The Selection
Our choice fell on Google, Spotify, Napster, and WiMP. Google only launched its “Google Play Music All-Inclusive” service in Germany at the end of 2013, but as a true industry heavyweight and thanks to its close integration with Android-based devices, it’s always worth a look. The Swedish company Spotify is considered the originator of streaming. However, due to years of disputes over licensing fees, its German launch was delayed until March 2012. By that point, Spotify had already lost its early innovation advantage and was no longer unrivaled. Napster first gained media attention at the turn of the millennium as a large illegal music file-sharing platform. After a lawsuit against its operators for copyright infringement, Napster was shut down in its original form. Only the name remained. Today, it is a fully legal music streaming provider. The last service in this group has its origins in Norway and is only available in a small number of exclusively European countries. A look at sound quality reveals that WiMP is only seemingly the underdog in the group.
Sound Quality
WiMP is the only provider in our overview that offers a lossless streaming option with “WiMP HiFi” in its lineup. By using special formats (FLAC, ALAC), users can enjoy CD-quality music, even though a standard internet connection would normally struggle with files of this size. The competition exclusively uses lossy formats (MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis) with bit rates of up to 320 kbps or comparable values. Only Napster lags behind here with 192 kbps. These are always values that outline the range of what is possible. If you use the service on mobile devices, you are dependent on your mobile data connection and may have to settle for lower quality.
Supported Devices
Speaking of devices: The options here are varied. All services except WiMP can be used directly via the browser on your home computer, while Google only works via browser at home too. The other candidates offer downloadable software for Windows, as well as Mac OS. Spotify stands out here and even has a Linux version available. You are always on the safe side with iOS and Android for mobile use. Once again, Spotify leads the way with broad support, working without restriction on Windows Phone and BlackBerry OS systems as well. Napster and WiMP also support Windows Phone, although “WiMP HiFi” is not yet available there. According to the WiMP homepage, this is due to issues with the operating system. An implementation is planned as soon as Windows Phone receives a corresponding update.
In addition, a direct connection to modern multi-room audio systems is possible. Sonos solutions are compatible with all the providers featured here, while Bluesound, for example, can only access the WiMP and WiMP HiFi catalogs. Raumfeld — the multi-room system from Teufel — currently only supports Napster, Spotify and WiMP will follow at a later date.
The Music Catalog
When you decide on online streaming, in addition to compatibility and sound quality, the question arises about the available music catalog and whether your own musical tastes are appropriately represented. The verdict here is not clear-cut. The good news is that all services now have over 20 million tracks in their libraries. Anyone who mainly looks for current songs, well-known artists, and classics should be satisfied. If your music tastes are more exotic, the hit rate will generally drop as well. This is simply the nature of the situation: the offerings are tailored for a broad market and cannot and will not compete with a collection of records built up and curated over years. Incidentally, you will search in vain for some artists or songs across all providers, even though there is no shortage of demand. Time and again, record labels refuse to make their work, or at least parts of it, available for online streaming. These include Die Ärzte, Die Toten Hosen, the Beatles, and Radiohead, for example. Metallica also stood in the way for a time, but have since struck an exclusive deal with Spotify.
To help users not lose track of the vast selection, developers have come up with a number of features. In addition to search functions and the ability to create playlists, there are various ways to present tailored recommendations to users. These range from editorially curated suggestions and best-of lists featuring the most-streamed tracks across different genres, to reviews from well-known music magazines, and they will definitely help you make some new discoveries.
Cost
Another relevant factor when choosing a future streaming provider is certainly the price. Spotify sets itself apart from its competitors here. It is the only service that offers an ad-supported, otherwise free option — unfortunately, this is only available on desktop computers. Napster, Google, and WiMP offer a 30-day free trial period. Afterwards, the rates for desktop and mobile use are just under 10 euros for all providers. There are sometimes even cheaper basic plans, but these are only partially recommended due to the minimal savings and restrictions on use. The high-quality “WiMP HiFi” service costs just under 20 euros, and the trial period here is only 7 days.
Conclusion
It should be noted: When deciding for or against online streaming, you should set realistic expectations. This is a relatively new technology, and if you rely exclusively on streaming services, uninterrupted music enjoyment depends largely on a fast and stable internet connection. The provider libraries have now reached a considerable size, but still, not everyone will be completely satisfied. On the other hand, given the growing market importance of streaming and the advancing technological development, these shortcomings will likely become less significant over time. With the recently announced purchase of Beats Electronics and its associated streaming service “Beats Music,” which is not yet available in Germany, Apple is now trying to establish itself in the market. This is a clear sign that there is a lot of movement in the streaming market right now.
When it comes to sound quality, there is still room for improvement. Above all, the bandwidth of mobile and desktop internet connections remains a problem, but “WiMP HiFi” already shows where the industry is heading. Anyone who values truly high-resolution sound that far exceeds CD quality will not find what they are looking for in online streaming right now. Instead, corresponding download portals are a good option in this case. The purchased “Hi-Res” music files can then be streamed from a computer to a stereo system within your home, for example. For so-called “local” streaming, there is alsoan extensive article in our blog.
Additionally, we would be happy to advise you in detail!
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