneration and good functions. It has a particularly cool feature that lets you choose a country and then get specific priority recommendations from local (or at least national) artists. This is also helpful for the indie scene in smaller countries – and for their fans.
Tidal wins over audio enthusiasts with hi-res quality and an artist-friendly remuneration model but loses out due to its limited variety of content. This is for you if you’re looking explicitly and (almost) exclusively for music and are interested in background information on artists. It’s certainly not an all-rounder.
Qobuz has positioned itself as a niche service for sound purists and classical music lovers alike. No other service offers as much editorial content as Qobuz. From portraits to music analyses, interviews with artists and information about booklets and their artwork – this is the place for classical and jazz nerds.
YouTube Music benefits from variety and video access but suffers due to low audio quality and weak curation. That being said, the community is larger than with any other service – and for four francs more, you also get the streaming service in a bundle with YouTube Premium, meaning you can consume all YouTube content without advertising.
Overall, it’s clear that no service is perfect, but there are clear recommendations depending on the type of user you are.
Header image: Shutterstock
I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.
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