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Tidal source device options PC app vs Google TV app vs AVR vs iPhone

B

BlackHole

Member
Hello Friends
I tried different sources for tidal:
1. Windows PC app
2. Chromecast with google tv app
3. AVR as streamer
4. iPhone tidal app

I find that while comparing the same album across all four sources, I find that the windows pc sounds the best - full and rich sound.

The rest of the chain of devices is the same - pre pro -> power amp -> speakers for the first three options.

For the iPhone option I had to use a smsl dac feeding into the pre pro -> power amp -> speakers because my pre pro does not accept usb inputs.

So my questions are:
Why is the app on chromecast sound inferior?
What is the app on the Yamaha avr inferior to pc?
Also why is the iPhone sounding so thin compared to windows pc?
 
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Day and night difference between the sources. I don’t know why tidal app on the iPhone sounds so thin. The Yamaha AVR app also sounds dull. The windows app is more sharper, full and clear. Same source albums. Do you use a dedicated streamer?
 
BlackHole said:
Day and night difference between the sources. I don’t know why tidal app on the iPhone sounds so thin. The Yamaha AVR app also sounds dull. The windows app is more sharper, full and clear. Same source albums. Do you use a dedicated streamer?
Click to expand...
I'll bet somethings' hiding in the settings. You should check every source to make sure the settings are the same. No loudness compensation, highest quality, no EQ etc. etc.
Oh. And when comparing you MUST be sure to compare with the same SPL.
 
The best quality sound I've gotten from Qobuz or Tidal. Is using a third party dnla app. I use Bubble UpNp. It's just Lan cable (or wifi) router to DAC (you mentioned having an smsl, It's dnla ready). I prefer cable an old school thing. What could be better than Tidal straight to DAC. Plus with dnla you can turn your computer, NAS, cloud etc into music servers, same route. Either local or access anywhere.
 
DeadTrader said:
The best quality sound I've gotten from Qobuz or Tidal. Is using a third party dnla app. I use Bubble UpNp. It's just Lan cable (or wifi) router to DAC (you mentioned having an smsl, It's dnla ready). I prefer cable an old school thing. What could be better than Tidal straight to DAC. Plus with dnla you can turn your computer, NAS, cloud etc into music servers, same route. Either local or access anywhere.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks I can do some lookup on bubble upnp I have no idea how to setup but I am confused about your suggestion to connect smsl dac Sanskrit mk2 to a router? Smsl dac has usb input, coaxial input and toslink input - which if these connect to a router?
Also my router is located in a different floor in my home.
 
BlackHole said:
Can you please advise what is CCA and how to set high quality? Sorry is this in the chromecast setting ?
Click to expand...
Chromecast Audio
1716181673124.png


Here's some info reg. the HDR setting of the CCA, which is NOT something related to audio QUALITY but rather a voltage output switch between 1.4 VRMS and 2.0 VRMS. I have made the same measurements to confirm that this guy is right-->

Chromecast Audio - Page 2

Chromecast Audio - Page 2
hydrogenaud.io hydrogenaud.io

1716181768937.png
 
BlackHole said:
Can you please advise what is CCA and how to set high quality? Sorry is this in the chromecast
Click to expand...
CCA - Chromecast Audio

You want the 'Full Dynamic Range' setting:

Sound settings - Streaming Help

Chromecast Audio uses sounds to indicate user actions. Here's more on how you can customize playback sounds: Playback sounds Start of cast session Whenever you start a cast session, Chromecast A
support.google.com support.google.com

But, as noted above, this is only relevant to the analogue output, and the optical output is always at full dynamic range.
 
You do not necessarily want to use the FDR setting. If your input device or power amplifier clips with it on you will need to switch it off. I had power amp that obtained full gain with 1.6 VRMS. The input was clipping with the CCA FDR on.
 
cpt_paranoia said:
That's discussed in the FAQ I linked. If you feed the CCA into a 'CD' input of an amp (with nominal 2V swing), you should not have problems.
Click to expand...
So as I said; you will need to be sure you are not overdriving your input. The vast majority of integrated amplifiers will have much much lower input sensitivity than 2 V. Some will support the extra voltage swing by not clipping, some will not and clip. If they do not clip you will have very high volume sensitivity on the knob though. Not exactly great usability if you have no means of adjusting either input sensitivity or attenuate the CD-player signal.

Here is a Yamaha A-S1000
Will it clip with 2 VRMS ? -Don't know.

1716264133683.png

Here is a NAD C320 BEE
Will it clip at 2 VRMS? -No. They have written that it supports voltage swings up to 6 V.
You'll probably still have to adjust the signal as full power is reached with 220 mV so you'll barely touch the volume before it will be too loud.

1716264335504.png
 
BlackHole said:
Ok thanks I can do some lookup on bubble upnp I have no idea how to setup but I am confused about your suggestion to connect smsl dac Sanskrit mk2 to a router? Smsl dac has usb input, coaxial input and toslink input - which if these connect to a router?
Also my router is located in a different floor in my home.
Click to expand...
Sorry for slow reply.
Starting with your pre-pro AV controller I assume, it has a DAC, and WiFi or Lan cable jack ( it has to be able to talk to your network). In any of the literature does it say it it is dnla or upnp compliant?

If yes to all then a UpNp client will give you the best quality connection to Tital. Plus you can steam any music on your computer or network.

Now your connection is internet / homenetwork to Dac. Which makes the DA,C the limiting factor in quality. I'm not saying that casting devices degrade the signal, but if you bypass them it can't be worse.

Bubble UpNp will also handle Airplay and Chromecast sources

Edit:
I have a NAS with 20k hrs of tunes here in Colorado and I can visit my brother-in-law in Michigan and access my library on his system.
 
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pre-pro is old school more than 15 years old....does not have network options. no bluetooth.

I dont think i can connect the smsl sanskrit mk 2 either to wifi or lan network.
 
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