tidal

[drummerman]

I had to scratch an itch.

Good things first, like Spotify I like the interface though Spotify still is ahead in that respect. Like Spotify (Premium) I like the sound.

The not so good; The waiting for the loading of songs drives me schmuts. Online I want instant. For anything else I use cd's or records.

Undecided so far but I'll use the trial period up and make my mind up at the end of it.

 

[CnoEvil]

As a Linn DS owner, I believe I'm entitled to a 60 day free trial....which I hope to take up in the near future.

 

[drummerman]

Mmmhh, just noticed that apparently, I need to use google chrome to enjoy the highest quality replay ... not good.

I use IE.

Under settings I can select the high quality playback option but not sure if I actually get it with IE.

Does anyone know if the worlds most popular browser is supported by Tidal now?

 

[Vladimir]

Mmmhh, just noticed that apparently, I need to use google chrome to enjoy the highest quality replay ... not good.

I use IE.

Under settings I can select the high quality playback option but not sure if I actually get it with IE.

Does anyone know if the worlds most popular browser is supported by Tidal now?

Why are you using the browser at all? Just download the software for your computer.

Regarding the loading speed, yeah that's how it is. I used Wimp before it became Tidal and this wasn't an issue. The day they switched me to Tidal I noticed a drop in loading speeds, lots of dropouts and glitches, even features missing. I thought it's still some first beta, I'll be patient. However, everything is still the same over half a year later.

I prefer Qobuz but it costs more. I'm not sure if I should jump ships yet.

 

[drummerman]

Mmmhh, just noticed that apparently, I need to use google chrome to enjoy the highest quality replay ... not good.

I use IE.

Under settings I can select the high quality playback option but not sure if I actually get it with IE.

Does anyone know if the worlds most popular browser is supported by Tidal now?

Why are you using the browser at all? Just download the software for your computer.

Regarding the loading speed, yeah that's how it is. I used Wimp before it became Tidal and this wasn't an issue. The day they switched me to Tidal I noticed a drop in loading speeds, lots of dropouts and glitches, even features missing. I thought it's still some first beta, I'll be patient. However, everything is still the same over half a year later.

I prefer Qobuz but it costs more. I'm not sure if I should jump ships yet.

'Hifi playback is only possible in Google Chrome' (as stated in settings)

 

[Vladimir]

Mmmhh, just noticed that apparently, I need to use google chrome to enjoy the highest quality replay ... not good.

I use IE.

Under settings I can select the high quality playback option but not sure if I actually get it with IE.

Does anyone know if the worlds most popular browser is supported by Tidal now?

Why are you using the browser at all? Just download the software for your computer.

Regarding the loading speed, yeah that's how it is. I used Wimp before it became Tidal and this wasn't an issue. The day they switched me to Tidal I noticed a drop in loading speeds, lots of dropouts and glitches, even features missing. I thought it's still some first beta, I'll be patient. However, everything is still the same over half a year later.

I prefer Qobuz but it costs more. I'm not sure if I should jump ships yet.

'Hifi playback is only possible in Google Chrome' (as stated in settings)

That applies if you use the Web Player. But if you use the Standalone App you get the best streaming and you don't hump the browser for music playback.

 

[drummerman]

Mmmhh, just noticed that apparently, I need to use google chrome to enjoy the highest quality replay ... not good.

I use IE.

Under settings I can select the high quality playback option but not sure if I actually get it with IE.

Does anyone know if the worlds most popular browser is supported by Tidal now?

Why are you using the browser at all? Just download the software for your computer.

Regarding the loading speed, yeah that's how it is. I used Wimp before it became Tidal and this wasn't an issue. The day they switched me to Tidal I noticed a drop in loading speeds, lots of dropouts and glitches, even features missing. I thought it's still some first beta, I'll be patient. However, everything is still the same over half a year later.

I prefer Qobuz but it costs more. I'm not sure if I should jump ships yet.

'Hifi playback is only possible in Google Chrome' (as stated in settings)

That applies if you use the Web Player. But if you use the Standalone App you get the best streaming and you don't hump the browser for music playback.

Got it. Cheers Vladimir

 

[p_m_brown]

I've read a lot of post on other forums suggesting that there are problems with intermittent drop outs during playback which I have just started experiencing after the best part of 4 hours of playing with Tidal without any problems.

Doesn't support gapless playback either which is annoying. Not so bothered given I have a 90 free day trial for now - hopefully their developers and infrastructure folks are working to improve.

 

[drummerman]

I haven't really had a chance to properly try (and compare with Spotify) but so far I quite like Tidal. Sound quality seems to be good. No drop-outs and the initial long'ish loading time/buffering for songs seems to have gotten a little quicker too but it's still not Spotify (Premium) quick.

