I am using the free version of Spotify on my shield and it’s doing a good job. But Spotify advertises that premium is 3 times better in clarity. Is it true or just a gimmick? Can some one who tested both confirm?
Spotify Premium is 320 Kbps. Naturally it sounds better than free Spotify at lower bit rates, but also decidedly better (in my A/B comparisons) than Apple Music which is Apple format at 256 Kbps. It’s difficult to quantify as ‘x times better in clarity’ - what they might mean is 3 times better in resolution that free Spotify. You’d need to listen carefully through reasonably resolving headphone/home audio system to discern this. For casual mobile-based listening during travel or through Bluetooth speakers, the difference wouldn’t reveal, and you’d rather be better served by considerations of content, user experience etc than sound quality.
And at those subscription rates, it’s a steal! Try for a month and deciede for yourself.
Your post’s title refers to comparisons with other streaming services (which your actual post doesn’t). So here’s further. Not sure about Gaana’s resolution, but the sound quality doesn’t feel like 320 Kbps, though it’s not poor by any standards. However, Gaana has better collection and organisation of Indian music, especially film music. I don’t know about Tidal Standard, but Tidal Hifi subscription is FLAC and in a different segment in terms of SQ than all of the above. Once you get used to streaming FLAC, it’s difficult to go back to compressed.
There are other parameters beyond SQ in choosing a streaming service. User experience is one (it’s subjective, I like Apple Music’s the best), Customised Suggestions is another (general consensus is that Spotify tops here, but not yet in my experience). Then there’s integration with services like Shazam (Apple Music has) and Last.fm (Spotify scores here) for those who value it. Tidal is integrated well with Roon.
And then there are niche services like Idagio (less known but FLAC quality exclusively western classical), Calm radio (relaxing music in hundreds of channels across genres) and so on. Among the other standard ones, it’s difficult to get Qobuz, Deezer etc in India.