Calling all Tidal users!
mikeyb128
Posts: 2,885
They claim lossless using google chrome. I have been A-B'ing with Apple Music. Wondering who uses them and what do you think? So far I'm liking tidal better in every way.
2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.
Comments
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Oh yes no contest. Tidal hifi is ACTUAL cd quality flac files, not 320 Mbps like the others. The SQ difference is clear...Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
I've used Tidal HiFi for past six months.
I'd say it's pretty noticeable with nice equipment, both headphones and stereo, but not so much with cheaper equipment, like laptop speakers or earbuds.
I actually did "proper" AB testing (no double blind though) on a Sonos system (allowed for quick switching between Sporify and Tidal with same songs) with a friend a few months back on a decent system. He's no "audiophile", but was able to pick the Tidal version out more than half the time. Most of the time, the differences were subtle, with the Tidal songs simply having greater dynamic range or slightly fuller bass. A few songs blew us away by the differences though (Hotel California and Frank Sinatra's "Come Dance With Me). We even tried songs that we didn't know as well or at all (see: Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande) and found pretty obvious differences.
Anyway, very happy customer. Did a family plan with a few friends, so only $10/month. -
Tidal user here also. I like it.2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
Tidal into tubes in my "work room" and kitchen via airport express. Love it!
System 1:Nakamichi PA-7Kenwood Basic C2Polk SDA 1C moddedSystem 2:Dynaco ST-70Polk Monitor 5B modded -
Get a streamer if you get tidal. A computer will kill it with the sound driver.
Please elaborate. Streaming tidal from my MacBook Pro -> USB -> benchmark DAC2 -> pre amp. So far I'm pleased. But if I can squeeze even the tiniest bit more quality, then I'm in.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
Then your fine. Skip was talking about going digital out using SPDIF or RCA. Your using USB to a DAC which is what he meant
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
As long as that benchmark is asynchronous--which I imagine it is--then yes ur fine.
I agree that in the car there is not much difference between tidal and say my own music streaming through google at 320 Mbps. So when I am on data I have it send at 320, which is mainly in the car or maybe at the airport.
At home on my modest setups I can't tell a difference between tidal and my own flac files through the squeezebox app.Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
I've used Tidal HiFi for past six months.
I'd say it's pretty noticeable with nice equipment, both headphones and stereo, but not so much with cheaper equipment, like laptop speakers or earbuds.
I actually did "proper" AB testing (no double blind though) on a Sonos system (allowed for quick switching between Sporify and Tidal with same songs) with a friend a few months back on a decent system. He's no "audiophile", but was able to pick the Tidal version out more than half the time. Most of the time, the differences were subtle, with the Tidal songs simply having greater dynamic range or slightly fuller bass. A few songs blew us away by the differences though (Hotel California and Frank Sinatra's "Come Dance With Me). We even tried songs that we didn't know as well or at all (see: Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande) and found pretty obvious differences.
Anyway, very happy customer. Did a family plan with a few friends, so only $10/month.
I agree, when I did my Tidal free trial I noticed even on non HiFi setting the sound was fuller than Spotify for instance. I found Spotify to be more bright and Tidal to be more rounded and bass/mid forward. I loved it! Just not $20 loved it. I also had issues with the UI which is was caused me to go back to Spotify...that and I bought Prince's greatest hits so I didn't feel I NEEDED them anymore.Just a dude doing dude-ly things
"Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
" I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
"Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
"Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
"Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member -
EndersShadow wrote: »
Then your fine. Skip was talking about going digital out using SPDIF or RCA. Your using USB to a DAC which is what he meant
Not what I meant. I haven't played with a Mac, but with a pc you can't get around the degradation and veil of the Windows sound driver. The usb out does not solve this issue. I got a Denon HEOS link to run with mine and it improved vastly.
It sounds good enough through pc, but nowhere near its potential.
Not a problem with a Mac.
Also, I have a small media center type PC at home, it doesn't have a sound driver at all, only USB out. So its not a problem there either. I have to wonder @DSkip if there wasn't something wonky with that particular machine, but I am not expert...Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
I use Tidal also and like the sound. I use my tablet connected to a MHDT Labs Steeplechase tube dac and it sounds very good.........for digital!
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There are other choices besides the Windows sound driver. I use Foobar2000 for playback in my work headphone rig & have installed the following driver:
foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_ks
I think Tidal defaults to it as well. -
I use Tidal also and like the sound. I use my tablet connected to a MHDT Labs Steeplechase tube dac and it sounds very good.........for digital!
