As per another thread here, I recently switched from Google to Alexa, and I wonder whether I should also add Amazon Unlimited. (I’ve already discovered Amazon Prime is a joke.)
I currently have Qobuz Sublime, which I like; among other things, I take advantage of their deep discounts on hi-res downloads. So I wouldn’t give that up. But being able to simply ask Alexa to play albums or playlists I want to hear appeals to me. I can do this easily on my Echos and with my Wiim streamer. For my Naim streamers, I would have to implement the JTalk skill, but that has worked in testing. (The downside is that requires me to use port forwarding, which makes me uncomfortable.)
I also wonder whether Amazon offers a better interface and/or a greater selection for classical music.)
The cost won’t break me, but I am resistant to redundancy (in some contexts).
I see that someone started a thread on this several years ago, but there weren’t many response. We’ll see how this thread goes.
Can you not take a trial subscription. They do run them from time to time. I have been using Amazon unlimited since its inception and haven’t found anything missing except a few recommendations on here for magazine issues or best of compilations. I don’t listen to classical very much, although I do listen to Opera.
I’m not familiar with Jtalk, but couldn’t you just use an Airlplay/Chromecast/Bluetooth link from your Amazon music device (echo, phone, tablet) as a simple, temporary, test method to allow you to experience the Amazon Music app interface and to discover their library?
Then, if you find it worthwhile, you could consider more permanent options?
Bluetooth - yes, but I don’t think Alexa supports either of the others. However, JTalk does something Bluetooth can’t - it gives me access to my entire JRiver media library through verbal commands. And it does so by controlling JRiver, which includes telling JRiver to play the music on one of my Naim devices. Several Alexa skills I found set up a DLNA server of their own but as far as I can see only allow playing the music on an Echo device.
I’ve gotten JTalk to work with only a modest struggle. My one concern is that I need to open a port so that Amazon can communicate with JRiver. (I may be able to password protect it, but I didn’t try that.)
However, now that I’ve been using my Echos for a few weeks, I realize that at present this is more of a theoretical problem for me. I’ve been tempted to sign up for three months free service. But 95% of the time when I want to control my music through Alexa commands, it is to turn on one of my radio stations in the background, and most of my time that means playing it through an Alexa-aware Wiim streamer. For the same reason, I will keep the port closed until I find JTalk is something I would use on a regular basis.
Putting aside voice commands, I don’t need to do that. Between them, my Naim and Wiim streamers provide music for my entire apartment, so I can use either Qobuz Connect or the native apps for those devices.