24,99€ 24bit flac with Qobuz. Should Deezer buy Qobuz? No - their collection is a mess. Lots of merged artists which they do nothing about. They are one of the only 24bit flax streaming services though. Deezer, if you add 24bit 192kHz streaming, I will drop Qobuz and sign up to Deezer faster than you can say Dee. All albums are streamed either in lossless CD-quality or hi-res (variable from 24-bit/44.1 kHz up to 192 kHz). And if you like the idea of owning music files, Qobuz also offers its high-end Sublime+ plan, which throws in a discount on hi-res downloads to keep. It handles any digital content up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 via its USB Audio Class 2.0 input, or up to 24-bit/192kHz via S/PDIF. And there's Chromecast compatibility for streaming services such as Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz, adding to the already included Spotify Connect, AirPlay and internet radio. By any measure, that's an impressive feature.

In a recent press release, Qobuz protested against the incorrect use of the term “High-Resolution” by online music service Deezer to describe their recently-launched “Elite” subscription package – an error which was not picked up on by the majority of the press.

To promote their new « Elite » product, Deezer used the term on their site and in their press release in a way which was incorrect in relation to the sound quality their new service offers.

I’d really appreciate an explanation as to why you believe Deezer Hi-Fi couldn’t work over AirPlay while Tidal, Amazon HD & Qobuz all categorically state that 16 bit CD quality FLAC music up to 48khz (note not 24 bit ‘Hi Res’ material, though I think that’s pretty niche) will. Note also this has nothing to do with AirPlay 2. I think it must be that the Deezer app does not use the DAC drivers I have installed on Windows because the Deezer FLAC stream is at 44.1KHz in 16bit, there is no higher sample rate or resolution available. Yes, I saw that and I wondered why the DACs are showing 48 KHz. It feels like the Deezer app is bypassing my DAC drivers.

This is distorting the market, where others are making a concerted effort to not misrepresent what is in fact being offered to users.

With Deezer, since 2008 Qobuz has challenged a thousand times such inaccuracies, and has questioned their partnership with Orange which has destabilised the free competition in the French online streaming market and directly inhibited the full potential development of Qobuz. Untruthful posturing has been all-too-common at Deezer, who have been communicating false information regarding High Resolution.

The new Deezer subscription is available in “CD” quality – that is, 16-bit/44.1kHz. It is not comparable with Qobuz’s service, as it is currently only available on Sonos systems and not, for example, on mobile apps.

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More frustratingly, Deezer abuses terms such as “sound in very high resolution” and “sound in very high quality”.

British magazine What Hifi pointed out this error straight away a few weeks ago:

“Deezer persists in referring to its Elite service as “high definition audio” when in fact – as we have repeatedly pointed out – it is streaming at 16-bit/44.1kHz, the same resolution as CD. That means its streaming service is using the same audio quality as rivals such as Qobuz and Tidal.”

These terms mislead both consumers and journalists, at a time when the industry is striving to establish clear and simple terms which can allow music fans to be properly informed in their purchases.

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What is High-Resolution Audio?

What exactly constitutes “High Resolution Audio”, or “Hi-Res Audio”, has been established by an agreement between prestigious partners in the industry, including a number of manufacturers and the three major record labels.

The terms and their precise definitions can be found on the official site of the Consumer Electronics Association in a release published 6th June 2014 : :

Read more about the CEA here :

“Lossless audio that is capable of reproducing the full range of sound from recordings that have been mastered from better-than-CD quality music sources.”

Hi-Res audio includes files encoded in 24-Bit and not 16-Bit, which is what Deezer is offering.

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Hence it is clear that Deezer’s product does not correspond with the defined critera; they are instead offering CD quality, at 16-bit/44.1kHz.

We formally asked Deezer to take out and refrain from using these incorrect terms in their adverts and press releases.

The sound quality on offer with Deezer’s product is nothing new or innovative, as Qobuz users will know. Streaming in 16-bit/44.1kHz – or CD quality – has been available on Qobuz for the past two years (the first such offer in the world). Furthermore it has not just been available on Sonos systems, as it can be accessed via all of the Qobuz apps (iOS, Android, Windows 8, Desktop, and soon Windows Phone) and on any device you so choose.

Also:

Since April 2015 Qobuz has offered a new, innovative opportunity to our users: to stream not just in CD-quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) but also in real Hi-Res Audio – a world first.

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We have denounced the most recent press release from Deezer which has claimed MP3 versions of recordings by Maria Callas, recently remastered in Hi-Res, to be High Resolution.

We remind you that offering users a Hi-Res recording in MP3 quality, obviously, is just offering subscribers an MP3.

Regarding the recent re-editions of Led Zeppelin, specifically mentioned in Deezer’s press release, not only have they been available to stream in CD-quality for quite some time on Qobuz, but they are also available in real 24-bit Hi-Res downloads and, as of April 2015, in Hi-Res streaming.

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Hi-Res audio today is a clearly-defined concept. These inaccurate representations of audio quality must stop.

Deezer 24 Bits

This nonsense surrounding Hi-Res must stop, after 15 years of MP3 promoted by brands such as Deezer, who have not hesitated to state on their own site that MP3 128 is “similar to a CD”.

To those who would argue that these are minor issues: these lies have only served to help Deezer since 2008. It is time for it all to stop, and for brands to stop presuming their customers are gullible enough to believe them unchallenged.

Part 2. Deezer vs Tidal: Subscription Service

Deezer brings on board 4 pricing tiers among which contain 1 free tier. The Deezer Premium+ charges about $9.99 per month. Even though these options limit sound quality to 320kbps, there are no annoying ads during the streaming session. There is also the option of Deezer Family, at a monthly fee of about $15. This choice covers up to 6 profiles while letting you enjoy limited mobile app use.

A list of Deezer subscription plans:

Deezer Free: $0.00/month

Deezer HiFi: $14.99/month

Deezer Premium: $9.99/month

Deezer Family: $14.99/month

Note: With free Deezer subscription, you can only listen to Deezer songs and playlists online. If you'd like to play them offline, you'd better download Deezer music offline with a professional Deezer music downloading tool.

Tidal knows how to lock in its subscribers, a move that is evident from its 50% discount for students who make monthly payments. All you need is a valid university email account for you to enjoy these huge benefits. Even with such discounts, Tidal has no free tier except a 7-day trial. But, its premium includes 'high quality' at 320kbps. The possibility of gaining access to lossless content is also present with the Tidal Hi-Fi tier at a cost of $19.99 per month.

Note: It is important to know for everyone, especially for those who are new to Tidal, that Tidal provides no free plan. Without subscription, you can't even listen to it online.

A list of all types of plans from Tidal:

Tidal Premim Standard: $9.99/month

Tidal Premim Family:$14.99/month

Tidal Premim Student: $4.99/month

Tidal Premim Military: $5.99/month

Tidal Premim First Responder: $5.99/month

Tidal HiFi Standard: $19.99/month

Tidal HiFi Family: $29.99/month

Tidal HiFi Student: $9.99/month

Tidal HiFi Military: $11.99/month

Deezer Elite 24 Bit

Tidal HiFi First Responder: $11.99/month