I've also had great success with it running bluetooth APT-X into the iFi Stereo 50 from a phone or tablet. In fact, that is how most of my LSAF demo was conducted.
That is interesting. I've been looking into Bluetooth receivers to run into my DAC, and use my Samsung tablet. Logitech was what I was interested in, how do you think they compare @dskip?2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
Never mind it doesn't have aptx.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
With the last update, Chromecast support was added. I'm going to pick up on of those $30 Chromecast Audios and connect to my system via optical. I used the same connect with Spotify to great success, hopefully this is the same.
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With the last update, Chromecast support was added. I'm going to pick up on of those $30 Chromecast Audios and connect to my system via optical. I used the same connect with Spotify to great success, hopefully this is the same.
Good info Andrew, just picked one of these up to stream from my tablet. Will post my results after I get everything set up. Looks like the specs on the new chrome cast can support 24/196.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
Am I doing something wrong going from my laptop to my P5 via USB?
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Not at all. I use my laptop to DAC using USB as well. I am incorporating my tablet into the mix. It will be nice to sit on the couch with the tablet and surf some music wirelessly. For 40 bucks the chrome cast audio is worth a try. If I don't like it I will return it to BB and continue on my way with a wired connection. Just means I have to get off my a$$ and go over to the computer on the other side of the room.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
Thanks Mikey I guess that is what I do with the oppo media app but I dont use tidal
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I have a very nice DAC, and I just bought it, so I was looking for an economical way to stream quality music over my network to DAC. This thing gets great reviews, and was cheaper than trying to use an aptx enabled Bluetooth device.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
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I have been using it for some time now.
I was a Deezer user (hifi only on sonos) and gave Tidal a try, haven't looked back.
Also its a native app on my Transporter.
Too bad Apple may be buying them.
B&W CM9Classé Sigma -
@RamZet hopefully not. Guy over at audio stream says the deal may not actually be happening.
http://www.audiostream.com/content/apple-not-acquiring-tidal#FAaSDm8dtvuPvdmM.97 -
Well picked up the google chrome cast audio last night. Wasn't expecting it to be so small! Had this thing set up easy as pie. My wifi is on the top level of my house, and I didn't expect this tiny disc to get reception in my basement, and does no problem, no drop outs.
Tested it last night with a cheapie 3.5 to RCA patch cable I had lying around. They don't specify anywhere on the box that you need a toslink to mini (3.5mm) toslink cable, so the nice energy one I bought on sale wouldn't work. Have to say I'm very impressed with the sound quality of this thing with the crappy cable. Today I found the toslink mini adapter to use my energy optical cable, ran this into my benchmark dac2L and I'm blown away, the quality is outstanding and the tidal app on my galaxy tablet is just too cool, and easy to use. Best 40 bucks I have spent. Period!
2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
Forgot to mention the title cover is on a small record that spins. Also very cool.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
What remote app you guys using for controlling tidal on a Mac?
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What remote app you guys using for controlling tidal on a Mac?
I'm streaming directly from an android tablet. As for the MacBook I got up to change songs.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
I'm streaming Tidal from a Bluesound Node 2 in my 2 channel setup. What a sweet sounding little setup! I don't know that I can tell a difference between the same redbook album from my CD6006 to the album from Tidal through the Bluesound.2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
i gave up on tidal when i saw his wife promote the Black panthers.engtaz
I love how music can brighten up a bad day. -
EndersShadow wrote: »
Then your fine. Skip was talking about going digital out using SPDIF or RCA. Your using USB to a DAC which is what he meant
Not what I meant. I haven't played with a Mac, but with a pc you can't get around the degradation and veil of the Windows sound driver. The usb out does not solve this issue. I got a Denon HEOS link to run with mine and it improved vastly.
It sounds good enough through pc, but nowhere near its potential.
From what I've been told, Mac USB output for audio is FAR different than PC.
Mac's don't use drivers to connect to a DAC when using an asynchronous DAC, so there is no software limitations. IIRC, my Mac will totally bypass the sound card and dump the information to the DAC for all processing.
I could be wrong, but I've used my Mac to P5 via USB quite a bit and it sounds really good.
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I'm going to try and do some research on this, but if anyone has any info I'd love to hear it. I have a Mac mini sitting around that I could use, but, I hate to go back to apple unless absolutely necessary.
![[Deleted User]](https://w1.vanillicon.com/1b2b0ed5162b8b7b376441a856f243a1_100.png)
