Tidal connect enabled Streamer Amplifier

[real_shark]

Dear Audioholics,

I have been in the look for a some time for a new setup that would allow me to stream music from Tidal decently and in an uncomplicated way to a couple of Wharfedale loudspeakers.

Eventually I decided that I wanted a streamer that supported Tidal connect, so I was looking into a streamer like the one from bluesound and a separate stereo amplifier.

However the number of Tidal connect supported devices recently exploded:

https://tidal.com/supported-devices

My preference would be to get an integrated Streamer Amplifier which can provide more than 100W per channel, is somehow a bit versatile (maybe with USB, digital and analog out, in case I want to use an external amplifier or DAC) and does not break the bank.

Has anyone already taken a look at this?

Thanks,
RS.

 

[John Parks]

I guess it all depends on what you consider "breaking the bank". A really good, "reasonably" priced unit that checks all of the boxes you listed is the NAD M10: https://nadelectronics.com/product/m10-bluos-streaming-amplifier/

 

[real_shark]

I guess it all depends on what you consider "breaking the bank". A really good, "reasonably" priced unit that checks all of the boxes you listed is the NAD M10: https://nadelectronics.com/product/m10-bluos-streaming-amplifier/

I agree that is a nice piece of kit.

In this case I was looking for a 500-800 USD option.

Any ideas?

 

[John Parks]

Well... From your link, it appears Onkyo and Denon do Tidal Connect, but I am unsure which models or even where to begin as they have not been in my wheelhouse for ages.

My next choice would be the Bluesound Powernode for $899 (yes, it is above your $800 mark and is only an 80wpc NAD amp): https://www.bluesound.com/products/powernode/

Possibly the Sonos amp? 125wpc at $649: https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/amp.html

I guess it depends on what platform you would like to invest in. I prefer Blue OS (running Roon). I do not have any experience with Sonos or Heos (Denon).

There are a lot of options out there for an all-in-one; unfortunately, it seems the prices just go up!

 

[nbk13nw]

The Yamaha WCX-50 and an external amp works for me.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

 

[lovinthehd]

Curious why you even want to support Tidal/MQA vs other services?

 

[real_shark]

Well... From your link, it appears Onkyo and Denon do Tidal Connect, but I am unsure which models or even where to begin as they have not been in my wheelhouse for ages.

My next choice would be the Bluesound Powernode for $899 (yes, it is above your $800 mark and is only an 80wpc NAD amp): https://www.bluesound.com/products/powernode/

Possibly the Sonos amp? 125wpc at $649: https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/amp.html

I guess it depends on what platform you would like to invest in. I prefer Blue OS (running Roon). I do not have any experience with Sonos or Heos (Denon).

There are a lot of options out there for an all-in-one; unfortunately, it seems the prices just go up!

Before Tidal published more and more Tidal Connect enabled devices the setup I liked the most was Bluesound node + XTZ edge a2-300. These are two devices and the cost would be sligtly under 1000€.

I am now trying to explore options in the new list. Like you, I really have little clue with Onkyo or others nowadays. How about Pioneer? The SX-N30AE seems to be a really good option for the cost, it is network enabled so it should support Tidal connect with a firmware update, but it seems to be out of stock everywhere.

If I am going to spend 1000€ I would probably go for the two element configuration with the Bluesound node + XTZ edge a2-300.

Edit: It seems like in the list of "compatible devices" from Tidal, when filtering by Tidal connect, you get a significant reduction in the number of devices. This takes away Denon, Onkyo and Pioneer out for instance.

Curious why you even want to support Tidal/MQA vs other services?

I couldn't care less for MQA but Tidal is what I use for streaming and it works well with me and my family, especially with Tidal connect.

The Yamaha WCX-50 and an external amp works for me.

I checked these devices some time ago but they were not Tidal Connect enabled and they are still not in the list.

Thanks to all,
RS.

 

[nbk13nw]

I use the Yamaha MusicCast app with Tidal.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

 

[real_shark]

I use the Yamaha MusicCast app with Tidal.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

But I believe not with Tidal Connect. Or do you?

How to Use TIDAL Connect

What is TIDAL Connect? TIDAL Connect allows you to stream your favorite music seamlessly from the cloud straight to your connected devices. TIDAL Connect makes it possible for us to deliver the mus...

support.tidal.com

The thing is that I want to use the Tidal app a not a third party app for Tidal. Several providers have been linking to Tidal for a while but pushing the streams directly from the Tidal app is a much more enjoyable workflow for me, especially with multiple Tidal accounts home.

RS.

 

[real_shark]

After consideration I still believe that Bluesound node + XTZ edge a2-300 is the best option I have for that kind of money.

I am almost certainly going to go for that one.

RS.

 

[lovinthehd]

I couldn't care less for MQA but Tidal is what I use for streaming and it works well with me and my family, especially with Tidal connect.



Thanks to all,
RS.

Just curious, as supporting Tidal is supporting MQA (since no one else has adopted such a stupid codec). Spotify Connect I bet works even better....but might depend on what you're used to for library.

 

[real_shark]

Just curious, as supporting Tidal is supporting MQA (since no one else has adopted such a stupid codec). Spotify Connect I bet works even better....but might depend on what you're used to for library.

I do not even have a Tidal HiFi subscription

I think Supporting Tidal is not the same as supporting MQA, especially Tidal connect.

I am happy with Tidal as an application and but have no requirement for proprietary losy encoding and fancy blue lights so I am not going to upgrade.

I just want to use the application we use home for music streaming in the best possible way and with what I consider quite a good quality.

I already bought the EDGE A2-300 POWER AMPLIFIER FROM XTZ and most likely I will buy the Bluesound node 3rd generation in a few weeks. If I later change to Spotify, which I think is unlikely, I will keep the same hardware.

I hope this will keep it decent and future proof.

RS.