Given the music genres you are interested in there are not a lot of high-quality recordings. That is not a slight on the Op at all it just means that Spotify would probably be sufficient. That said, Spotify is good, Tidal is better and Qobuz is the best for SQ imo. I use them all. The only time I use Tidal is if an artist is not available on Qobuz and that is rare. If I am outside I always use Spotify because SQ does not matter in that instance.
Spotify Premium vs Tidal ... opinions?
50's,60,s be-bop jazz, movie themes, vocals, old rock (Cream, Doors, King Crimson)...(newer rock AC DC, Led Zeppelin)
amps... Quicksilver 90 Watt Silver monos, Quicksilver LS preamp
speakers... Fritz prototype stand mounts, ScanSpeak 5" Illuminator mid/bass & ScanSpeak 9700 tweeters, Skylan stands... 12x15 room
dac... Musical Fidelity M1 A
Thanks
amps... Quicksilver 90 Watt Silver monos, Quicksilver LS preamp
speakers... Fritz prototype stand mounts, ScanSpeak 5" Illuminator mid/bass & ScanSpeak 9700 tweeters, Skylan stands... 12x15 room
dac... Musical Fidelity M1 A
Thanks
71 responses Add your response
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Tidal is better than Spotify. The HiFi subscription is CD Lossless, and it costs the same as Spotify Premium, which is lossy. Spotify Hifi is not out yet, delayed due to licensing issues, so no one knows yet about that. |
Do not have anything to do with Spotify as their customer service stinks. Some low life SOB signed up for Spotify and somehow got my credit card number to use for the sign up. I have been callling several times to remove my credit cards from their files and I keep getting excuses and lied to me that it was done. They suck. Go with Tidal, Qobuz, Pandora or another other music source. |
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freediver AGREED!Pandora + streams at 24/192 ...You can select Low (32Kbps AAC+), Standard (64Kbps AAC+), or High (192Kbps)"You're confused, @freediver. Pandora's 192 Kbps is 16-bit lo-res mp3. Compare that to CD (16 bit/1,411 kHz) or true hi-res such as can be found on Tidal or Qobuz, which are 24 bit and have a bit rate of 9,216. |
@speavler"tried spotify and tidal. still prefer pandora" AGREED!Pandora + streams at 24/192 for $5.00 a month! |
To be honest, I have tried to use Spotify and Tidal before. I prefer Spotify rather than Tidal. -Spotify launched over a decade ago and is now one of the biggest subscribed-to services in the world. -Tidal has also made a huge name for itself by focusing on superior sound quality including CD-quality lossless streaming and hi-res FLAC-based audio files. -If you're on a tight budget, go for Spotify. It offers a free subscription plan supported by some (fairly annoying) adverts. Step up to Spotify's £10 a month Premium subscription plan and the audio quality shoots up to 320kbps. -Tidal doesn't off a free, ad-supported subscription plan – only a free 30-day trial. The cheapest plan - Tidal Premium will set you back £10 a month. It's ad-free and streams music at 320kbps. Apart from music streaming service, there is a Spotify Music Converter from DumpMedia to convert your favorite songs and keep them forever. It is a tool that removes DRM protection. This converter offers you a free-trial period so that you can try to use it before pushing to the purchase. |
You can use MusConv to transfer songs between your services, I've been using it and i think it has been the easier way to transfer playlist from one to another.
It also has interesting features like: -Transfering unlimited tracks. -Transfering unlimited playlists. -Supports over 20 playlist file formats.
Also supports more than 30 music services. |
Tidal vs Spotify, there are a lot of differences.
Tidal is well known for its exclusive contents and lossless songs while Spotify dominates the streaming music market for its user friendly interface, affordable price and free trier of services.
