Sef_Makaro Audioholic Feb 14, 2019 181 0 28 40 Washington Apr 21, 2019 #1 I’m having trouble deciding which way of using Tidal gives me the best audio. My options are to play from my pc via HDMI or through the MusicCast app. When using the app, signal info from my AVR says 44.1/16bit. When using the pc it says 192/24bit, but I’m fairly sure that’s just from the output settings on the of itself, not necessarily the audio content itself.
I’m having trouble deciding which way of using Tidal gives me the best audio. My options are to play from my pc via HDMI or through the MusicCast app. When using the app, signal info from my AVR says 44.1/16bit. When using the pc it says 192/24bit, but I’m fairly sure that’s just from the output settings on the of itself, not necessarily the audio content itself.
lovinthehd Audioholic Jedi Sep 11, 2012 44,878 0 113 Oakridge, OR Apr 21, 2019 #2 What level of Tidal service do you subscribe to? Their normal stream would be 16/44.1, but supposedly the masters are are at 24/96 IIRC so I'd think it is just the audio settings in your pc.
What level of Tidal service do you subscribe to? Their normal stream would be 16/44.1, but supposedly the masters are are at 24/96 IIRC so I'd think it is just the audio settings in your pc.
Sef_Makaro Audioholic Feb 14, 2019 181 0 28 40 Washington Apr 21, 2019 #3 lovinthehd said: What level of Tidal service do you subscribe to? Their normal stream would be 16/44.1, but supposedly the masters are are at 24/96 IIRC so I'd think it is just the audio settings in your pc. Click to expand... I'm trying out the HiFI level service. So far I'm really not sure I'm hearing a difference between that and the premium/normal level. I looked for tracks labeled "masters" and toggled between that and the lowest quality then replayed the track. Unless I'm missing something and it's not actually changing from one to the other, it sounds pretty much the same to me.
lovinthehd said: What level of Tidal service do you subscribe to? Their normal stream would be 16/44.1, but supposedly the masters are are at 24/96 IIRC so I'd think it is just the audio settings in your pc. Click to expand... I'm trying out the HiFI level service. So far I'm really not sure I'm hearing a difference between that and the premium/normal level. I looked for tracks labeled "masters" and toggled between that and the lowest quality then replayed the track. Unless I'm missing something and it's not actually changing from one to the other, it sounds pretty much the same to me.
lovinthehd Audioholic Jedi Sep 11, 2012 44,878 0 113 Oakridge, OR Apr 21, 2019 #4 Sef_Makaro said: I'm trying out the HiFI level service. So far I'm really not sure I'm hearing a difference between that and the premium/normal level. I looked for tracks labeled "masters" and toggled between that and the lowest quality then replayed the track. Unless I'm missing something and it's not actually changing from one to the other, it sounds pretty much the same to me. Click to expand... I wouldn't worry about how you listened to it then. I tried Tidal and didn't even finish the trial period, not because of quality issues but rather the poor interface and looking at JayZ ads far too often (as well as some content I had on Spotify and couldn't find on Tidal). I'm fine with Spotify's quality and much better interface.... Reactions: Phase 2 and Sef_Makaro
Sef_Makaro said: I'm trying out the HiFI level service. So far I'm really not sure I'm hearing a difference between that and the premium/normal level. I looked for tracks labeled "masters" and toggled between that and the lowest quality then replayed the track. Unless I'm missing something and it's not actually changing from one to the other, it sounds pretty much the same to me. Click to expand... I wouldn't worry about how you listened to it then. I tried Tidal and didn't even finish the trial period, not because of quality issues but rather the poor interface and looking at JayZ ads far too often (as well as some content I had on Spotify and couldn't find on Tidal). I'm fine with Spotify's quality and much better interface....
Sef_Makaro Audioholic Feb 14, 2019 181 0 28 40 Washington Apr 21, 2019 #5 lovinthehd said: I wouldn't worry about how you listened to it then. I tried Tidal and didn't even finish the trial period, not because of quality issues but rather the poor interface and looking at JayZ ads far too often (as well as some content I had on Spotify and couldn't find on Tidal). I'm fine with Spotify's quality and much better interface.... Click to expand... Fair enough. I was somewhat hoping I was doing something wrong and that's why I'm not hearing a difference. It seems more probable that I just don't hear it. Oh, well. If the cheaper service sounds as good as the more expensive one to me at least I'll be saving a little money lol. I've only just signed up for the trial, I'm on day 2 and undecided. I might try Spotify for comparison.
lovinthehd said: I wouldn't worry about how you listened to it then. I tried Tidal and didn't even finish the trial period, not because of quality issues but rather the poor interface and looking at JayZ ads far too often (as well as some content I had on Spotify and couldn't find on Tidal). I'm fine with Spotify's quality and much better interface.... Click to expand... Fair enough. I was somewhat hoping I was doing something wrong and that's why I'm not hearing a difference. It seems more probable that I just don't hear it. Oh, well. If the cheaper service sounds as good as the more expensive one to me at least I'll be saving a little money lol. I've only just signed up for the trial, I'm on day 2 and undecided. I might try Spotify for comparison.
lovinthehd Audioholic Jedi Sep 11, 2012 44,878 0 113 Oakridge, OR Apr 21, 2019 #6 Sef_Makaro said: Fair enough. I was somewhat hoping I was doing something wrong and that's why I'm not hearing a difference. It seems more probable that I just don't hear it. Oh, well. If the cheaper service sounds as good as the more expensive one to me at least I'll be saving a little money lol. I've only just signed up for the trial, I'm on day 2 and undecided. I might try Spotify for comparison. Click to expand... The audiophile retort is then your system isn't resolving enough! LOL. No sense spending on differences you don't hear.... Reactions: Sef_Makaro
Sef_Makaro said: Fair enough. I was somewhat hoping I was doing something wrong and that's why I'm not hearing a difference. It seems more probable that I just don't hear it. Oh, well. If the cheaper service sounds as good as the more expensive one to me at least I'll be saving a little money lol. I've only just signed up for the trial, I'm on day 2 and undecided. I might try Spotify for comparison. Click to expand... The audiophile retort is then your system isn't resolving enough! LOL. No sense spending on differences you don't hear....
