Amazon just killed Tidal

I have been using Qobuz for over a year, very pleased with sound quality. I decided to take up Amazon on the 90 day free trial of Amazon Music HD.

First realize that Amazon Music HD is crippled compared to Tidal and Qobuz because it cannot use Wasapi exclusive mode. It is using Windows mixer in shared mode. Since your DAC cannot take control you have to set the rate and depth for each song you play in Windows mixer, hardly convenient.

Sound quality is deficient comparing same tracks in Amazon to Qobuz. I am hearing loss of resolution, sound stage depth and imaging. The differences are not subtle. The more resolving your system is the easier it is for you to hear the difference in quality.

I doubt Amazon will ever open their API so there could be integration with Roon and Audirvana. Hopefully they will at least update the desktop app so it can run in Wasapi exclusive mode. Saving ten dollars a month compared to Qobuz is irrelevant when the sound quality is not equal.

My advice? Stay with Tidal or Qobuz for a few months until we see if Amazon is going to listen to customer feedback. If/when exclusive mode is enabled then sign up for the free trial and compare. Don't swallow the audio press kool aid and think Amazon Music HD will put Tidal and Qobuz out of business, no way that happens with sound quality as is today.

@uberwaltz sorry I don't listen to music on my phone using mobile apps.

Amazon has their own forum, with a dedicated thread to the Amazon Music HD service. They apparently don't take criticism well, there has been a lot of discussion about poor sound quality of Amazon Music HD compared to Tidal and Qobuz.

The moderators pruned the negative posts last night, cutting the thread from 16 pages to 8. A company who censors constructive criticism probably won't improve the service by even implementing Wasapi exclusive mode.