Am I losing a lot of quality for using Airplay with spotify to have volume normalization?

Spotify has a bitrate of up to 320kbps, and Airplay can support up to 24/48 lossless so I’d say it has more than enough bandwidth for it.

Can you hear a difference? You might be pushed hearing a difference even with Bluetooth.
 
I believe the lower bitrate you quote is for Apple Music and AirPlay 2 which transmits 256kbps AAC streams. The bitrate for CD quality streams is up to 1440kbps and as I say, I understand AirPlay 2 can achieve 24/48 which is even higher.
Please read my edit and link explanation of 24 bit Apple Music
 
Yeah, Apple Music and Airplay 2 in particular is a bit of a “soup sandwich” - see this oft quoted link


Cheers :)
 
Spotify has a bitrate of up to 320kbps, and Airplay can support up to 24/48 lossless so I’d say it has more than enough bandwidth for it.

Can you hear a difference? You might be pushed hearing a difference even with Bluetooth.
Not really sure coz the volume seems to be changing when switching. Also im new to hifi so i lack knowledge on numbers and graphs but earlier while switching back and forth i could hear some difference, like cymbals echoing at higher pitch but maybe it’s just the volume/normalization…
 
Not really sure coz the volume seems to be changing when switching. Also im new to hifi so i lack knowledge on numbers and graphs but earlier while switching back and forth i could hear some difference, like cymbals echoing at higher pitch but maybe it’s just the volume/normalization…
As you say, it might be the normalisation as Airplay should be able to accommodate Spotify no matter how it’s being played.
 
256 Kbps
AirPlay 2 supports lossless, 16-bit/44.1kHz CD-quality audio streams1. The bitrate for AirPlay 2 is 256 Kbps2.


Airplay 1 is a different animal

Explains the 24 bit on airplay and how you can get it
Using airplay, this is what wiim’s says 900kbps 16bit 44.1
 

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Using airplay, this is what wiim’s says 900kbps 16bit 44.1
Yeah, that’s fairly standard for airplay on WiiM, although I wouldn’t get too hung up with the 900kbps figure as it seldom varies and doesn’t really say anything about the resolution/quality of what it’s sending. Like ChromeCast and AlexaCast, they’d be as well not displaying that 900kbps as it’s potentially misleading.
 
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