My experience with Amazon is that their fanciest version is only slighly less than actual CD. You have to listen hard to hear it. Not enough to spoil your enjoyment of the music. Since it's free with "Prime," I consider it a great service!
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I would think that volume matching would be important: Streaming services may not play at the same level so the louder one will sound better to most people. I tried comparing Tidal to my Hard Drive with the files ripped to the AIFF format(full CD quality) and discovered that Tidal was louder but did not sound better once I did the volume match.
One should keep in mind that the two services could be using a different master which could be a multi-generational source:
Also, 1 demo from Van Halen, not known for audiophile recordings, is not a good barometer. I would think 5 to 10 demos across different genres of music would be more accurate.
I don't use either of the services. My friend was over with his Tidal app and I decided to compare and decided to pass in favor of my hard drive.
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Along those same lines as to who has what high res. I was listening to “Flim and the BB’s” in both Amazon and Apple. One release titled “Tunnel” has the wrong music. What was strange is that both Amazon and Apple had the same incorrect media. Im inclined to believe that many of the music providers have a proprietary front end, but they actually stream from a common back end system that’s used by multiple clients. I’m very suspicious about the use of “high res studio masters”. What are we actually getting and where is it stored?
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@cahuck
Please check out Qobuz. Free trail. High res files are excellent.
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Have had Amazon HD for over a year now and am VERY HAPPY. I stream only R&R. Old 60's 70's guy etc. I stream using USB from my windows based PC, hardwired directly to an outboard Benchmark DAC 3B. System just under 14K Never at a loss for content, most of what I listen to is offered at 24/96 and a lot at 24/192 Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Fleet wood Mac, Journey, 't etc. Never seems to be out, always there when I want it. Couldn't say enough good things about it. As a prime member I pay about $8.75 a month. Never tried Tidal, probably because of what I've written above. Robert TN
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Am listening to Amazon Music HD with Airplay into my stereo/AV rig using the app from my iPhone or iPad. (Airplay will deliver Red Book audio and the network adapter supports mini plug and digital out.) I’ve A-B’d several CDs vs Amazon and can’t tell the difference. I do find that when some recording are labeled “remastered” the sound can be distorted and/or compressed. May be the Master selection issues others have noted?
Keyword search in the Amazon app can be problematic sometimes. Keying in “Jarret Shostakovich” should find his recording of the piano preludes and fugues. It doesn’t. Etc. etc.
On a side note, I’m using the same setup to stream Roon. 1200 CDs imported to ITunes using ALAC. Roon server on my Windows PC uses the iTunes repository. Roon app on iPhone and iPad. Again, A-B a CD and can’t hear the difference. (Although I can hear the difference between AAC and ALAC encoding.)
Streaming has changed how I listen to music - in a good way. I do miss liner notes, tho. I like to know who played, engineered, and mastered the recording.
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Roon / Tidal works really, really well for me, and have always been happy with the FLAC stream from Tidal. Roon / Tidal very seamless and Roon is excellent
Have heard Amazon interface / experience a little wonky, but never used it
If Spotify ever gets its act together and starts streaming FLAC, I might check it out
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I’m using Tidal through my Roon Nucleus and like the setup but have noticed their music selection lacks some of the tracks I like.
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I use Amazon Music steaming through a Node 2i and have rarely had an issue with the sound quality. They have a mix of CD quality and hi res quality up to 24/192 in their library and am usually satisfied with most of what I listen to.
I haven't had an issue connecting to the Node 2i through the Bluesound app or directly from the Amazon Music app using an iPhone or iPad.
I have never used Tidal so cannot comment on a comparison between the two.
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I tested Prime for 3 months.
It was OK.
Sound quality was a little uneven from album to album, but mostly OK.
I found Tidal to be more consistent and was as good or better than Prime most of the time.
Two larger factors included:
1. Tidal connect integrates better with my Node streamer.
2. On Prime, a number of my favorite albums simply did not play on the Node...giving me faint static crackling sound and no music what so ever.
I tried the 3 month trial from Tidal. HiFi for 6 weeks and HiFi plus for the remaining 6 weeks. At the end I subscribed the the HiFi plan...had no use for MQA. I’ve been very happy with the HiFi plan.
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I recently switched my digital cable between my streamer and my DAC, from a mid-level cable to the top of the companies lineup. What a difference, contrary to what people say, the digital cable plays a big part. I stream Tidal, And everything sounds better now.
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I am usually equally happy with the sound quality of music from both
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What a minute! Are you saying Tidal sound quality was lower just on that one track? That could easily be attributed to the master that is being provided by the streaming provider.
What is your overall opinion of the sound quality of Tidal vs. Amazon Music?
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I connected directly to both via Nad M33 Bluos app. Was just surprised Tidal coujd be lesser quality for that one track. usually not the case
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Were you using both the Tidal vs Amazon apps or the browser?
The biggest issue with Amazon Music isn't the sound quality. The app sounds really good and you have the ability to play back in Exclusive Mode which bypasses OS based sound processing. The issue is getting it play on the stereo. The app is proprietary and has limited device support.
I found Tidal didn't have the music selection I listen to and to and I'm not a MQA guy so after the fee trial I went another direction.
Just a side note the annual family plan for prime members is really hard to beat.
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Not familiar with Amazon but did use Tidal for a while. Left tidal for reasons other than music quality.
Don’t know what you’re experiencing but Tidal is basicly CD quality. Generally there is not much "better" from what tidal provides. I’m guessing there is something different in how you stream it or perhaps for this one song Tidal has chosen an inferior master to upload.
Try other songs.
Look at the streaming path for both.
Jerry
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The track on Tidal is flat. Amazon is HIGH DEFINITION.
Not at all what I was expecting
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Most often, the primary factor causing differences is the choice of particular masters chosen by the company. The same thing happens when you buy CDs—some are much worse than others playing ostensibly the same music.
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Most often, the primary factor causing differences is the choice of particular masters chosen by the company. The same thing happens when you buy CDs—some are much worse than others playing ostensibly the same music.
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Which was better? Amazon or Tidal?
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