Amazon music vs Qobuz

I use streaming primarily for auditioning recordings.  If I really like it I then buy a download or a CD.  I use an Android phone but my wife has an iPhone.  She had a free Apple Music subscription and started to make playlists, etc and then the subscription vanished and she was upset.  I tried to interest her in Qobuz but it was a leap too far for her.  So I canceled my Qobuz and we have anApple Music subscription for $10 less a month than my single Qobuz.  Qobuz did sound a tick better but Apple sounds better than Spotify, for example, and so far it’s fine.  Interesting, Apple Music works much better on my Android phone than Qobuz did , so I actually listen to it more while driving than I did with Qobuz.

   I did the free Amazon trial and it sound’s fine as well.  I could have lived with it if my wife had wanted to go that direction 

I've tried both. I prefer Qobuz because the songs each provide information (limited) about who is on each track. I also like the recommendations from Qobuz, especially for classical and jazz. Amazon already gets enough of my money.

It's hard to find the most recent stats on Qobuz, but I believe they pay more per stream to artists than Amazon.

Amazon (on Windows, anyway)

• Works only through default sound drivers
• Hard or impossible to get through a Roon or DLNA system
• Very large catalog
• Low cost

Qobuz

• Works through ASIO or WASAPI Exclusive sound drivers, which gives best sound
• Networks easily with Roon or other systems
• Smaller catalog than Amazon
• Slightly higher cost

I did not make sound comparisons. Qobuz won for me because of its ability to integrate with my main (networked) audio system, currently using Roon, previously using DLNA. It also was a winner by independently controlling the sound drivers used, to avoid meddling by Windows or other OS in my desktop (USB-connected) system.

I found Amazon HD an exercise in frustration to get working at reliable highest resolutions or to integrate with my system. Perhaps that has changed in the several years since I tried it?

The difference is Amazon plays on very few Hifi devices.

If you are happy with your computer or Bluesound you might never hear any difference.

When I acquired the ability to stream music I got trial subscriptions to both Tidal and Qobuz. Qobuz won the face-off and I still enjoy it immensely. It didn’t matter that for a time I also had MQA capability.

As a classical nut, I also truly appreciate Idagio. I must say, too, that the sound quality I get from the CD quality Idagio is often just as good if not better than Qobuz’ hi-def offerings.