This could still be solved. Streaming services and digital music stores like Spotify and Apple Music could simply allow labels/artists to supply multiple masterings of the same tracks. One would be the default offering; the other would be a 24 bit file mastered with all loudness-optimising compression disabled. Popular music also routinely uses track level compression for artistic reasons and to balance the mix; it would be up to the artist whether or not to pare back any of that. Obviously the artist’s intent should take precedence here.

Then, as an end user, we could choose which we preferred. By default there would be no change in behaviour. Where software updates are available, an the option could be provided to swap between versions at will. For older devices, the streaming service could let the end user choose the high dynamic range version as an account-level default.

Personally I’d want ready access to both versions. When listening to music is the singular activity in a quiet environment, full dynamic range is great. But as soon as I’m not solely focused on music, multitasking or in a noisy environment, I’d actually prefer the compressed version.