Tidal vs. Spotify

kacz - I've been a Spotify Premium subscriber for months and months now.  To me, the best $10 per month subscription ever.  I've not noticed any variation in quality of their stream based on time of day.  I have noticed that not all the available recordings are of the same quality.  Some are noticeably better than others.  Given spending $10 per month vs $20 and based on the very subtle degree of difference I heard in Tidal's own audio quality "test" (as in, "Are your ears or is your system good enough"...words to that effect) Tidal was just not worth it to me.  If comparing the non-premium, free Spotify SQ to Tidal SQ however, I could see why some might think Tidal is much better.  

jon2020 - 
I find the sound from Spotify very good too.  I'm using a split USB cable (separate signal and power legs) from MAC to a Musical Fidelity 192 USB/spdif converter that also upconverts to 24/192; from the MF192 via Stereovox coax to a Gungnir DAC; from the Gungnir via Morrow Audio RCAs (MA-3s or MA4s...don't recall) to pre-amp (or amp).  CD playback - especially ripped - can sound a little fuller bodied but for finding and listening to new music and playing things I haven't purchased yet, Spotify has been excellent.  An audio bud that had visited thought the sound of Spotify was CD-quality.  It sure ain't like listening to crappy MP3s.  
  

Hi Jon - 
I wasn't trying to one-up your method with my comments...
The Gungnir doesn't have a USB input so I have to use the MF USB/SPDIF adapter and that's what is doing the upsampling.  Mainly wrote in response to your positive comments about Spotify sound quality which opinion I share.  

Not 100% certain about current pricing for that iFi dual-headed cable.  I got my cable off Ebay from Doukmall (China) on the suggestion of Williewonka.  Since then we've become aware of a "USB Disruptor" by robpriore for $74 and his has a power supply.  Maybe that will save you a few bucks over the iFi version.  You can find his cable under DA Converters.   Hopefully the link here will work too.   

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/da-converters-usb-disruptor-kills-noisy-usb-power-improves-usb-dac...

If interested in a Spotify selection with great SQ, try The Antisocial Club. It will be under "various artists" but is an Alan Pasqua project.  Interesting music (jazz/fusion) and, as I said, good sonics.  

Ciao.

Glad you got an improvement, Jon.  Check out The Antisocial Club when you get a chance.  Maybe you will like it.

Thanks, kacz.  I was not aware of those a'phile playlists.  Great suggestion.  Lots too explore.

B_limo...I use Spotify Premium on a MAC.  Things might look different if you run Windows.  At any rate, at the top of my Spotify screen there is a Help button in the toolbar.  Click on that and a Search pop-up appears with several choices including, "Your Account".  Clicking on Your Account opens an "Account Overview' window with yet another Help button.  Click on this Help and another window opens in "Support".  Try the "Solutions" box or the "Spotify Community" to describe your problem.   In this same Support window at the top there is a Solutions button.  Click on this and there are Account and Tech Support options.  I'd probably post my problem in every and all available dialog boxes until someone got back to me.  Hope this is some help.  Good luck getting back on Spotify Premium.