Apple Music or Spotify?

awesoM · 10-20-2022, 11:38 PM

I have enjoyed using Spotify for years, and when BMW put it on an App in Idrive it made me ecstatic. I have always held out despite other platforms going high res or lossless and Spotify remained unchanged. Recently I signed up for a free trial with Apple and have all my music as lossless or high res. Personally I hear a difference. I wanted to see what other folks are experiencing. I have never been a fan of CarPlay and prefer the idrive system which is why I have stuck with Spotify for all this time. But with the better sound maybe it is worth the switch?

Sh0xT3R · 10-21-2022, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awesoM

I have enjoyed using Spotify for years, and when BMW put it on an App in Idrive it made me ecstatic. I have always held out despite other platforms going high res or lossless and Spotify remained unchanged. Recently I signed up for a free trial with Apple and have all my music as lossless or high res. Personally I hear a difference. I wanted to see what other folks are experiencing. I have never been a fan of CarPlay and prefer the idrive system which is why I have stuck with Spotify for all this time. But with the better sound maybe it is worth the switch?

I enjoyed Tidal quite a bit as their audio quality is wonderful too. I'm on Spotify currently for similar reasona. Not sure how it compares to AM though.

Al Pinã · 10-21-2022, 07:18 AM

For what it's worth your car will also play FLAC files via the usb port. I have a 256gb flash drive I use that holds most of my music collection.

toddwalton · 10-21-2022, 08:15 AM

Same here, and if you're in the Apple ecosystem already with multiple devices and use Carplay regularly, Apple Music is the better choice. Just saying "Hey Siri play the new Taylor Swift album" is so much easier than the click-click-clicking of Spotify when you're concentrating on the road.

What's really exciting is that Apple is working with car makers to incorporate Spatial Audio, and in a couple of years that's going to be a real gamechanger.

awesoM · 10-21-2022, 08:23 AM

So everyone is seeing a difference with hires audio whether Apple or Tidal streaming via Bluetooth?

ntailor · 10-21-2022, 08:53 AM

Spotify user currently. We'll be switching over to Apple Music due to higher audio quality. It should match well with the BW audio in the car.

guywithcat · 10-21-2022, 10:00 AM

We have spotify and frankly, the interface in the X7 (2023) is pretty slow and clunky. It's actually easier and faster to set my phone as the audio source and then use spotify on my phone. After reading all the comments here, i want to look into apple music.

Gdwheel · 10-21-2022, 03:48 PM

I have used both. I prefer the sound of Spotify. Spotify allows you to "normalize" the sound of the music without degrading it (as far as I can tell). That way the songs are all the same volume. I hate how my songs on Apple Music are different volumes. Using Sound Check in AM does not sound as good, again to me.

There is a lot of literature out there addressing the technical qualities of music streamed over bluetooth. Music streaming over bluetooth does not really have the ability to provide lossless or the higher quality audio formats. So they are all going to be pretty comparable from a sound quality standpoint.

gsobol · 10-21-2022, 03:52 PM

Doesn't CarPlay stream via WiFI? Wouldn't that alleviate bandwidth issues related to BT?

Unless we are talking about the App built into iDrive.....

Gdwheel · 10-21-2022, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsobol

Doesn't CarPlay stream via WiFI? Wouldn't that alleviate bandwidth issues related to BT?

Unless we are talking about the App built into iDrive.....

I was just talking about bluetooth streaming of the two. I do not use CarPlay because I hate that it prevents my Apple Watch from getting notifications.

gsobol · 10-21-2022, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gdwheel

I was just talking about bluetooth streaming of the two. I do not use CarPlay because I hate that it prevents my Apple Watch from getting notifications.

Yeah, in that case, I don't know how you can tell the difference in sound quality as the limiting factor is going to be BT. Also, GIGO applies here (Garbage In Garbage Out) - how good is the source material before it gets transmitted via BT?

awesoM · 10-21-2022, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsobol

Doesn't CarPlay stream via WiFI? Wouldn't that alleviate bandwidth issues related to BT?

Unless we are talking about the App built into iDrive.....

I had no idea it goes via wifi, that could explain why I hear a difference in the audio quality.

