I've had Tidal for a few months now. Definitely softer, not as dynamic, as my ripped files. Still has a bit more detail and separation than Napster though, but Napster is still more dynamic. Tidal just seems too rounded around the edges, but I do like the detail and separation it throws out. Trade offs I guess with everything.
HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
I've had Tidal for a few months now. Definitely softer, not as dynamic, as my ripped files. Still has a bit more detail and separation than Napster though, but Napster is still more dynamic. Tidal just seems too rounded around the edges, but I do like the detail and separation it throws out. Trade offs I guess with everything.
Try Qobuz for free. It sounds much closer to my ripped files than Tidal. I also found Tidal to sound too rounded.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
DAC: Bricasti M1SE
Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
Amp1: W4S MC-5, AMP2: W4S MMC-7
Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
I've had Tidal for a few months now. Definitely softer, not as dynamic, as my ripped files. Still has a bit more detail and separation than Napster though, but Napster is still more dynamic. Tidal just seems too rounded around the edges, but I do like the detail and separation it throws out. Trade offs I guess with everything.
Try Qobuz for free. It sounds much closer to my ripped files than Tidal. I also found Tidal to sound too rounded.
Agreed.
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
I'm curious what type of cable most are using. USB, I'm sure.
Keep this in mind . . . I'm a fresh as a daisy newbie streamer (using Tidal) and noticed a marked diff . . . er, improvement actually, going from a high quality USB to mid quality AES cable.
It's too soon to make any conclusions as the cable and transport aren't run-in, yet.
Are ya'll using USBs, or what?
Power Rogue M180 monos & Adcom GFA 5802
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
Source PSA PWT into NSD Supremo
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Center Salk HT2C
Pre Cary SLP-05
Wires WW & MIT
For the PC, I'm using AQ Cinnamon USB and iFi Purifier2 to the NS DAC. The 2 Cambridge streamers are connected to Tidal via WiFi, and then digital coax to the NS DAC in the basement and Peachtree Integrated in the living room.
Basement: Polk SDA SRS,Cary SLP-05 Pre,Enlightened Audio Designs CD Transport,Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC,Cambridge 851N streamer,Marantz SA-14 SACD,McIntosh MC300 Amp,Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Digital Cable,Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner,Pangea Power Cables,Wireworld Oasis 8 RCA IC's,MIT Shotgun S3 IC's,MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables Office: PC,EAR Acute CD Player,EAR 834L Pre,Northstar Designs Intenso DAC,PASS ACA Monoblocks,Denon UDR-F10 Cassette,Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers,SVS SB12 Plus sub,MIT AVt2 speaker cables,IFI Purifier2,AQ Cinnamon USB cable,Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's Spare Room: Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks,Tisbury Mini Passive Pre,Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38),Analysis Plus Oval 9's,Zu Jumpers,AudioEngine B1 Streamer,Klipsch RB-61 v2,SVS PB1000 sub,Blue Jeans RCA IC's Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated,Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer,Rotel RCD-1072 CD player,Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner,Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers,Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
I'm curious what type of cable most are using. USB, I'm sure.
Are ya'll using USBs, or what?
There’s many reviews with different cable set-ups… USB, Coaxial, AES. Most point to direct ethernet connection being the best and I can’t argue with that. I don’t see going back.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
DAC: Bricasti M1SE
Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
Amp1: W4S MC-5, AMP2: W4S MMC-7
Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
There’s many reviews with different cable set-ups… USB, Coaxial, AES. Most point to direct ethernet connection being the best and I can’t argue with that. I don’t see going back.
I use an extender with 5 ethernet inputs for my living room, works perfect
I should clarify. I’m coupling the “dacless” U1 Mini to my standalone DAC with said cable and direct Ethernet cable into the Mini
Wifi is not an option
I’ll let the usb run-in for the rest of the month and reevaluate 😎
Power Rogue M180 monos & Adcom GFA 5802
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
Source PSA PWT into NSD Supremo
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Center Salk HT2C
Pre Cary SLP-05
Wires WW & MIT
I went the AES/EBU route from my U1 mini to my DAC... No perceptible noise and no perceptible flavoring of the music. Neat and simple and the connectors lock.
My prefs would be:
1 AES/EBU
2. Digital Coax
3. USB
4. Optical
But I haven't found a way to make the U1 Mini sound "bad" yet....Nicest streamer I have used to date and it mates very nicely with my DAC.
I was also impressed by Tidal's Hi-Fi quality, just like CD quality. Although it's a little experience to subscribe to this plan, it worths this money.
To play my Tidal music offline, I have used Tidal Music Downloader to download and convert Tidal to MP3 with my Hi-Fi subscription and then play them on my offline devices, such as MP3 player.
