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Qobuz vs Tidal

First off in the last 3 weeks, I have lost 90% of my vision so if there are mistakes please understand.  I am building my last house and will be moving in in late August.  I have ordered a fantastic two channel system, and I have a separate theater room.   The 2 channel system consists of Canary Audio Grand Reference Two Mono Amps, Canary C1800 Pre-amp, Lumin X1 Dac/Streamer, and an Inakustic 3500P power conditioner and Viking Accoustic Grande Voix horn speakers.  My theater room will include a 5.2.2 set up of Tekton Double impact in wall speakers.   My music source is a Lumin X-1 with a 4tb Synology NAS filled with over 10,000 titles.  In my last system I used Tidal to complement my digital library.  I am looking for either Qobuz or Tidal  for my new system.  I am looking for people who have both or have used both.  Which do you prefer and why?   If you have only used one please don't reply.  I need your help as I can no longer research the way I would like.  All your replies will be voice activated so that is how I am getting your information.  Ease of use will be critical due to my sight restrictions.  Thanks for your help.
willgolf
tuberist
951 posts
 
Will, sorry about your eyes....hope you get this condition greatly improved. I've done Tidal and Qobuz....I prefer Qobuz for sound quality and I'm not an MQA fan nor do I care for Tidal's "hip hop" emphasis. If Spotify comes around to High Rez, I'll give them a try too. Good luck to you!
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Yikes, yeah let me also add condolences about your sight, missed that on initial perusal of thread.  Hope it’s a temporary condition...
doogietool
2 posts
 
Both. I agree with David_ten, go with both for a year and make your decision. I personally have stuck with Tidal and for the sole reason of catalog and options as far as plans. I’m in the military and they offer a discount although that was not a factor in the end and only bring it up here as a point to the different options versus Qobuz. I believe that Qobuz will eventually sort their catalog and options out and equal that of Tidal. So, with both having certain limitations, go with both for up to a year and make your decision then. My humble opinion for what it’s worth.
p05129
500 posts
 
I have tried both but Tidal MQA won out, 
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
I pitted Qobuz and Tidal to a lengthy side-by-side audition and wound up choosing Qobuz, this despite the fact I've got full MQA capability.  As excellent as the sound from Tidal may be, Qobuz has a slightly warmer, more lifelike tonal balance and slightly better imaging.  Tidal may be slightly easier to navigate but Qobuz certainly ain't no slouch on this point.  If you listen to classical, Qobuz embarrasses Tidal, selection-wise.  Then again, I'm enough of a classical junkie to also subscribe to Primephonic...a service that is absolute paradise for the classical junkie.  It doesn't hurt that Primephonic can give me the highest fidelity I receive from any source, including analog.

In any case, take advantage of the two services' free trial periods.  Run 'em side-by-side.  Neck and neck.   Finally, I must tell you that my eyesight was faiIing, but I was lucky enough to be a prime candidate for lens implants.  Got 'em for both eyes.  One of those miracles of the 21st Century.  Here's hoping that medical science will soon make your condition equally correctable.
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