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Who has tried "TIDAL" vs other streaming applications?

Hello, I'm new to Audiogon, this is my first posting into Forums.

I enjoy streaming audio from my PC and have been using Spotify for a number of years now (college student discount to premium $5 a month). I just recently stumbled upon a App called TIDAL, that streams Lossless 16/44.1FLAC with their "HI-FI" subscription (Student $10 a month). Since I can queue up Spotify and Tidal at the same time, I was able to do an A/B and used Dire Straits Brothers in Arms. I noticed that TIDAL indeed sounds better to me but am convinced none of my family members could tell a difference. I then did an A/B with TIDAL and the actual Brothers in Arms CD, to my surprise TIDAL sounded scary close, if not just as good as the CD! This is hard for me to believe, I think I'm just trying to justify the extra cost of TIDAL on a crazy tight student budget, maybe its a placebo effect? I need to drop one of the services, but which one? I would appreciate your thoughts please... Thank you!
My system:
PC = Gaming Rig I built myself, using dedicated high quality audio card.
Krell KAV 400xi integrated
Sonus Faber Electa's with Sunfire HRS Sub
Cambridge AZUR 840C CDP/DAC
Luxman T117 Tuner
Sony SCD - C2000ES SACD Player
Kimber Silver Streak throughout  


grm
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,152 posts
 
I can't explain it but several times I've compared TIDAL to Redbook CDs I own and TIDAL consistently is as good and in some cases sounds better. When TIDAL offers MQA, game, set & match to TIDAL.
+1

The only people who can say Spotify is superior to Tidal are deaf people.  

+1

bouquinist
1 posts
 
If you are a student and like classical you might want to see if your institution has a subscription to Naxos. My university has a subscription for free.

Tidal is lacking in classical music. Otherwise, it is a wonderful service. I hope it spawns competitors.

Like Topdown I stream through a Jolida Glass FX Tube DAC via Toslink. But, I found the sound to be even better if the source is a Bluesound Node as opposed to through a computer. The key is to bi-pass the Bluesound Node's own DAC and let the Jolida take over. Much better.
danvignau's avatar
danvignau
183 posts
 
     I tried Tidal and was quite unhappy with it, especially the contrived bass. Much of the sound was better than XM radio, which I do use for background music.
     BTW, on the XM channel that specializes in vinyl, they do not play vinyl, but simply decrease the dynamic range electronically. I have vinyl-nut friends who swear this sound better.  
justubes2
176 posts
 
No, you are right grm. 

It will never sound exactly as the cd, but all the qualities right up there with cd on a well setup system.

Just a slight differnce in presentation, but no lesser in quality and resolution.

I have almost entirely given up on cds.

Trust yourself, if it sounds good, its good.
grm OP
72 posts
 
Hello,

After spending a week or so having a great time with TIDAL, it turned out to be an easy decision to let go of Spotify. First and formost, the TIDAL SQ is by far better to "my" ears compared to Spotify. As a result, I am having such a great time discovering all types of music and entertaining videos in HIFI/HD. Thanks to all for contributing, it helped further reinforce an already easy decision for me to make!
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