Audioquest Dragonfly Red plugged into a USB port on your computer (or into a USB cable from computer to your audio gear if the run is longish). Mini plug with Y splitter into the Dragonfly to provide left and right channel signals into your preamp via RCAs. Use the Midi function in your iMac to ensure output is going to the Dragonfly. Tidal should also recognize the Dragonfly when you look at the Streaming options. Max out both computer, Tidal and Dragonfly volume. Make sure the Freya volume is turned all the way down and muted when first trying things out. Unmute and then gradually increase volume to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Good luck.
BTW - don’t apologize about your gear. It is fine! You can ALWAYS spend more. Any fool can. If you are happy with the sound, that’s all that matters. Have a Schitt Freya myself and love it. My first tube amp was a JoLida 502B integrated. |
Thanks Ghosthouse, that seems simple enough! I was under the impression that I needed some kind of mqa liscensed special box or such to get the full benefits from Tidal. I like your solution and it fits my budget as well. Are you aware of any way I can use an iPhone or iPad as a remote to control the iMac in a different room? I appreciate the help
erik |
re "MQA licensed special box" - pretty certain that’s what the AQ Red amounts to...a DAC with software to "decode" MQA (with the requisite legal hurdles having been jumped). Personally, I’m not all hung up about MQA playback but when I listen to Tidal via headphones and use the Red, Tidal streaming is at Master level quality. On the big system, the Gungnir MB doesn’t do MQA though the Aries Mini is MQA enabled and shows Tidal Masters.
I do use an iPhone with Auralic’s DS Lightning App to control the Aries Mini. That probably doesn’t help you. However, depending on what I’m trying to use as source, I also see AirPlay as an option on the iPhone and in the Macbook’s Midi. Don’t know if you can use iPhone>>AirPlay>>iMac to control Tidal located on your iMac.
I freely admit to being a knuckle-dragging, late adopter on this stuff.
Didn't mention it specifically but we do have a wireless network in the house (Apple Airport Express). If you do too, that should let an iPad or iPhone "see" your iMAC. Or so I think.
ALSO- the latest Dragonfly Black (in effect, v3) is cheaper than the Red but I don't know if it is MQA-enabled. |
Thank you Ghosthouse, you’ve been a big help! I do have an airport express for wifi, I’ll see if I can get it to work. You mention you’re not hung up on mqa playback. I’ve never heard better than cd quality except old DVD audio discs on my system. Is the difference in your opinion worth it or negligible in sound quality? My magic bullet chasing can be futile sometimes so I like to hear others opinions
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i guess what I'm asking is should I skip the mqa stuff and maybe get a dac rather than relying on the airport express that will make my streaming sources sound better or will the tidal masters really sound much better? |
"...will the tidal masters really sound much better?" That is a loaded question! Can o’ worms, etc., etc. :-) You should search the discussions by entering MQA. I’m kind of cynical about MQA. My issue is the source material. If applied to some well-recorded first gen analog master tape, I guess it could sound even more wonderfuller than the non-MQA version. But garbage in/garbage out still applies whether sprinkled with MQA fairy dust or not. I already hear as much if not more difference in the SQ of "conventional" recordings as what MQA seems to bring. Do I really need to spend for an MQA capability? Hope that makes sense. Yet another black mark against my audiophile credentials, no doubt. I’m sure others will have a different view. Listen to ’em! BUT, bottom line: trying and listening is the only way you can know if it’s "better" to/for you (your ears, your gear). The Red is a pretty low cost way to get the experience. You can probably even get one from a seller with a return policy. Good luck. |
Sage advice, thank you. I'll give the red a go just to satisfy my curiosity. |
"will the tidal masters really sound much better?"
Not a can of worms at all...They definitely sound better as long as the streamer/DAC can support MQA. Simple answer.
As for the set up, sorry but computer sourced audio is a big hassle. Unless you have lot of hi-rez files dowloaded on your machine. For streaming high quality music, I strongly recommend looking into a Bluesound Node or another streaming/DAC device in your budget. Don’t go down the rabbit hole trying to get a better sound from USB or your computer. MHO. |
Thanks Kalali for your thoughts. One question if I may. To make Tidal master tracks available do you hook up an Ethernet cable between the blue sound node and the computer or does the blue sound node not need to be hooked up to a computer? This is where my confusion comes in regarding the various solutions available.
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Being a new member, I wasn't aware of wildly conflicting opinions regarding mqa. I guess it comes with territory and proves how subjective this hobby is. I do appreciate all opinions as I haven't formed one yet... |
I also would agree with ghosthouse, not that MQA encoded recordings can’t sound better but that the initial recording quality and subsequent mastering matter vastly more than the sampling rate.
And to answer the question on the Bluesound, it doesn’t need to be hooked up to a computer. It can stream wireless from Tidal directly and also stream files from your computer or other networked device. Auralic makes the Aries and Aries Mini which do the same that is what ghosthouse and I both use. |
I’ve compared many Tidal MQA 24/96 first unfolds of ECM and Blue Note jazz titles to those titles ripped at 16/44.1 from CDs. The Tidal MQA 24/96 versions are superior. |
Thanks guys, I'm looking forward to comparing for myself and see what conclusion I come to |
I can relate !! I also signed up for tidal last month with the hi fi program. Using my iPad, Oppo BDP 105 & Anthem mrx1120. Didn’t realize I needed mqa dac to get the best sound. Just ordered the dragonfly red, the apple camera lightning plug, and an audioquest mini jack to rca plugs cable. I’m thinking iPad to dragonfly to ?? Can I go direct to my Anthem or do I need to go through the oppo which supports tidal ?? Any help appreciated !! |