Gdwheel · 10-21-2022, 04:07 PM

Here is a thread discussing some of these issues. I am not sure what to conclude. https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1748129

vegam · 10-22-2022, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gdwheel

I was just talking about bluetooth streaming of the two. I do not use CarPlay because I hate that it prevents my Apple Watch from getting notifications.

Can't you simply turn change the focus setting on your watch from "driving" to "personal" or something similar? Haven't tested this yet in X7 but used to work in my Macan

MystroX5 · 10-22-2022, 05:47 AM

I use both. I tend to use Spotify more as the onboard app is very convenient.

awesoM · 10-22-2022, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MystroX5

I use both. I tend to use Spotify more as the onboard app is very convenient.

Yeah, I have always done that too. With Hi Res on Apple, it has made me reconsider. I may resort to good enough for the convenience.

MystroX5 · 10-23-2022, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awesoM

Yeah, I have always done that too. With Hi Res on Apple, it has made me reconsider. I may resort to good enough for the convenience.

It’s not like Spotify is crappy compressed XM radio. It’s very good. Similarly, I still watch a DVD that is 1080p instead of only watching 4K content on the RES.

Trey10325 · 10-23-2022, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MystroX5

It’s not like Spotify is crappy compressed XM radio. It’s very good. Similarly, I still watch a DVD that is 1080p instead of only watching 4K content on the RES.

Yep, I don't know how people can even listen to music on XM. The quality is just terrible. I do like XM for talk/news, though.

gsobol · 10-23-2022, 07:19 PM

A thing to consider if you are using CarPlay and Spotify. Check your settings in Spotify on your phone. Click a little gear icon and go to Audio Quality. By default audio quality is set to normal for WiFi and Cell streaming, set it to Very High. It does make a bit of a difference.

awesoM · 10-23-2022, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsobol

A thing to consider if you are using CarPlay and Spotify. Check your settings in Spotify on your phone. Click a little gear icon and go to Audio Quality. By default audio quality is set to normal for WiFi and Cell streaming, set it to Very High. It does make a bit of a difference.

I would not use Spotify on my phone but the app in the car.

Gdwheel · 10-24-2022, 08:18 AM

What is the file quality of the BMW Spotify app in the car? Can it bet set to higher quality? I am still not sure how it actually works.

toddwalton · 10-24-2022, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awesoM

So everyone is seeing a difference with hires audio whether Apple or Tidal streaming via Bluetooth?

No one will be able to hear the difference between Apple Music (on high quality setting) and Apple Music Lossless in a moving vehicle with all that wind and road noise. People with great headphones or speakers in a completely quiet room are hard-pressed to hear the changes.

What does make a difference is choosing Apple Music over Spotify (better bandwidth) and Apple Music Spatial Audio (in a few years when Atmos systems are made available).

So....over Bluetooth in a moving X7, Apple Music is the play. Spotify has a clunky UI and lesser bandwidth, and with Apple Music you get full BMW integration and all your machine learning (of your listening preferences) and playlists (for customization) built so that when BMW offers an Atmos system you are ready to go.

