FWIW - Even with a HiFi/MQA Tidal subscription, some Tidal music files (as reported by Auralic's Lightning DS app) are AAC not FLAC.
Examples include Joanne Taylor Shaw's White Sugar and Diamonds in the Dirt and also Joe Bonamassa's A New Day Yesterday - Live. This admittedly infrequent use of the AAC file format is another source of SQ variability.
Examples include Joanne Taylor Shaw's White Sugar and Diamonds in the Dirt and also Joe Bonamassa's A New Day Yesterday - Live. This admittedly infrequent use of the AAC file format is another source of SQ variability.