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'Tis a problem.I love the recommendations that come out every week on Spotify for me, but having just set up my streamer (Cambridge CXN) for Tidal, the sound quality is just better. Rest of system PrimaLuna Dialogue HP with KT 150; Vivid Oval 1.5 and JL E112 subwoofer with pretty ordinary cables. Hard to give up finding new music, but prefer the sound out of the Tidal which is also easier to control from my phone or PC.I didn't think I would hear a difference in sound but I really do. It's not the cost of the Tidal, it's just the introduction to new music. |
I have both. Tidal is great if you really want to hear the absolute best sound quality, but Spotify sounds great also. There's a difference in sound quality between Tidal Masters and everything else on both services, but "HI-FI" on both is supposed to be "CD quality". That DAC is a few years old, no? It's not going to support MQA through Tidal. Tidal is tipped towards hip-hop, R&B, and other new artists. I think you'll find a lot more in the way of playlists and "stations" on Spotify that caters to the type of music you enjoy. You'll be able to find most of the types of music you mentioned on Tidal also, it just won't be featured on Tidal. Unless you have "golden ears" and plan to upgrade your DAC, Spotify might be the best choice for you. |
I've been using Tidal for about three months now and find the Hifi version sounds better than any other streaming service I've tried, including Spotify Premium. The hifi version does have fewer selections than the standard version, but for the most part I am OK with this. Tidal has quite a few titles in MQA, which to my ears sounds better than CD quality. Hopefully they will continue to add more MQA titles. I currently have the fastest possible service from Comcast and do not experience issues with the sound dropping like I did before I upgraded to the faster speed. I also run an ethernet cable directly from my router to my network player. I am also using Roon to manage my library, and find this sounds a lot better than JRiver, though it does cost a lot more. One thing to consider when evaluating the cost of Tidal vs other services: they offer a family version of the hifi service for $30/month. I currently use Tidal at both of my business locations, so to me this cost is a bargain, as I can stream Tidal from up to 5 different devices. I gave my son and daughter a login as well, since they are always bugging me to pay for Apple Music. At only $6/user/month that's a lot of music value. |
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wrm57: I do like the Synergistic Research Black fuse the best - highest price. Their original Synergistic Research Sr-20 also does improve the sound. The Black comes with a 30 day trial (not sure if you can trial the SR-20). High End Electronics , Apple Valley Calif., and The Cable Company, New Hope , Pen. are both on line sellers. Give either a call. Enjoy. David Pritchard |
I’m hardcore into vinyl but became curious about streaming. So I bought the Auralic Aries Mini bundled with a year of Tidal to use in a second system. After listening for the past week, all I can say is wow! It really sounds good! I have a Marantz SA-11S2 in this system as well. In an A/B comparison to Coltrane’s Blue Train on Redbook CD, I liked the Tidal/Mini better. I won’t be giving up my turntables any time soon but I’m frankly amazed at what Tidal delivers, even through a five-inch square of plastic like the Mini. Remarkable. |
Bob - we're quickly reaching the limit of what I know...a couple of suggestions before spending any more on a USB cable. 1) try TIDAL. See if that gets you closer to the CD quality sound you are looking for vs Spotify. They offer a free (30...maybe even 60 day) trial so worth trying that. I'm very happy with Spotify and do note that not all their content has the same sound quality. 2) I don't know how good the DACs are in your Peachtree. They might not benefit BUT see if you can negotiate trialing a USB/SPDIF converter. In my experience that made a big difference in SQ vs straight USB input to a DAC. Empirical Audio (Steve Nugent) offers a pretty high quality converter as well as in-home trial. Worth looking into. Return it if no benefit. This also assumes you have a coax input to your Peachtree;'s DACs. 3) For some lower cost converter options, see info here. http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/15-universal-serial-bus-industry-standard-cables-connectors-and-communications-protocols-between-computers-and-electronic-devices-spdif-converters-shootout-15327/ I used a V-Link with the original V-DAC and that made a big improvement in SQ. The V-Link died and I replaced it with a V-Link 192 that I use with my Gungnir. Would try Steve's Offramp converter if I were willing to pay that kind of scratch. Might try a Gustard U-12 from China (see Ebay). 4) I'd experiment with source and converter and then see what a new USB cable gets you. Audio Advisor carries them. I can tell you for sure the Pangea I bought was absolutely NOT top of their line. You can pay stupid money for so-called "Audiophile USB" cables. Wireworld Starlight series gets good reviews...series 7 Platinum is, I think, top of that line. Have fun. Hope you get the sound you are looking for. |
ghosthouse, Thank you for your reply. I've been ripping my cds for the past month to an external hard drive attached to my Macbook air using dbpoweramp. I have a Peachtree Grand Integrated that has onboard DACS and they go out to my beloved Quad 2805s. It's a very simple system. I also have a modest Cambridge transport that I use to play cds. I've streamed a bit wirelessly using the MacBook and an Apple Airplay. The quality was marginal at best. After reading your post I went to Staples and picked up a USB cable. Even using that cheap ole' cable, the sound was much better. Better enough that I gave Spotify a go. Sounds okay. Not great but okay. And that's with their premium subscription. I have a USB input on my amplifier, do you think an audiophile grade USB cable like your Pangea would get me closer to what I hear using cds and my transport? Thank you again, Bob |
