New to streaming
- Thread starter john5220
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Tidal has good Hi Res files, Spotify has mostly low quality, Qubuz also has good quality files too.
Thanks! My neighbor has TIDAL so I'll probably go with them
Apples & oranges and not much to go on, but keeping it objective:
Spotify (commercial algorithmic jukebox) - $ / SQ
Tidal (non-commercial, on-demand) - SQ* / $$$
Qobuz (non-commercial, on-demand) - SQ* / $$
About SQ and higher costs - If Hi-Res is or maybe important to you Tidal uses MQA, a de facto proprietary technology requiring a physical streamer to ‘unfold’ the file a second time to yield its full resolution. Hence the additional $ above.
Disclaimer - I’ve streamed with a nearly dedicated by choice “all things audio” MacBook Pro using Audirvana for 10-15 years running now. Qobuz was written for OS when developers enjoyed Mac’s Hog Mode of the processor and ram. Tidal and Qobuz access are both embedded in Audirvana. I subscribed to T for a year before trying Q. I just re-upped Q for another year.
Subjectively - Tidal and Qobuz do Hi-Res, but MQA forces the purchase of additional audio hardware I don’t want. Q’s iOS app delivers Hi-Res to my car via CarPlay or AutoPlay. Q’s curation is more to my taste.
Spotify (commercial algorithmic jukebox) - $ / SQ
Tidal (non-commercial, on-demand) - SQ* / $$$
Qobuz (non-commercial, on-demand) - SQ* / $$
About SQ and higher costs - If Hi-Res is or maybe important to you Tidal uses MQA, a de facto proprietary technology requiring a physical streamer to ‘unfold’ the file a second time to yield its full resolution. Hence the additional $ above.
Disclaimer - I’ve streamed with a nearly dedicated by choice “all things audio” MacBook Pro using Audirvana for 10-15 years running now. Qobuz was written for OS when developers enjoyed Mac’s Hog Mode of the processor and ram. Tidal and Qobuz access are both embedded in Audirvana. I subscribed to T for a year before trying Q. I just re-upped Q for another year.
Subjectively - Tidal and Qobuz do Hi-Res, but MQA forces the purchase of additional audio hardware I don’t want. Q’s iOS app delivers Hi-Res to my car via CarPlay or AutoPlay. Q’s curation is more to my taste.
I bought a Wiim Pro streamer so I guess I'm set. Setting it up now
Congrats! I have tried Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and Qobuz. All have their pros and cons I think. For me I enjoyed Qobuz the best and went with a 3 year subscription to get the discounted rate.
One call out I'll add is depending on your house situation and how many people are using the internet for things like movie streaming and heavy gaming, etc. you may want to double check if you have any data limits on your internet plan.
I have WiiM Amp in the bedroom driving NHT SuperTwo’s which are difficult to open up with their built in subwoofers. That chip amp was an eye opener. Sounds pretty good.
Tidal stopped using MQA in July 2024, it has been FLAC since then.
I noticed this morning that when I use a playlist created by Tidal it sounds different (and NOT better) than playlists I've made myself with the same songs... On one of my lists I have Sade's Smooth Operator that sounds excellent, but on the Tidal playlist it is nearly unlistenable, same went for some Pink Floyd and Dire Straits tunes... WTF?
If you happen to already be in the Apple ecosystem I’d also throw Apple Music in the mix, works great with WiiM from iPhone or whatever. I switched when I got sick of Spotify not having lossless playback and never moved on to tidal or other options. Apples lossless and high res lossless sound great to me over my WiiM Pro and WiiM Pro Plus
turnitup
No, the stereo won’t break the crystal...Oh CRAP!
I am a Spotify user (lossless) and have used a Wiim mini for years to stream to my 70’s receiver (Apple household). I am setting up another vintage system (Marantz 2270) in another part of the house. Price-point and quality, should I purchase another Wiim mini, or are their other better quality or price-point options that have come online in the last few years that I should consider? The mini is ~$100, hoping to stay in that same general price range…
One argument that I have heard (and experienced) is that Wiim is entrenched in the streaming industry and offers great support and upgrades to software/firmware. They aren’t simply “dabbling”, and seem to be here for the long haul.
One argument that I have heard (and experienced) is that Wiim is entrenched in the streaming industry and offers great support and upgrades to software/firmware. They aren’t simply “dabbling”, and seem to be here for the long haul.
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The Wiim Ultra is excellent, but costs $350. Their Pro Plus is $250, and the Pro is $150 to $170... any of these would be better (I use Bluesound Nodes, but they are twice the price).
