If you look at the What-HiFi Best music streaming services over the years you notice that Tidal is a consistent winner. In 2022 with one star more than Qobuz.
The main reason being:
The only other issue is that, while Qobuz claims to have more hi-res tracks than rivals, Tidal’s hi-res streams also sound marginally better for timing and dynamics.
Qobuz consistently missing in the awards made me try to do the comparison myself again. Of course I know that sound quality is very subjective and that this subjectivity is driven to a great extent by the kind of music you listen to, both at home and live. But based on my own experience the sound quality of Qobuz is at least as good as that of Tidal.
To be sure of my opinion I created a hi-res playlist with a diverse range of music to do the comparison again. For the comparison I used the Naim NDX2 streamer. You can do the comparison yourself by using the two playlists below:
https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/12472962
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/8f17a855-56da-4373-87eb-9731bf2cf0a6
On the attached screen shot you can see the music on the playlist.
Overall my conclusion is that the differences are a lot smaller than between a good and a bad recording. So with both streaming services you can have a great time enjoying your hi-fi gear.
However I do feel there are differences, whereby my opinion is based on where do I feel closest to being in the studio with the musicians. Or put differently, when do I feel that there is the least interference between me and the instruments.
And for me the biggest difference, maybe not surprising, was with acoustical instruments.
For me Tidal gives me less depth and less air around the instruments than Qobuz. The biggest difference I heard was with the Prokofiev symphony. But there is also more air around the violin on Qobuz at the beginning of Beethoven, which makes it sound more natural. Also in 50 ways to leave your lover the drums and tambourine sound more natural to me in Qobuz and I also hear a certain harshness on Tidal later in the song (around 3 minutes).
Again the differences are small. But for me it confirmed my surprise that Qobuz has never been the award winner given that Qobuz sound at least as good as Tidal.
I am really looking forward to hear your opinion and experience.
The main reason being:
The only other issue is that, while Qobuz claims to have more hi-res tracks than rivals, Tidal’s hi-res streams also sound marginally better for timing and dynamics.
Qobuz consistently missing in the awards made me try to do the comparison myself again. Of course I know that sound quality is very subjective and that this subjectivity is driven to a great extent by the kind of music you listen to, both at home and live. But based on my own experience the sound quality of Qobuz is at least as good as that of Tidal.
To be sure of my opinion I created a hi-res playlist with a diverse range of music to do the comparison again. For the comparison I used the Naim NDX2 streamer. You can do the comparison yourself by using the two playlists below:
https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/12472962
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/8f17a855-56da-4373-87eb-9731bf2cf0a6
On the attached screen shot you can see the music on the playlist.
Overall my conclusion is that the differences are a lot smaller than between a good and a bad recording. So with both streaming services you can have a great time enjoying your hi-fi gear.
However I do feel there are differences, whereby my opinion is based on where do I feel closest to being in the studio with the musicians. Or put differently, when do I feel that there is the least interference between me and the instruments.
And for me the biggest difference, maybe not surprising, was with acoustical instruments.
For me Tidal gives me less depth and less air around the instruments than Qobuz. The biggest difference I heard was with the Prokofiev symphony. But there is also more air around the violin on Qobuz at the beginning of Beethoven, which makes it sound more natural. Also in 50 ways to leave your lover the drums and tambourine sound more natural to me in Qobuz and I also hear a certain harshness on Tidal later in the song (around 3 minutes).
Again the differences are small. But for me it confirmed my surprise that Qobuz has never been the award winner given that Qobuz sound at least as good as Tidal.
I am really looking forward to hear your opinion and experience.
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