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Post by Tim on Apr 9, 2023 15:32:27 GMT
I'm sure I read that all Tidal offerings in FLAC are MQA encoded. Haha, that's what that article I linked to says Martin - so maybe you did read it somewhere  |
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Post by wannarock2 on Apr 9, 2023 16:01:23 GMT
I’m part of a couple of communities that are very particular about their music quality. Tidal releases labeled ‘Master’ are MQA. Tidal also offers 16-44.1 FLAC. Albums with IDs prior to about 20000000 are AAC only and not FLAC. Golden Sound notes this in the article posted above “..let’s take a mainstream track, and compare the lossless version that is available on Qobuz, Deezer, and Amazon HD, to the version on TIDAL.
Starting with a track that is NOT marked as ‘Master’, I used “Save me from myself” by Louis the Child. Comparing the TIDAL version, and the Qobuz version using the DeltaWave software, we can see that they are bit for bit identical. No difference whatsoever.
Meaning for tracks WITHOUT the ‘MASTER’ tag, Tidal does deliver lossless files as long as the one provided by the artist/label was lossless in the first place.”
I’m far from a Tidal fan-boy, but a little objectivity and not jumping to conclusions matters.
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 9, 2023 17:16:42 GMT
Ah, would take forever for me as my playlists are quite complex. Eg multiple recordings of Shosta 10 for comparison some of which have other works edited out of the playlist. Of course it could be done but I don't have the urge right now. You probably know this by now Jules, but there are automated programs that allow you to transfer playlists and saved albums etc between streaming services. Qobuz offer one when you sign up for the trial called Soundiiz and it's free, even if you cancel the subscription, normally it's a paid service. There are others, don't know the names, but I suspect Google does So no reason to lose any playlists when/if you swap over. soundiiz.com/featuresYes I've come across such services Tim but it still sounds potentially traumatic. More importantly I've no desire to leave Spotify just yet, it fulfills my and family's needs very well at present. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 9, 2023 17:25:12 GMT
I’m far from a Tidal fan-boy, but a little objectivity and not jumping to conclusions matters. No jumping to conclusions here, my opinion is based on my listening experiences when I directly compared Tidal with Qobuz. Perhaps I just happened on master streams when making the comparisons, but regardless of format Qobuz always sounded better. |
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Post by wannarock2 on Apr 9, 2023 17:41:54 GMT
I’m far from a Tidal fan-boy, but a little objectivity and not jumping to conclusions matters. .. regardless of format Qobuz always sounded better. psychoacoustics at work  |
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Post by Tim on Apr 9, 2023 17:52:58 GMT
There is no 'better' is there?, there's 'different' and which one you prefer is totally subjective. And I'm not talking here about 'well of course a FLAC file is better than an .mp3' - I'm talking about comparing very similar things, which probably 90% of the general public would think were identical. Is Lady GaGa better than Adele? (don't answer that . . .  ) Thankfully there are a multitude of options out there now so we can choose what's best for us, which might be very different to what's best for the next person. I've tried all 3 of the main ones now and I'm happy to find one which suits my needs best right now, no saying that will be the same next year though |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 9, 2023 20:24:32 GMT
I've tried all 3 of the main ones now So have I, and there's nothing better than speaking from experience. Unless something dramatic happens, I'll be sticking with Qobuz. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 11, 2023 16:00:51 GMT
Still working on choosing a streaming supplier
More looking for albums
Spot slightly ahead of Qob for availability
YouTube (not YouTube music) has most of the seemingly obscure stuff not available on either the above and sounds at least reasonable
Some albums I'd like only have LPs available, maybe a CD at extortionate cost
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Post by Tim on Apr 11, 2023 18:07:52 GMT
Still working on choosing a streaming supplier Trial them all Mike, rather than looking for selection of album choices as there are very different experiences - some will annoy the hell out of you, at least they did me and eventually you 'should' gravitate towards the one for adult music lovers Fun trying it all out though, whichever one you decide on, as they are different. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 11, 2023 19:29:58 GMT
Still working on choosing a streaming supplier Trial them all Mike, rather than looking for selection of album choices as there are very different experiences - some will annoy the hell out of you, at least they did me and eventually you 'should' gravitate towards the one for adult music lovers Fun trying it all out though, whichever one you decide on, as they are different. I am probably using the same as the paid for Spotty Installing Bubble for Qobuz will be a different kettle of spanners Hated Volumio on the Pi |
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Post by Tim on Apr 11, 2023 21:12:01 GMT
You still got the Pi Mike?
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 12, 2023 8:01:42 GMT
Still have it in a cupboard
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Post by Tim on Apr 12, 2023 8:06:20 GMT
Haha, I guessed it might be, keep it away from Martin's blowtorch!
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Post by MartinT on Apr 12, 2023 8:20:29 GMT
keep it away from Martin's blowtorch! Not necessary, Mike has applied his 'aura' to it. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 16, 2023 15:58:26 GMT
7 months since the Bluesound arrived and I still haven't signed up with a streaming service
Slow making decisions but that's a long time even for me. The real reason is the change in my outlook
Everything is here. Don't have to find that rare CD, or LP as I used to.
Spent a lot of time looking for albums, sampling them at least once. Don't do that anymore
Can't listen to everything at once so I can stream the odd album and ease into streaming
More relaxed about it all and very importantly freeing up time
Still listening to CDs. Streaming up slightly
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Post by Tim on Apr 16, 2023 16:18:40 GMT
You can't rush these things Mike Now I'm back to normal with my music server I reckon I stream about 20-25% of the time and the rest is my own music. I don't buy a lot anymore as I think what I have is more than enough, especially as I probably only play about 40% or less of my collection anyway. I think I have enough. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 18, 2023 10:56:13 GMT
Bluesound specific feature
There is a 12v trigger output I've been meaning to try.
Yes ! It works
Turn on Bluesound and the TAD power amp comes on
Turn off, TAD off
Unexpected feature
CD playing, Bluesound not in use for maybe 10 minutes
Power amp turns off
Workaround
Start YouTube playing on laptop connecting to Bluesound via Bluetooth
Power amp comes on
2nd workaround
Turn power amp on with its own switch to stay on, so far
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Post by Tim on Apr 18, 2023 11:13:13 GMT
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 18, 2023 12:01:52 GMT
Not a bug - a feature !  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 18, 2023 14:07:00 GMT
I'll try the Bluesound on direct, as opposed to being driven by Bluetooth
Otherwise it will be unplugged from power amp before it drives me mad turning off every 10 minutes or so
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📶NAS > Gustard x26p DAC > Benchmark LA4 Pre-Amp > NAD M22-V2 Amplifier > Revel F228Be Speakers
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