Bob - The question I was addressing was, "...to what device do you stream to get the best sound quality?" My short answer could have been, "a DAC". My reply had nothing to do with the best connector for signal transfer. Regardless of the potentially irrelevant, non-music purposes that USB cables have served, it is worth noting how many audio devices are now equipped with USB ports. The article on USB/SPDIF converters at the link here is also worth reading: http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2013/07/when-should-you-use-an-external-usb-spdif-converter/ As noted in the article and in my earlier response, these converters are not always essential with more recent implementations of USB mediated digital input. Where a bus-powered converter is used, the issue of power related noise is easily addressed by using a two headed USB cable with separate leg for a non-computer power source. I was certainly not attempting to argue USB was the best method for signal transfer, though it does seem to work just fine for me. I only provided details of how I do it because, like you, I use a MAC product for streaming. If you are able to implement Cerrot's approach and enjoy a superior listening experience, wonderful. I am curious how easy it would be to upgrade the sound card on a Mac...might be a more attractive option on a Windows-based machine. Hope whatever you do enhances your music listening. |
Before just settle on USB to dac (note, many dacs DO NOT have USB so you need to add yet another device in the line, and more cables.. more expense for a poorer interface-an interface effected by every single function your PC will perform, and USB was created for peripherials, not music...and sound cards were specifically designed for music, not attaching a printer), just try a spdif solution. I love how everyone just goes to USB and swears its the best, never trying spdif, which is so much better, I chuckle. |
hmmmm... so ghosthouse is happy with USB and cerrot says to keep away from it. This hi fi business is confusing. I realize it's almost entirely subjective so here's the question; If I'm happy with the sound from my transport to dac would I be happy with usb to dac or should I be looking at another alternative? Thanks in advance, Bob |
Bob - Streaming from computer to a DAC external to the computer will give you better sound quality than trying to use the computer's DAC and running from the headphone jack into your 2 channel system. The quality of that outboard DAC will definitely influence final sound quality. You can spend thousands on an external DAC...but there are some very good options for under $1000. Many newer integrated amps and even CDPs are being offered that have high quality internal DACs, so that's another wrinkle to consider. Personally, I listen to on-line music...e.g., Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, YouTube via a MacBook Air that's connected by a Pangea USB cable to a Musical Fidelity V-Link 192 USB/SPDIF converter and from that to a Schiit Gungnir DAC via Stereovox digital coax cable. I connect the Gungnir DAC using Morrow Audio interconnects (MA-3? MA-4? don't remember) to my pre-amp or to an integrated amp. More and more DACs can accommodate a USB input directly. If such is the case, a USB/SPDIF converter might not be essential or provide any benefit depending on how the DAC is designed. Hope this helps. |
I have got Tidal to so so close to playing the same track that i dont bother playing cd's now. Discovering so much more music, i could never catchup buying cd's. I can't imagine MQA sounding better than what it is now on highest streaming rate, guessing it may turn out sounding more like hi-rez which though good and better in some respects may end up sounding as if saccharine was added. |
blownsi, As you noted above, please send your feedback about missing artists and albums (weak catalog) to Tidal Streaming. While there is no guarantee they will include the items you request, it is very important for them to hear their music catalog needs to be updated with additional albums, artists, etc. Tidal needs to hear from its users what artists and recordings are missing from their catalog. Unfortunately, I know that Tidal needs a legal contract with the artists and/or distributor of these recordings so this process may take some time. There is an artist feedback form on their web site to summit your requests. I also suggest you listen to the Tidal suppled playlists to see if you can find any music that you like. Thanks. |
I don't really care if 1080p is better than a black and white Magnavox if the only thing in 1080p is Dr Phil. Considering the music the OP is looking for I wouldn't worry too much about lossless vs 320k. Most 50s/60s and classic rock will sound just fine at 320k. Streaming is about convenience anyhow. While I do find Tidal better sounding that Spotify or AM, their weak catalog is not worth the cost. I end up using apple music to discover new music and then purchasing a lossless version or cd. |
Philip O’Hanlon Playlists from On Higher
Note are highly recommended. These outstanding playlists were created by Philip
from On High Note and are
posted on Tidal via a user created playlist. You can sample the various
songs on this link. Box of Fun is terrific. http://onahighernote.com/blog/category/philips-music-talk/philips-playlist/ From the above link, there is a button that allows you to listen to the playlist on Tidal. Once you are on the Tidal screen, you can immediately log into your Tidal account and make the above playlist a favorite so that it is SAVED to your account. This will enable you to find and play the playlist from your Tidal account. It is not the best solution but it works. |
