Music Services? Spotify/Rdio/ZunePass/? Which is best for me? You decide!

[destrekor]

Alright, so I was randomly reading up on Spotify and Rdio a little bit, and also stumbled on the fact that Microsoft may be canning the entire Zune music service in general... or doing something; it is sounding like they might try opening it up a little, rebranding it, trying to compete specifically with said services, versus going the proprietary, "not Apple... Apple" route..

Well, shit.

Considering I'm really getting into Android (and liking what Google Music offers, though I don't have much of a need for it all that often as of this moment). Whether I get an Android, Windows 8 ARM, or Windows 8 Intel tablet (specifically: desire dual-booting the two), I'm not too concerned there, other than preserving current ecosystems/sharing between desktop/tablet.

More importantly, I have a Zune HD. I love it for running/exercise and I use it as my music storage device for MP3 playback in my car. And I love my (grandfathered plan) Zune Pass. Though it's $15 a month, those 10 DRM-free credits every month are awesome (if I remember to use them). I can stream/download/sync with my Zune as much as I want, AND I can continue to add to my permanent library.

It appears no other service offers such. BUT, eventually that Zune HD will have to go/be replaced. I'm already considering something like the MOTOACTV so I can also get GPS and whatnot but not be forced to tote around a full-sized smartphone (that's a big bulky on the arm - already I sort of dislike but can ignore the Zune HD on my bicep.. that motoactv on the wrist, however, would be perfect). Figure the Zune may still get main feature in my car, since the Galaxy Nexus is limited to 32gb and thus, including apps/data/whatnot, that means less space dedicated to music (not always in good signal range when traveling) compared to my 32GB music-only device.

Anyone have suggestions as to the best service to move to? Does anything offer the ability to put music wherever and whenever I so desire, and download unlimited (I see Spotify limits to 3333 songs offline per device?) And, I suspect no, but does any service offer DRM-free tracks like the old Zune Pass subscription? Paying for a subscription PLUS paying for DRM-free tracks in addition (I don't purchase that much music unless it's cheap, like recent sales on Google Music, but most sales aren't brand new releases, unlike my free credits which I could use for an album released this week).

But the ability to put my DRM'd music on any and every device I would like to use (hmmm: do any of these other services allow me to sync music onto my Zune?) is pretty enticing, especially so I can continue to listen to music I don't really want to pay outright for but still listen on my Motoactv, if I do end up buying one.

I've just enjoyed the Zune Pass enough to accept the limitations (and I've always liked the actual media players).

Also, I don't want to dig into all my DRM'd library and manually get the same music downloaded through another service... would any actually recognize the DRM'd WMA files I have currently, and find a match on their service?

So many options, and I've basically ignored all of them up until now (especially since I'm fairly sure that monthly 10 credit "feature" is not matched anywhere else.. hell, let alone even offered anymore for new subscribers).

edit:
Also, sorry mods if this is the "wrong forum". This seems to transcend multiple topics/forums, and, short of dipping into OT, this will probably get the most attention since these services are available to so many assorted types of users.

edit 2: So, 50+ thread views and no reply. Was I wrong on forum choice?
Edited title to reflect specific request.

 

[notposting]

Fine, I'll answer. Get a Windows Phone?

edit: beats me. I signed up for ZunePass on the last day of the old style. Wish I had signed up for the annual subscription to be honest, but oh well. Love the 10 credits every month...works good on my phone in the car too. Hear song on radio, power, search, audio...it ID's it and I can grab the song later.

 

[alent1234]

spotify

 

[AFurryReptile]

I'm not sure how those Zune "credits" transfer to actual music exactly, but I'll bet the value is better at eMusic.com. I spend about $11 per month, and usually leave with between 3 and 4 new albums. They also have a lot of the indie/progressive music that I like.

Personally, I use Google Music and love it. MS is cutting the Zune... so to base your entire music experience around it seems like bad practice. How long have you had it? Electronics don't last forever.

I also feel like the entire Google catalog is trying to go the Steam route, with daily deals and various promotions all the time. I like it, and I've gotten some good stuff for cheap.

 

[zerogear]

Windows Phone.

 

[notposting]

In the old style Zune Pass we have, you get 10 credits each (1 credit = 1 song). You then get the unlimited streaming and/or DRM protected downloads on up to 3 PCs and 3 devices. Works pretty good, plus it kind of forces you to pick out new songs (you already paid for them so you better get them, right?) whereas normally I probably wouldn't bother.

Also, if you've gone Windows Phone, it's a no-brainer.

I'm not sure how those Zune "credits" transfer to actual music exactly, but I'll bet the value is better at eMusic.com. I spend about $11 per month, and usually leave with between 3 and 4 new albums. They also have a lot of the indie/progressive music that I like.

Personally, I use Google Music and love it. MS is cutting the Zune... so to base your entire music experience around it seems like bad practice. How long have you had it? Electronics don't last forever.

I also feel like the entire Google catalog is trying to go the Steam route, with daily deals and various promotions all the time. I like it, and I've gotten some good stuff for cheap.

