Spotify Premium vs Tidal ... opinions?

ghosthouse,

Thank you for your reply.  I've been ripping my cds for the past month to an external hard drive attached to my Macbook air using dbpoweramp.

I have a Peachtree Grand Integrated that has onboard DACS and they go out to my beloved Quad 2805s.  It's a very simple system.  I also have a modest Cambridge transport that I use to play cds.

I've streamed a bit wirelessly using the MacBook and an Apple Airplay.  The quality was marginal at best. 

After reading your post I went to Staples and picked up a USB cable.  Even using that cheap ole' cable, the sound was much better.  Better enough that I gave Spotify a go.  Sounds okay.  Not great but okay.  And that's with their premium subscription.

I have a USB input on my amplifier, do you think an audiophile grade USB cable like your Pangea would get me closer to what I hear using cds and my transport? 

Thank you again,

Bob

I tried Tidal for the first time yesterday. The sound quality is very close to CDs that I've ripped via dBpoweramp. I compared several songs and every time the ripped CD sounded better. That being said, I'm going to keep Tidal.

Bob - we're quickly reaching the limit of what I know...a couple of suggestions before spending any more on a USB cable. 
1) try TIDAL.  See if that gets you closer to the CD quality sound you are looking for vs Spotify.  They offer a free (30...maybe even 60 day) trial so worth trying that.  I'm very happy with Spotify and do note that not all their content has the same sound quality.  

2) I don't know how good the DACs are in your Peachtree.  They might not benefit BUT see if you can negotiate trialing a USB/SPDIF converter.  In my experience that made a big difference in SQ vs straight USB input to a DAC.  Empirical Audio (Steve Nugent) offers a pretty high quality converter as well as in-home trial.  Worth looking into.  Return it if no benefit.  This also assumes you have a coax input to your Peachtree;'s DACs. 

3) For some lower cost converter options, see info here.
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/15-universal-serial-bus-industry-standard-cables-connectors-and-communications-protocols-between-computers-and-electronic-devices-spdif-converters-shootout-15327/
I used a V-Link with the original V-DAC and that made a big improvement in SQ.  The V-Link died and I replaced it with a V-Link 192 that I use with my Gungnir.  Would try Steve's Offramp converter if I were willing to pay that kind of scratch.  Might try a Gustard U-12 from China (see Ebay).

4)  I'd experiment with source and converter and then see what a new USB cable gets you.  Audio Advisor carries them.  I can tell you for sure the Pangea I bought was absolutely NOT top of their line.  You can pay stupid money for so-called "Audiophile USB" cables.  Wireworld Starlight series gets good reviews...series 7 Platinum is, I think, top of that line.  


Have fun.  Hope you get the sound you are looking for.

I’m hardcore into vinyl but became curious about streaming. So I bought the Auralic Aries Mini bundled with a year of Tidal to use in a second system. After listening for the past week, all I can say is wow! It really sounds good!

I have a Marantz SA-11S2 in this system as well. In an A/B comparison to Coltrane’s Blue Train on Redbook CD, I liked the Tidal/Mini better.

I won’t be giving up my turntables any time soon but I’m frankly amazed at what Tidal delivers, even through a five-inch square of plastic like the Mini. Remarkable.