Amazon Unlimited thru bluOS app
Answered
I just started using Amazon Unlimited (free trial) and connected it to the bluOS app, and I'm streaming it to the bluOS 2i module in my NAD amp.
I'm seeing some music playing in MP3 format, while other music plays at CD quality Flac and all the way up to 24/192.
My question is this: I thought all music through Unlimited is in CD quality and above. Why am I seeing MP3 through when using Amazon thru the bluOS app?
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Official comment
Neal, best to log a support ticket immediately after / during an MP3 playback so Bluesound can look at the logs and provide a definitive answer.
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A question for Amazon I am afraid, not everything in their catalogue is 24/192. Also Amazon is also adaptive, if your internet connection / local network is slower then Amazon will send you a lower bitrate stream.
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By default, Amazon Music will adjust audio quality according to detected network conditions. You can alter that in Amazon Music Audio Quality settings: "Audio Quality:HD/Ultra HD only" and "Audio Adjust Quality:Off"
I have an ethernet connection to my Node and stream AM unlimited via a wired connection to my amp. If you are using a wireless connection and/or BT you may find some adjustment is necessary if your connection can't cope reliably with the highest quality streams.1 -
The settings in the Amazon Music app have no effect on the Bluesound integration.
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@Seppi - you say "not everything in their catalogue is 24/192." I know that, as I stated in my question. However, my understanding is that everything in AM Unltd is at least cd quality, and that's why I was surprised to see music playing at mp3 quality thru the BluOS app.
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So Amazon Music Unlimited does not natively stream an MP3 format as part of their regular streaming service. It can stream opus, flac, dolby atmos, and sony 360 spatial audio formats. Despite what some may believe, not all content is available in their HD (ie flac 16b/44khz) format and some tracks are opus only. They are few and far between as the vast majority of the catalog is in at minimum HD, but not all so sometimes you will come across a track that is opus only.
The only way to get MP3 format is if you have bought tracks through their store. These will be in MP3 format. Any chance you were playing tracks that you had actually purchased in the past?
https://developer.amazon.com/de/docs/music/audio-formats.html#:
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Hey - thank you @Invenio. What a great link you provided. I've never heard of Opus before now.
I have purchased CD's from Amazon, and they add those to my Amazon Music collection (which is weird because many of them have been for gifts and I see random weird stuff that I would never buy for myself. But that's another story.)
I have not purchased downloads (at least I'm pretty sure I never have as it's not something I do), but maybe they add the CD tracks I've bought in the lossy Opus format?
I see that it's possible to have the lossy Opus files in AM Unltd, but how and why I'd have them remains a mystery. Good stuff you posted. Thanks again.
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You can check if you purchased songs from amazon by going into the digital purchase history on the main amazon site. If so, you would be able to download them in mp3 format.
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Yes, I just checked back through the years. I purchased only a few tracks, so some of the ones I'm seeing play as MP3 in the BluOS app are not those. I don't believe it's the WiFi connection because an MP3 will be sandwiched between a couple of Ultra-HiRes tracks.
Very strange given the information I've received.
Again - thank you.
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