10-20-2022, 11:38 PM	#1
awesoM Lieutenant 308 Rep 483 Posts Drives: 2023 i4 edrive35 2022 X7 M50 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Richmond VA iTrader: (0)	Apple Music or Spotify? I have enjoyed using Spotify for years, and when BMW put it on an App in Idrive it made me ecstatic. I have always held out despite other platforms going high res or lossless and Spotify remained unchanged. Recently I signed up for a free trial with Apple and have all my music as lossless or high res. Personally I hear a difference. I wanted to see what other folks are experiencing. I have never been a fan of CarPlay and prefer the idrive system which is why I have stuck with Spotify for all this time. But with the better sound maybe it is worth the switch? __________________ Currently: 2024 iX xDrive50 & 2022 X7 M50i In the rear view mirror: 94 325is/07 528i/08 X5 3.0/08 328i Conv/11 X5 35i Prem/12 X5 35d/12 335i Conv/15 328d/15 328GT/15 X3 28d #1/15 X3 28d #2/16 X3 35i/16 X5M/16 M4 Conv/17 330e/21 X5 45e - Arctic Grey/21 X5 45e - Alpine White /21 330e Xdrive/I4 e35
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10-21-2022, 07:18 AM	#3
Al Pinã Major 1840 Rep 1,487 Posts Drives: Alpina XB7 Join Date: May 2019 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	For what it's worth your car will also play FLAC files via the usb port. I have a 256gb flash drive I use that holds most of my music collection. __________________ Blessed Beyond Measure
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10-21-2022, 08:15 AM	#4
toddwalton Lieutenant Colonel 1329 Rep 1,649 Posts Drives: 2019 X7 - 2024 G26 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Same here, and if you're in the Apple ecosystem already with multiple devices and use Carplay regularly, Apple Music is the better choice. Just saying "Hey Siri play the new Taylor Swift album" is so much easier than the click-click-clicking of Spotify when you're concentrating on the road. What's really exciting is that Apple is working with car makers to incorporate Spatial Audio, and in a couple of years that's going to be a real gamechanger.
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10-21-2022, 08:23 AM	#5
awesoM Lieutenant 308 Rep 483 Posts Drives: 2023 i4 edrive35 2022 X7 M50 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Richmond VA iTrader: (0)	So everyone is seeing a difference with hires audio whether Apple or Tidal streaming via Bluetooth? __________________ Currently: 2024 iX xDrive50 & 2022 X7 M50i In the rear view mirror: 94 325is/07 528i/08 X5 3.0/08 328i Conv/11 X5 35i Prem/12 X5 35d/12 335i Conv/15 328d/15 328GT/15 X3 28d #1/15 X3 28d #2/16 X3 35i/16 X5M/16 M4 Conv/17 330e/21 X5 45e - Arctic Grey/21 X5 45e - Alpine White /21 330e Xdrive/I4 e35
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10-21-2022, 08:53 AM	#6
ntailor Second Lieutenant 176 Rep 215 Posts Drives: i5 M60, X7 M60i Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Philly, PA iTrader: (0)	Spotify user currently. We'll be switching over to Apple Music due to higher audio quality. It should match well with the BW audio in the car.
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10-21-2022, 10:00 AM	#7
guywithcat Private 22 Rep 55 Posts Drives: BMW X7 Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Westport, CT iTrader: (0)	We have spotify and frankly, the interface in the X7 (2023) is pretty slow and clunky. It's actually easier and faster to set my phone as the audio source and then use spotify on my phone. After reading all the comments here, i want to look into apple music.
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10-21-2022, 03:48 PM	#8
Gdwheel Private First Class 54 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2022 X7 40i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Out West iTrader: (0)	I have used both. I prefer the sound of Spotify. Spotify allows you to "normalize" the sound of the music without degrading it (as far as I can tell). That way the songs are all the same volume. I hate how my songs on Apple Music are different volumes. Using Sound Check in AM does not sound as good, again to me. There is a lot of literature out there addressing the technical qualities of music streamed over bluetooth. Music streaming over bluetooth does not really have the ability to provide lossless or the higher quality audio formats. So they are all going to be pretty comparable from a sound quality standpoint.
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10-21-2022, 03:52 PM	#9
gsobol First Lieutenant 262 Rep 397 Posts Drives: 2021 X7 M50i Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Doesn't CarPlay stream via WiFI? Wouldn't that alleviate bandwidth issues related to BT? Unless we are talking about the App built into iDrive.....
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10-21-2022, 04:07 PM	#13
Gdwheel Private First Class 54 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2022 X7 40i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Out West iTrader: (0)	Here is a thread discussing some of these issues. I am not sure what to conclude. https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1748129
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10-22-2022, 05:47 AM	#15
MystroX5 Major General 6293 Rep 5,330 Posts Drives: 2020 X7 M50i/ 911 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Central Pa. iTrader: (0)	I use both. I tend to use Spotify more as the onboard app is very convenient.
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10-23-2022, 07:19 PM	#19
gsobol First Lieutenant 262 Rep 397 Posts Drives: 2021 X7 M50i Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	A thing to consider if you are using CarPlay and Spotify. Check your settings in Spotify on your phone. Click a little gear icon and go to Audio Quality. By default audio quality is set to normal for WiFi and Cell streaming, set it to Very High. It does make a bit of a difference.
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10-24-2022, 08:18 AM	#21
Gdwheel Private First Class 54 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2022 X7 40i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Out West iTrader: (0)	What is the file quality of the BMW Spotify app in the car? Can it bet set to higher quality? I am still not sure how it actually works.
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