 

[Piano Man]

Between Rdio and Spotify on Android, I prefer Rhapsody, but I hear Rdio got/is getting a big update (can't remember where I heard it).

 

[lothar]

I'm not sure how those Zune "credits" transfer to actual music exactly, but I'll bet the value is better at eMusic.com. I spend about $11 per month, and usually leave with between 3 and 4 new albums. They also have a lot of the indie/progressive music that I like.

Personally, I use Google Music and love it. MS is cutting the Zune... so to base your entire music experience around it seems like bad practice. How long have you had it? Electronics don't last forever.

I also feel like the entire Google catalog is trying to go the Steam route, with daily deals and various promotions all the time. I like it, and I've gotten some good stuff for cheap.

Microsoft is cutting the Zune hardware, not the software.

Sorry OP. The grandfathered Zune accounts are the best AFAIK.
If you want the best Zune experience, you need to leave Android and get on the WP7 bandwagon.
If you don't want to leave Android, find something else(I'm not the best person to ask, so I'll refrain from giving any suggestions on that since I'm not a really a music person)

 

[zerogear]

I think overall Zune offers the best service, but it is very much tied to Zune/WP7 platform. Ever since I switched from WP7 to Android, I haven't had any music service at all, though I really miss it.

After trying Spotify/Rhapsody and Zune, Zune Pass is definitely the way to go.

 

[destrekor]

As for Windows Phone - not an option (I will NOT drop Android for phones) unless I can hack it on to some portable device.

Any WP7 PMPs out there? That would be awesome, because though the Zune hardware is dead, it does sound like the Zune service will probably only get a rebrand/makeover, versus subscribers getting left behind.
I've been looking into the Walkman Z, but pricey (damn you Sony), and that would also open up Music Unlimited as an option, but I don't know much about it. Though currently, no Android 4.0/ICS love. There is that 4" Galaxy PMP (and the Z is 4.3" iirc), and that's pushing it for MP3-player specific, imho. I like the size of my Zune HD, and it's terrific hardware for the purpose (not as an all-around PMP smartphone-lite device, but for MP3-only, perfect).
It's one of the best services in terms of streaming anyhow, except it's locked down (and possibly will remain that way) in that only Windows devices get access. But you get actual media files when downloading, pretty good quality on those, and purchased/credit songs are 320kbps MP3s.

It seems MOG is the only service that specifically states everything is 320kbps if you opt for such, but no Windows app. Rdio at max is 256kbps for offline files, and it sounds like you are lucky to get that for streaming. Spotify's Android app sucks ass, but ignoring that, you still aren't guaranteed 320kbps but they are expanding that (not sure current shakeup of 320kbps versus lower quality). And if Music Unlimited gets ICS support sometime soon, that still leaves the question of max and average audio quality, which I find important. No use paying for shitty-quality music, piracy is way higher on my list than low-quality music that isn't free.

Plus, it doesn't appear any service will "import" all my downloaded DRM'd WMA tracks from Zune Pass, (a few thousand songs), and.. yeah, I really, really don't want to go through picking every single album and song I've downloaded through that means.
Plus, I'd absolutely have to abandon my Zune, whereas with other hardware (if it supports WMA), I should be able to drag and drop the tracks and manually sync every month to update licenses, though can't guarantee this would work, as I haven't tried it. But other services appear to basically "cache" encrypted file types of various sorts, and hide them (might be mistaken), so I don't think I could drag them to my Zune. And that also leaves the question of how the hell I'll get subscription music onto a MOTOACTV if I go that route... if I could shed having an MP3 player strapped to my bicep when running, that would be swell!

And I haven't heard Rhapsody or Napster -- or any of the other services I forgot -- as having high bitrate music, but not entirely sure...

Big thing, it seems nothing will be perfect. But I don't want to drop subscription services in general, as I enjoy having access to a ton of music, and with those 10 monthly credits, I get to add to my collection songs that I actually care enough about to permanently own. But there is a ton of music that I don't want to pay outright for but do enjoy listening to a lot (the ones I find myself really enjoying, I tend to go back and use those credits when I don't think of/find anything else new worthy of those credits).
I have been supplementing my permanent library with some awesome albums from Play Market's various sales, but rarely is it anything remotely new (that I care to listen to).

 

[Piano Man]

And I haven't heard Rhapsody or Napster -- or any of the other services I forgot -- as having high bitrate music, but not entirely sure...

Rhapsody streaming is 192 kbps vbr aac and its great. I've done blind tests with lossless with both myself and friends and none of us could consistently call out which was which.

I'm not sure what their dl bit rate is.

Big thing, it seems nothing will be perfect.

Absolutely.

 

[notposting]

Well, they don't specifically sell any WP7 media players, but an unactivated phone would work just fine as one. One of the Samsungs had an easily accessible SD card slot so if you got the right kind of SD card you could have good storage size as well. And of course the functionality (on wifi of course) would be leaps and bounds ahead of the Zune going forward (apps games etc).

Plus this way it will lure you out of the Android camp mwahahahhaha