I do love Tidal's high-quality audio files. Nice to meet Tidal to enjoy my music life.
Yes, let's convert Tidal to mp3s. Der duh der. Never heard of anything so pointless. Go away lame spammer.
"Electronic music is human sound adapting to indulge technology, and for some, it feels like the signature sound of energy. New and abstract sounds over hypnotic rhythms can conjure vast soundscapes for escape, pleasure, and transcendence."
I've had Tidal for a few months now. Definitely softer, not as dynamic, as my ripped files. Still has a bit more detail and separation than Napster though, but Napster is still more dynamic. Tidal just seems too rounded around the edges, but I do like the detail and separation it throws out. Trade offs I guess with everything.
I’m wondering if this rounding-off was done on purpose. So the majority of ear bud and Close ‘N Play listeners find it agreeable??
Clearly something was done to the master files, either deliberately or it’s a result of something else they did
I've had Tidal for a few months now. Definitely softer, not as dynamic, as my ripped files. Still has a bit more detail and separation than Napster though, but Napster is still more dynamic. Tidal just seems too rounded around the edges, but I do like the detail and separation it throws out. Trade offs I guess with everything.
I’m wondering if this rounding-off was done on purpose. So the majority of ear bud and Close ‘N Play listeners find it agreeable??
Clearly something was done to the master files, either deliberately or it’s a result of something else they did
Qubuz is very impressive. Sound is much better. signed up for the sublime+ for a year. not a bad deal at all. I guess its by by to Tidal. Thanks for the info.
I got to listen to some Tidal supplied music last night verses the same songs sourced from CD's, both run through the same DAC. Tidal SUCKS!!!
In another comparison, Audioquest IC's sound like poo compared to MIT.
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
Compared to FLAC’s of the same songs, they don’t compare. I wouldn’t say it sucks soup to nuts (mainly because it’s like having about 500,000+ cds) but head to head there is a clear winner.
I've got some older songs on my tidal playlist and I find the app doesn't level the volume between tracks very well. Also, there are some songs I have on Spotify that I can't find on tidal.
Not saying Spotify is any better though. I have the free version and the volume when ads play is ridiculously higher than the music on my playlist.
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
I got to listen to some Tidal supplied music last night verses the same songs sourced from CD's, both run through the same DAC. Tidal SUCKS!!!
In another comparison, Audioquest IC's sound like poo compared to MIT.
Once I get the USB C cable I need I'm going to compare Tidal to local FLAC.
Wouldn't it be something if all of my negatives on the Denton's was due to Tidal.
I guarantee it didn't help. I don't ever want to hear Tidal again.
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
I got to listen to some Tidal supplied music last night verses the same songs sourced from CD's, both run through the same DAC. Tidal SUCKS!!!
What was the source/device that was playing the Tidal tracks?
"Electronic music is human sound adapting to indulge technology, and for some, it feels like the signature sound of energy. New and abstract sounds over hypnotic rhythms can conjure vast soundscapes for escape, pleasure, and transcendence."
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
Comments
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
Try Qobuz for free. It sounds much closer to my ripped files than Tidal. I also found Tidal to sound too rounded.
Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
DAC: Bricasti M1SE
Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
Amp1: W4S MC-5, AMP2: W4S MMC-7
Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
Agreed.
"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
Office: PC,EAR Acute CD Player,EAR 834L Pre,Northstar Designs Intenso DAC,PASS ACA Monoblocks,Denon UDR-F10 Cassette,Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers,SVS SB12 Plus sub,MIT AVt2 speaker cables,IFI Purifier2,AQ Cinnamon USB cable,Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks,Tisbury Mini Passive Pre,Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38),Analysis Plus Oval 9's,Zu Jumpers,AudioEngine B1 Streamer,Klipsch RB-61 v2,SVS PB1000 sub,Blue Jeans RCA IC's
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated,Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer,Rotel RCD-1072 CD player,Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner,Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers,Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Keep this in mind . . . I'm a fresh as a daisy newbie streamer (using Tidal) and noticed a marked diff . . . er, improvement actually, going from a high quality USB to mid quality AES cable.
It's too soon to make any conclusions as the cable and transport aren't run-in, yet.
Are ya'll using USBs, or what?
