Which audio streaming service sounds the best on the 2023 3.3T G70 (Sport Prestige), Pandora Premium or Spotify Premium?

[CobraBob]

So at the present time I am using Pandora Premium most of the time in my G70. I occasionally listen to FM radio but it's too limited for my taste, song-wise. I know that in my G70, with Pandora you cannot adjust the audio between Audience/Stage/Reference. I can only do that with the radio stations. So question #1 is, is Spotify Premium better than Pandora Premium through CarPlay, audio quality wise? I am seeing that Pandora Premium supposedly streams at 192 bit rate, while Spotify Premium is 320kbps. But being an audio newb, will I notice much difference in my G70 between the two streaming services using wired CarPlay?

I'm not interested in upgrading my audio system. Just looking to get the highest quality audio streaming. I like to create song lists, so it seems that choosing between Pandora Premium (which I presently have) and Spotify Premium is where I am.

I did go into my iPhone 15 Pro Max CarPlay app and changed the Audio Quality & Downloads settings to HIGH on cellular, Wi-Fi and While Offline. I haven't yet checked to see if there is any sound quality difference when using CarPlay in my car.

ANY help or advice you audio pros can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[rushil798]

You can adjust the audio between the Audience/Stage/Reference modes for CarPlay/android auto. The CarPlay/android auto settings for audio modes are tied to the Bluetooth audio settings. You have to connect your phone via Bluetooth first without plugging it in and then change the audio mode settings to the mode you want for Bluetooth audio and the system will use that same sound mode for CarPlay/android auto.

I have also used Spotify premium on the lexicon Audio system and in my opinion it didnt sound good. Apple music with lossless audio option turned on through the wired CarPlay has been the best option that I have found so far. The only thing that can beat that is if you have downloaded high-resolution audio files on a USB that you play through the system. Otherwise, when it comes to streaming services Apple music lossless with CarPlay is the best out there in my opinion in terms of sound quality.

 

[CobraBob]

Thanks! That's a help. So using your procedure above, I can have Pandora use the same Audience/Stage/Reference setting as the one I can select through the dash interface for the radio? That would seem so.

I checked out Apple Music and it seems that 'Hi-Res Lossless' requires external equipment such as a USB digital to analog converter in my G70. So I'm wondering if I don't use that equipment how different Apple Music will really sound in my car vs. the Pandora Premium that I'm now using.

 

[rushil798]

Thanks! That's a help. So using your procedure above, I can have Pandora use the same Audience/Stage/Reference setting as the one I can select through the dash interface for the radio? That would seem so.

I checked out Apple Music and it seems that 'Hi-Res Lossless' requires external equipment such as a USB digital to analog converter in my G70. So I'm wondering if I don't use that equipment how different Apple Music will really sound in my car vs. the Pandora Premium that I'm now using.

Yea for the audio modes you can connect via Bluetooth and maybe play a song via Bluetooth so it shows the Bluetooth audio screen and that’s where you can choose the sound mode you desire and it’ll carry over to CarPlay. Agree with you on high resolution lossless for CarPlay as well but to me it seemed Apple Music was better optimized with CarPlay than the other streaming services

 

[Volfy]

I believe neither Spotify and Pandora offers lossless streaming. My daughter likes Spotify so we did an A/B test in the car between highest quality Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited, and the difference was was staggering... at least to my ears. Even my daughter admitted she could hear "a little" difference, though she is still partial to Spotify because of the user friendliness - play list sharing with her classmates, etc.

My oldest is on Apply Music, since he has a student discount. Again, we did a highest quality lossless A/B audition in the G70, and neither one of us could hear any perceivable difference. That said, they support different specialty encoders - Apple with Spatial Audio, Amazon Music with Dolby Atmos and Sony 360. Depending on what other playback devices/systems you listen on, this might make a difference. I myself try to stay da heck away from the Apple eco system, so the Spatial Audio thing is of no consequence to me. I do, however, have car audio systems that support Dolby Atmos, so that works out well for me on AMU.

So right now, if you want the highest quality streaming, it's between Amazon and Apple. Still, a lot depends on your ears. Not everybody hears the same. I'm an old car audio nut that used to spend umpteen hours auditioning some fairly high end installs, so I am forever cursed with an audiophile ear. My oldest son was oblivious to that realm and was a happy Spotify listener, until I showed him how to listen and what to listen to. Now he is bitten by the audiophile bug too. My daughter... meh, not so much. I'd say try them out and hear for yourself. They all have free trials or no commitment month-to-month subs. Buy the least expensive option that pleases your ears.

As for the playback devices, that depends on your hardware (phone, dongle, car audio, etc.) Amazon Music has a music quality map. Others might have too. Below is what my chain looks like, with a Oneplus phone and Motorola MA1 android Auto dongle. You will have to do some research to see what yours would support. I'm on Android Auto 99.9% of the time in my car. I don't like wired connection, because it charges my phone all the time, which is bad for battery longevity. Plus the inconvenience of it all. As you can see, I'm not hurting for sound quality. The limitation is in the final playback through car audio system. The G70's Lexicon system is good, but it has its limitations. See this thread for some discussion on that matter, if you're interested: Playing music from USB Drive

 

[CobraBob]

Thanks for the great info, @Volfy. I went ahead and cancelled my Pandora Premium which was due to renew on 11/3. I opened an Apple Music account and tried it through CarPlay today. OMG!! What a huge difference. The sound quality and captured nuances was more than I expected. And one more thing on the switch to Apple Music. Prior to today, it seemed like I wasn't getting any base. Well, with Apple Music, I suddenly have the bass that I was for some reason lacking. I saw a thread discussing this missing bass issue.

The only downside is, like you said, I'm always charging my phone. My car goes under the cover in my garage in 2 weeks for winter storage, so I've got time to investigate finding a wireless solution. I don't drive my G70 every day, so I don't have a big issue with staying with the wired connection, though.