Sef_Makaro Audioholic Feb 14, 2019 181 0 28 40 Washington Apr 21, 2019 #7 lovinthehd said: The audiophile retort is then your system isn't resolving enough! LOL. No sense spending on differences you don't hear.... Click to expand... lol
lovinthehd said: The audiophile retort is then your system isn't resolving enough! LOL. No sense spending on differences you don't hear.... Click to expand... lol
Alex2507 Audioholic Slumlord Dec 29, 2006 18,125 0 113 Nunya Bidness Apr 21, 2019 #8 lovinthehd said: Their normal stream would be 16/44.1 Click to expand... IIRC that's arguably about as high a resolution as we're able to appreciate and considerably higher than what Spotify ($10/month) is putting out. Reactions: Sef_Makaro
lovinthehd said: Their normal stream would be 16/44.1 Click to expand... IIRC that's arguably about as high a resolution as we're able to appreciate and considerably higher than what Spotify ($10/month) is putting out.
lovinthehd Audioholic Jedi Sep 11, 2012 44,878 0 113 Oakridge, OR Apr 21, 2019 #9 Alex2507 said: IIRC that's arguably about as high a resolution as we're able to appreciate and considerably higher than what Spotify ($10/month) is putting out. Click to expand... But then they have part of that used for mqa, too. 320 OggVorbis is pretty good, many can't distinguish with CD let alone CD less MQA Reactions: Sef_Makaro and Alex2507
Alex2507 said: IIRC that's arguably about as high a resolution as we're able to appreciate and considerably higher than what Spotify ($10/month) is putting out. Click to expand... But then they have part of that used for mqa, too. 320 OggVorbis is pretty good, many can't distinguish with CD let alone CD less MQA
Sef_Makaro Audioholic Feb 14, 2019 181 0 28 40 Washington Apr 22, 2019 #10 lovinthehd said: But then they have part of that used for mqa, too. 320 OggVorbis is pretty good, many can't distinguish with CD let alone CD less MQA Click to expand... Just a quick update, good call on Spotify. As you said, the interface is much better and the quality seems just fine to me. I had my wife mess around with it and after about 5 minutes she says “I like this, cancel the other one” lol. Reactions: lovinthehd
lovinthehd said: But then they have part of that used for mqa, too. 320 OggVorbis is pretty good, many can't distinguish with CD let alone CD less MQA Click to expand... Just a quick update, good call on Spotify. As you said, the interface is much better and the quality seems just fine to me. I had my wife mess around with it and after about 5 minutes she says “I like this, cancel the other one” lol.
S snakeeyes Audioholic Ninja Apr 13, 2018 4,727 0 113 Apr 22, 2019 #11 [ Sef_Makaro said: Just a quick update, good call on Spotify. As you said, the interface is much better and the quality seems just fine to me. I had my wife mess around with it and after about 5 minutes she says “I like this, cancel the other one” lol. Click to expand... I might try Spotify next. My free trials on Prime unlimited and Apple Music are both ending soon and I still prefer Pandora Plus to those 2. I stream thru Apple TV 4K then HDMI to Yamaha. (For prime it’s via AirPlay to Apple TV) Reactions: Sef_Makaro
[ Sef_Makaro said: Just a quick update, good call on Spotify. As you said, the interface is much better and the quality seems just fine to me. I had my wife mess around with it and after about 5 minutes she says “I like this, cancel the other one” lol. Click to expand... I might try Spotify next. My free trials on Prime unlimited and Apple Music are both ending soon and I still prefer Pandora Plus to those 2. I stream thru Apple TV 4K then HDMI to Yamaha. (For prime it’s via AirPlay to Apple TV)
Bucknekked Audioholic Samurai Dec 18, 2016 2,148 0 113 Gilbert, Arizona Aug 12, 2019 #13 LIke @lovinthehd I tried Tidal and did the free trial period. I also didn't stay because I couldn't hear any difference between the magical mqa stuff and what Spotify offers and what I have recorded locally on CD. They want twice as much as Spotify and offer a smaller catalog. If a business wants to charge 2X for what the market leader provides, there had better be an audible difference. I couldnt hear any. I offer the same advice to all, if you like it and find that it makes you happy, do ahead and do it. Its no skin off my nose. If Tidal makes you happy, knock yourself out. LIfe's too short otherwise Reactions: lovinthehd
LIke @lovinthehd I tried Tidal and did the free trial period. I also didn't stay because I couldn't hear any difference between the magical mqa stuff and what Spotify offers and what I have recorded locally on CD. They want twice as much as Spotify and offer a smaller catalog. If a business wants to charge 2X for what the market leader provides, there had better be an audible difference. I couldnt hear any. I offer the same advice to all, if you like it and find that it makes you happy, do ahead and do it. Its no skin off my nose. If Tidal makes you happy, knock yourself out. LIfe's too short otherwise