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
Source PSA PWT into NSD Supremo
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Center Salk HT2C
Pre Cary SLP-05
Wires WW & MIT
Office: PC,EAR Acute CD Player,EAR 834L Pre,Northstar Designs Intenso DAC,PASS ACA Monoblocks,Denon UDR-F10 Cassette,Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers,SVS SB12 Plus sub,MIT AVt2 speaker cables,IFI Purifier2,AQ Cinnamon USB cable,Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks,Tisbury Mini Passive Pre,Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38),Analysis Plus Oval 9's,Zu Jumpers,AudioEngine B1 Streamer,Klipsch RB-61 v2,SVS PB1000 sub,Blue Jeans RCA IC's
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated,Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer,Rotel RCD-1072 CD player,Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner,Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers,Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
There’s many reviews with different cable set-ups… USB, Coaxial, AES. Most point to direct ethernet connection being the best and I can’t argue with that. I don’t see going back.
Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
DAC: Bricasti M1SE
Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
Amp1: W4S MC-5, AMP2: W4S MMC-7
Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
"No, that's silly talk. Dude, you can't possibly be this audio dumb so quit the act." - Doro
I should clarify. I’m coupling the “dacless” U1 Mini to my standalone DAC with said cable and direct Ethernet cable into the Mini
Wifi is not an option
I’ll let the usb run-in for the rest of the month and reevaluate 😎
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
Source PSA PWT into NSD Supremo
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Center Salk HT2C
Pre Cary SLP-05
Wires WW & MIT
My prefs would be:
1 AES/EBU
2. Digital Coax
3. USB
4. Optical
But I haven't found a way to make the U1 Mini sound "bad" yet....Nicest streamer I have used to date and it mates very nicely with my DAC.
HT:Polk LSiM 706 LSiM 705's VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's||Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras| Marantz AV7704 | Sunfire TGA-7401 | Oppo UDP 203 | Sony PS4 Pro| Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | | MIT EXP 2's (Fronts & Center)
ManCave: Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro | Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's | Usher BE-616 Center | SVS Ultra Surrounds | SVS SB4000 Sub | SVS SB2000 Sub | Oppo UDP 203 | MIT Shotgun S3's | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life | Samsung 50" SUHD TV | Sony PS4
Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |
Office |Cocktail Audio X14 | KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |
Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |
Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's
Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs|SVS PB13 Ultra |Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 | Bluesound Node |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 |
To play my Tidal music offline, I have used Tidal Music Downloader to download and convert Tidal to MP3 with my Hi-Fi subscription and then play them on my offline devices, such as MP3 player.
I do love Tidal's high-quality audio files. Nice to meet Tidal to enjoy my music life.
Clearly something was done to the master files, either deliberately or it’s a result of something else they did
Qobuz is on my list of things to try in the near future
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
Source PSA PWT into NSD Supremo
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Center Salk HT2C
Pre Cary SLP-05
Wires WW & MIT
Try it! Sound quality is better on Qubuz
Living Room:,T+A PA 1530R, Tyler Highland H2, High Fidelity Reveal RCA, PS Audio Direct Stream JR.
Have but haven't used in a while: LH Labs VI Dac, Cayin SCD50T, Aries Mini, Grant Fidelity Tube Dac 11, W4S recovery.
Village Idiot of Club Polk
In another comparison, Audioquest IC's sound like poo compared to MIT.
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
Office: PC,EAR Acute CD Player,EAR 834L Pre,Northstar Designs Intenso DAC,PASS ACA Monoblocks,Denon UDR-F10 Cassette,Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers,SVS SB12 Plus sub,MIT AVt2 speaker cables,IFI Purifier2,AQ Cinnamon USB cable,Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks,Tisbury Mini Passive Pre,Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38),Analysis Plus Oval 9's,Zu Jumpers,AudioEngine B1 Streamer,Klipsch RB-61 v2,SVS PB1000 sub,Blue Jeans RCA IC's
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated,Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer,Rotel RCD-1072 CD player,Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner,Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers,Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Office: PC,EAR Acute CD Player,EAR 834L Pre,Northstar Designs Intenso DAC,PASS ACA Monoblocks,Denon UDR-F10 Cassette,Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers,SVS SB12 Plus sub,MIT AVt2 speaker cables,IFI Purifier2,AQ Cinnamon USB cable,Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks,Tisbury Mini Passive Pre,Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38),Analysis Plus Oval 9's,Zu Jumpers,AudioEngine B1 Streamer,Klipsch RB-61 v2,SVS PB1000 sub,Blue Jeans RCA IC's
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated,Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer,Rotel RCD-1072 CD player,Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner,Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers,Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Not saying Spotify is any better though. I have the free version and the volume when ads play is ridiculously higher than the music on my playlist.
Once I get the USB C cable I need I'm going to compare Tidal to local FLAC.
Wouldn't it be something if all of my negatives on the Denton's was due to Tidal.
Village Idiot of Club Polk
MIT Shotgun S3 to something green.
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
I guarantee it didn't help. I don't ever want to hear Tidal again.
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
What was the source/device that was playing the Tidal tracks?
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk