Apple Music vs Spotify Sound Quality (2025): Which Wins?

Spotify Lossless streaming is finally real in 2025, which means the old “Spotify is compressed” argument is basically dead. With the rollout of its Lossless tier, the days of comparing "compressed Ogg Vorbis" against "Apple's ALAC" are largely over.

And it doesn’t automatically mean both services sound the same, because what you hear depends heavily on your connection (Bluetooth vs wired), your settings, and sometimes even which master each platform uses.

So a new question arises: Is Spotify’s new Lossless actually as good as Apple Music’s established Hi-Res Audio?

Apple Music vs Spotify Sound Quality: Quick Verdict

Apple Music still has the higher ceiling with Hi-Res Lossless up to 24-bit/192kHz and a large Dolby Atmos/Spatial Audio catalog, while Spotify Lossless streams up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC. In real life, if you listen mostly on Bluetooth, the difference is usually small. With wired headphones and the right gear, Apple can pull ahead, especially on hi-res and Atmos content.

• Over Bluetooth, you’re not getting “true lossless” anyway—focus on convenience and catalog.
• Volume normalization (Normalize / Sound Check) can change what you think sounds “better.”
• Not every track is delivered at the highest quality, library reality matters.
• Apple Music’s Lossless, Hi-Res Lossless, and Spatial Audio are available within the standard Apple Music subscription (no separate “HiFi add-on” required).
• Spotify Free typically tops out around 160 kbps, Spotify Premium can reach ~320 kbps, and the new Lossless option (where available) streams up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC.

Spotify vs Apple Music Sound Quality Comparison: The Specs

Now that both giants offer lossless audio, we need to look closer at the numbers. While Spotify has caught up, Apple Music still goes further with Hi-Res Lossless.

Here is the technical breakdown, showing a comparison table of Apple Music vs. Spotify sound quality specs, including bitrate and format:

Note: Lossless codecs (ALAC/FLAC) use compression, so “bitrate” is typically variable. Resolution (bit depth + sample rate) is the cleaner way to compare ceilings.

Spatial Audio & Dolby Atmos: Is Apple Music Better?

There is one more huge factor we need to talk about: Atmosphere.

This is where Apple Music truly excels with Dolby Atmos (Spatial Audio). It’s not just about making the sound clear; it’s about making it surround you.

• Apple Music: When you turn on Spatial Audio, it feels like the band is in the room with you. The drums might sound like they are behind you, while the vocals are front and center. It is an incredibly immersive experience, especially for pop and rock albums.
• Spotify: While Spotify has improved its stereo separation, it still plays catch-up in the immersive audio game. Most tracks on Spotify are still traditional "Stereo", left and right channels only. It sounds great, but it doesn't give you that "3D concert" feeling that Apple does.

Not everyone likes Spatial Audio. Some purists think it sounds fake or over-processed. But if you love feeling inside the movie or the song, Apple Music is the clear winner here.

How to Enable the Best Audio Quality (Apple Music vs Spotify)

Apple Music: 

1. Open Apple Music → Settings → Audio Quality
2. Toggle Lossless Audio ON
3. Choose quality for Streaming and Downloads (Wi-Fi vs Cellular)
4. If you select sample rates above 48 kHz, you might need an external DAC and a wired connection.

Spotify: 

• Open Spotify → Settings → Audio Quality
• Under streaming quality, select Lossless (configure Wi-Fi and Cellular separately)

• If you don’t see “Lossless,” it may still be rolling out by region/account.

Can You Actually Hear a Difference? (Bluetooth vs Wired)

Okay, we’ve looked at the specs, but here is the question: Can your ears actually tell the difference between Apple Music and Spotify in 2025?

The honest answer? It depends entirely on your gear.

Let me walk you through two common scenarios so you can see where you fit in.

Scenario A: Bluetooth Headphones (AirPods, Bose, Sony)

If you are listening on the bus with your AirPods Pro or Sony WH-1000XM5s, the battle is already a tie. Why? Bluetooth technology, even in 2025, still compresses audio to transmit it from your phone to your ears.

Whether you play a massive Hi-Res file from Apple or a standard FLAC file from Spotify, your Bluetooth headphones are going to "squish" it down anyway.

My Experience: I switched back and forth between Spotify Lossless and Apple Music Hi-Res on my morning commute using wireless buds. I honestly couldn't pick a winner. They both sounded fantastic, clear, and punchy.

Scenario B: Wired Headphones + DAC

This is where things get interesting. If you plug in a decent pair of wired headphones (like Sennheisers) and maybe use a small DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), the Apple Music vs Spotify sound quality differences start to show up.

• Apple Edge: On tracks with complex instrumentals—like jazz or orchestral scores—Apple Music’s Hi-Res Audio feels slightly more "open."
• Spotify Vibe: Spotify’s new FLAC audio is crisp and dynamic, but it lacks that final 5% of "airiness" that Apple’s top-tier resolution offers.

Unless you are wired in, don't stress too much about the bitrate numbers.

How to Compare the Apple Music & Spotify Sound Quality 

1) Turn Off Normalization (Spotify Normalize / Apple Sound Check)

If one app is louder, it often feels clearer and punchier, even if it isn’t higher quality. Spotify notes its loudness normalization can affect playback across formats, including higher-quality streams.

Apple’s Sound Check can also shift perceived loudness, especially when comparing stereo vs Atmos mixes.

Best practice: turn normalization off while testing and match volume manually.

2) Disable EQ When Comparing

EQ is great for daily listening, but it ruins A/B tests. Disable it temporarily so you’re comparing the service, not the curve.

3) Confirm You’re Streaming at the Highest Quality

Double-check quality settings (and download settings) on both apps—then test the same track again

Spotify vs. Apple Music Sound Quality: Which Wins for You?

So, after all the testing, who takes the crown in the spotify sound quality vs apple music battle?

• Choose Apple Music if: You are a serious audiophile. You have the wired headphones, the DAC, and you want the absolute highest resolution (192kHz) available. Also, if you love the immersive feeling of Spatial Audio, Apple is the only way to go.
• Choose Spotify if: You are happy with "CD Quality" sound (which is still excellent!) and you care more about amazing playlists, social sharing, and a user interface that just works everywhere. The new FLAC update makes Spotify a solid choice for 90% of listeners.

Bonus: Download Songs from Spotify & Apple Music as Local Files

If you are obsessive about sound quality, you may want to own your files. You want to save that 24-bit audio on your hard drive, not just in a temporary cache. This is exactly what MusicFab does. Whether you want to choose one streaming music platform or enjoy both, MusicFab has you covered.

• Supported OS: Windows & Mac
• Supported Platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora, SoundCloud, and more.

MusicFab All-in-One Converter

•   Save Spotify or Apple music as MP3, FLAC, WAV, M4A or OPUS format.
•   Download songs/playlists/albums/podcasts in batches.
•   Preserve the original audio quality up to lossless.
•   Save ID3 tags and lyrics files.

Here is a quick video tutorial for you to know how MusicFab works:

Disclaimer: Use only for content you have rights to, and comply with local laws and platform terms.