I quickly had a look at Qobuz and may as well try it too in a few weeks as it is supposed to be geared towards jazz and classical, both of which form quite a bit of my listening, especially the former.

I did listen to some HD 24/192 samples and whilst good, it probably wouldn't be the main reason to choose Qobuz but it's a nice option to have anyhow but you have to pay extra. I would prefer to have a monthly subscription which includes HR even if my systems (and ears) are probably not worth the additional expense ... .

I haven't compared Tidal and Qobuz Flac quality.

 

[fr0g]

I found it pointless.

Now listening to Spotify and Google play music ( mainly so I can have my own collection up in cloud land) through my Chromecast audio via optical into my ADMs.

Sounds fantastic.

 

[drummerman]

I found it pointless.

Now listening to Spotify and Google play music ( mainly so I can have my own collection up in cloud land) through my Chromecast audio via optical into my ADMs.

Sounds fantastic.

Nice to see you back.

To be honest, I never had a problem with spotify premium's sound quality even side by side with ripped Flacs/MusicBee and or CD's/Vinyl.

Still, it can't hurt to try something different every so often.

 

[p_m_brown]

I've used Qobuz for a couple of years now and have seen it improve quite considerably. I haven't bothered to upgrade to the high res option but do have a Hifi (16bit 44.1khz FLAC) subscription and feel that it is worth every penny!

Im not really set up to do a proper like for like test of Tidal vs Qobuz as they are coming from different sources, but both sound great to me, albeit with the issues I mentioned before.

 

[CnoEvil]

I found it pointless.

Now listening to Spotify and Google play music ( mainly so I can have my own collection up in cloud land) through my Chromecast audio via optical into my ADMs.

Sounds fantastic.?

 

Hi Frog....it's good to see you haven't changed.

I hope you hang around for a bit.

 

[Leeps]

Like Drummerman, I do like Tidal's general layout. It seems very logical and clear, while Spotify's front end looks a little busy to the eye in comparison. The layout for your own music and playlists is really good to use.

However Spotify's advantage is in its personalised recommendations that Tidal lacks: I miss the regular Spotify emails recommending music based on your listening habits. I think this is something Tidal really needs to introduce. I make up for it by using Discovr and numerous specialised channels on Youtube. I have to admit too that I'm not keen on its pop/hip-hop/rap (and boxing!!!! Why????) bias on the home page since Jay Z's arrival. It was better (to my musical tastes) before he got involved: I don't spend long on the What's New page these days.

It's interesting that I do use Tidal differently to when I had Spotify. I tended to use Spotify for discovering new artists, hopping from one track to another. But I use Tidal in a similar way to how I used CD's; I'll select an album or a playlist and just listen to the whole thing properly.

Never used Deezer though. Would like to see it at least.

 

[fr0g]

Main advantage nowadays with Spotify is the connect option.

I have my music playing and whether I sit down and only have my phone in my pocket, or I'm using my laptop for something, I can open up spotify and control the same stream. In my case now with the ridiculously great VFM chromecast audio. The "playing your own" stuff is clunky, but works(I guess through DLNA).

I love the auto-generated playlists it gives me, I love the recommendations and I like that I can see what my friends are playing.

Quality wise I have tried the lossless options and hear no discernable difference. If others really can, then fine, but for the price of one of the lossless options I can have Spotify premium AND Google play music and still have enough over for a couple of cans of beer!

Gonna get me a couple more CA's too With devices such as these I fear the likes of Sonos is pretty much dead in the water.

 

[drummerman]

I love the auto-generated playlists it gives me, I love the recommendations and I like that I can see what my friends are playing.

Agree. Tidal certainly lacks in that respect of what I have seen so far.

 

[tyranniux42]

I jumped from spotify premium to Tidal pretty early on (within a month or so of it being released) as even in its early phases had the sound quality jump that made the extra tenner a month a no brainer for me. I effectivly stopped buying CDs.

The fact that naim has (extremely neatly IMHO) integrated it into the latest firmware version of my amp/streamer is a bonus. 90 day free trial (payments suspended until Jan 16) and the seamless integration mean that I can build playlists from content stored on my NAS or from my playlists on Tidal, in most cases without even realising which source is playing. Top job i say.

 

[CnoEvil]

The fact that naim has (extremely neatly IMHO) integrated it into the latest firmware version of my amp/streamer is a bonus. 90 day free trial (payments suspended until Jan 16) and the seamless integration mean that I can build playlists from content stored on my NAS or from my playlists on Tidal, in most cases without even realising which source is playing. Top job i say.

 

My only complaint - Linn only gets a 60 day free trial compared to Naim's 90 *dash1*

 

[fr0g]

...and the seamless integration mean that I can build playlists from content stored on my NAS or from my playlists on Tidal, in most cases without even realising which source is playing. Top job i say.

