Is everyone here referring to the Spotify Premium service that costs like $10 per month, or the (free?) Mp3 quality service?
I've never tried their cheap/free service, but use Spotify Premium through Sonos into a DIY DAC and find it totally acceptable. I once tried Tidal, and A-B'd the same set of demo tracks on both sources through the Sonos. Frankly on most songs I could not tell any difference between the two.
I've run across threads like this where "Spotify" is nearly unanimously regarded as unacceptable for serious listening or highly resolving systems, so for me something doesn't add up. What am I missing?
I love the Spotify interface, large catalog and the quality of their catalog.
If Spotify Premium (maximum streaming bit-rate they offer) sounds as good as Tidal to your ears, on your system, I think that's great. I wish I got the same results so I could just use Spotify and be done with everything else.
Unfortunately, I did not get the same results.
I've compared Tidal, Deezer, Spotify, Napster, Google Play Music, Amazon Prime Music, Pandora and Tune-In Radio.
Sources were Sonos Connect, MacBook (using Chrome) and Ubuntu Studio 18.04 Linux on an IBM/Lenovo Laptop.
DACs were ConceroHD and Schiit Modi Uber.
IIRC, I had my prototype Quicksilver Dual Mono Line Stage preamp, CazTech SET845 amps andKlipsch LaScalas hooked up at the time.
On this system, in my room, to my ears, Tidal and Deezer sounded the best of the group by a very noticeable margin.
Spotify and Napster were the "2nd Tier" - OK on a plane or in an emergency.
Tune In Radio sounds OK to stream our local 24 hr/day University Classical and Jazz broadcast radio station.
The others? Meh.....
I think that some of our intrepid and brave Havenites use Spotify, upsample to DSD and get pretty good results. Not sure if that and Tidal might be closer in that case?
In any event, just my opinion.