Tidal hifi streaming

joecoulson

So I just signed up for the 30 day trial and did some a/b testing back and forth with Apple Music. Quite a difference in audio quality. Will see if I actually get use out of it as the wife loves the seamless integration of Apple Music into our cars and phones, but as I type this I am listening to Tori Amos and and thinking I need to stop buying CD’s for a while and enjoy this service.
Any of you have this and have you compared with other streaming services and have anything to add?

Mikey081057

I use Tidal with Streaming Devices and a solid state PC and DAC. I've added a Chromecast Audio device as well. Certainly the best SQ and convenience option in audio. You can make up some great playlists like they were mix tapes

joecoulson

I just have the Sonos connect which I know is no where near the best but it’s what I have currently. I have it connected to the Pre using toslink. So at least I am using the Marantz DAC and not the Sonos one.
I would like to get a pro streamer, just not sure if I wanna drop $1500-3k on one. Not sure if the bluesound node 2 is worth $500 or if it will be a glorified Sonos.

joecoulson

So that brings up a question I cannot seem to answer, is there much of a difference between that mini and the bluesound IF I am send the signal to a sep DAC? Would there be much difference in those from the Sonos for that matter? I get the DAC’s would make the most impact downstream, but is there that much of a difference in the way 1’s and 0’s are handled?

joecoulson

Any thoughts on the Cambridge CXN v2?
And no offense taken, will google the comparisons

rooftop59

Love tidal! Use both a Bryston BDP-1 and a little NUC computer and while the bryston is definitely superior, the computer works great for causal listening and sounds really decent unless you are really listening critically, which I almost never am in the family room.

I’ve bought maybe 5 cds in the last year...

The next step is Roon, definitely takes it to the next level especially if your library is digitized.

Derf

@DSkip set me up with an Aries mini and North Star Supremo DAC which I use to stream Tidal. I really like the service. I added a Marantz SA8004 just because I wanted to try out SACDs. Bought Santana’s “Abraxas” from MOFI. Tidal stream of the same album gives slightly more detail.

Mikey081057

Skip is your experience with the Node or the Node2 ? Important to note that the Mini is an end of life product and only integrates with IOS where the Bluesound products integrate with IOS Android Windows MAC Chrome OS and receives many updates and excellent support as a current product. I would be curious to do a comparison with Fred's mini /North Star rig vs my Node2 Mytek Brooklyn DAC+.

Maybe we can meet up after Hurricane season Fred?

Derf

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Maybe we can meet up after Hurricane season Fred?

Sounds good, Mike. Look forward to it!

txcoastal1

Derf wrote: »

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Maybe we can meet up after Hurricane season Fred?

Sounds good, Mike. Look forward to it!

Let me know when this may happen

Mikey081057

You coming to SW FL Ronnie?

txcoastal1

Mikey081057 wrote: »

You coming to SW FL Ronnie?

If timing right I'll puddle jump from Pensacola to Tampa area for $250
Just need 3 weeks notice

In the future may have a Buc-ee's coming to your area. There are 4 on the schedule, only disclosed are Daytona and St Johns

Mikey081057

Cool but we are closer to Fort Myers... Tampa is about 2 hours north of me and about 3.5 hours north of Fred...

Nevermind there are no non stops.... we will work it out

txcoastal1

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Cool but we are closer to Fort Myers... Tampa is about 2 hours north of me and about 3.5 hours north of Fred...

Nevermind there are no non stops.... we will work it out

Driving 2hrs for me is like most people driving 30min...can do a lot of business on the ground

txcoastal1

This is my route this Thursday and Friday

tonyb

txcoastal1 wrote: »

..can do a lot of business on the ground

Yeah, we know. You and Tom have a lot in common it appears.

txcoastal1

tonyb wrote: »

txcoastal1 wrote: »

..can do a lot of business on the ground

Yeah, we know. You and Tom have a lot in common it appears.

hey now, you're the one with pics on your cell phone

Derf

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Let me know when this may happen

Sounds like we’re getting a party started!

Mikey081057

They're not just on his phone the NSA has them too!!!

Mikey081057

Intriguing

joecoulson

Skip. Was trying to locate that Aries mini to no avail. Any ideas on where to find?

rburgess714

The mini is hands down one of the best audio purchases I have made over the last couple years. Easy to use, sounds great a lot of bang for the buck. Worth waiting for on the used market.

Rich502

rburgess714 wrote: »

The mini is hands down one of the best audio purchases I have made over the last couple years. Easy to use, sounds great a lot of bang for the buck. Worth waiting for on the used market.

I agree, can’t believe I didn’t pick one up when they were still making them. Now to find an alternate, that does the same thing, even if slightly more money.

steveinaz

Does Tidal have like a radio function where you can just tell it you want classic rock, and it will play songs? Like Pandora?

Clipdat

As far as I could tell, no. You can tell it to generate playlists based off a certain artist, but it was always the same playlist per artist, in my experience. I wish that it had a radio feature like Pandora.

txcoastal1

You can pic genres, if that’s what you are asking

steveinaz

txcoastal1 wrote: »

You can pic genres, if that’s what you are asking

Will it play a genre of misc songs, or do you have to pick and chose each song?

steveinaz

Oddly, I know Pandora is basically stone age, but I love the radio like feature. As an example I created the "Kansas Channel" and it is awesome. It nails the songs I'm looking for in classic rock.

Funny thing, Pandora "free" sounds way better than XM.

txcoastal1

It will show a list and then you could edit or hit play

steveinaz

So, if I select genre, then Rock, and hit play; it will play a mix of rock songs?

Mikey081057

In addition.... Roon has a feature called Roon Radio that you can select to play a similar genre mix of music after playing an album which is pretty cool.