Maybe I just haven't got golden ears, but I have done the same with Spotify and Google play. I have most of my own stuff ripped to FLAC, but I will listen on Spotify if I am on Spotiify, and in all honesty, there is no obvious audible difference.

Once I got over myself and the need to be sure, I realised that I really couldn't tell 320 Kbps lossy files from lossless.

I honestly doubt anyone can reliably.

So the idea of paying double for an inferior service...ain't gonna happen. In fact, if Spotify cost more than Tidal, I would probably still pick Spotify. And in many ways it ought to cost more...the one thing I am uneasy about is the reported lousy royalties some of the smaller artists get.

 

[tyranniux42]

what is your system if you dont mind me asking?

I can honestly say that I havent compared tidal to spotify on my new system, the last time I did I was using my old system - Mac feeding into the DAC of the Naim Unitilite and in turn fed into my nait XS. Difference was massive to my ears, hence my non issue with paying £20 per month.

I fully agree though that the spotify discover service is an order of magnitude better than Tidals. I found so much new music using spotify, something that has yet to really happen with Tidal.

 

[tyranniux42]

The fact that naim has (extremely neatly IMHO) integrated it into the latest firmware version of my amp/streamer is a bonus. 90 day free trial (payments suspended until Jan 16) and the seamless integration mean that I can build playlists from content stored on my NAS or from my playlists on Tidal, in most cases without even realising which source is playing. Top job i say.

My only complaint - Linn only gets a 60 day free trial compared to Naim's 90 *dash1*

what streamer are you using out of interest? recently attended a 'Who' evening at one of the linn lounge events. system sounded great, although all in I think it cost approximately 5 times what mine did, with my preference still being my own system, each to their own I guess but I do like the whole room optimisation idea...

 

[CnoEvil]

what streamer are you using out of interest? recently attended a 'Who' evening at one of the linn lounge events. system sounded great, although all in I think it cost approximately 5 times what mine did, with my preference still being my own system, each to their own I guess but I do like the whole room optimisation idea...

I use a Linn Majik DS (with MF AMS 35i and Kef Ref 205/2).

I have also heard very expensive "All Linn" systems, and think better sound can be had for less money.

 

[Deleted member 116933]

Main advantage nowadays with Spotify is the connect option.

I have my music playing and whether I sit down and only have my phone in my pocket, or I'm using my laptop for something, I can open up spotify and control the same stream. In my case now with the ridiculously great VFM chromecast audio. The "playing your own" stuff is clunky, but works(I guess through DLNA).

I love the auto-generated playlists it gives me, I love the recommendations and I like that I can see what my friends are playing.

Quality wise I have tried the lossless options and hear no discernable difference. If others really can, then fine, but for the price of one of the lossless options I can have Spotify premium AND Google play music and still have enough over for a couple of cans of beer!

Gonna get me a couple more CA's too With devices such as these I fear the likes of Sonos is pretty much dead in the water.

Naim have it built straight into there app on there idevice's. No need to even open the tidal app or conect a computer to the Uniti, But having said that algoritharium that spotify use is far better. It takes a lot of searching to find music i want to listen too on Tidal. So i use both Spotify and Tidal together at the moment.

Sound quality wise there is difference but it very subtle. The music isn't so brash in the top end and Tidal definitely has a warmer tone in the bottom end making it more pleseing to listen too. To me at least

 

[Leeps]

Naim have it built straight into there app on there idevice's. No need to even open the tidal app or conect a computer to the Uniti, But having said that algoritharium that spotify use is far better. It takes a lot of searching to find music i want to listen too on Tidal. So i use both Spotify and Tidal together at the moment.

Sound quality wise there is difference but it very subtle. The music isn't so brash in the top end and Tidal definitely has a warmer tone in the bottom end making it more pleseing to listen too. To me at least

Millennia_one, I'd be interested to know how smoothly your Tidal-in-Naim app works. Using Tidal's iOS app on Airplay, I find that it sometimes just stops part way through an album or playlist and usually Airplay deselects my AV receiver. I can't be sure whether it's my receiver, the iOS app, Airplay or Tidal itself that does this. As soon as funds permit I'd like to look at a wired ethernet solution to stop any wifi issues, but if it's Tidal itself causing this then obviously it wouldn't be worth spending money.

How do you find it?

The adoption of Tidal by players such as Naim is a reasonable vote of confidence, although it would be nice to see it as ubiquitous as Spotify bundled in AV receivers and more mainstream brands like Pioneer, Yamaha et al.

 

[p_m_brown]

Hi Leeps

The Naim app itself is pretty good (with the caveat that I have been a Sonos fan for a long time now!) but I have the same issues with occasional drop outs and the app not recognising the streamer after my ipad or Android phone go to sleep when using Tidal. Sounds like Tidal specific problems; issues they are no doubt working hard to fix.