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Who has tried "TIDAL" vs other streaming applications?

Hello, I'm new to Audiogon, this is my first posting into Forums.

I enjoy streaming audio from my PC and have been using Spotify for a number of years now (college student discount to premium $5 a month). I just recently stumbled upon a App called TIDAL, that streams Lossless 16/44.1FLAC with their "HI-FI" subscription (Student $10 a month). Since I can queue up Spotify and Tidal at the same time, I was able to do an A/B and used Dire Straits Brothers in Arms. I noticed that TIDAL indeed sounds better to me but am convinced none of my family members could tell a difference. I then did an A/B with TIDAL and the actual Brothers in Arms CD, to my surprise TIDAL sounded scary close, if not just as good as the CD! This is hard for me to believe, I think I'm just trying to justify the extra cost of TIDAL on a crazy tight student budget, maybe its a placebo effect? I need to drop one of the services, but which one? I would appreciate your thoughts please... Thank you!
My system:
PC = Gaming Rig I built myself, using dedicated high quality audio card.
Krell KAV 400xi integrated
Sonus Faber Electa's with Sunfire HRS Sub
Cambridge AZUR 840C CDP/DAC
Luxman T117 Tuner
Sony SCD - C2000ES SACD Player
Kimber Silver Streak throughout  


grm
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,306 posts
 
Both Tidal and Spotify do allow downloading music for off-line listening.  I've only done this with Spotify.  I have no idea what the "professional Spotify Playlist Downloader" is.  I'm certainly not using such.  Whole albums or individual tracks can be downloaded.  Downloading and offline availability isn't limited to accessing a preexisting playlist.  Downloaded files can be accessed via laptop, iPhone or iPod.  If you are happy with how things are working now...great.  If you are running into limitations with your current method, see if this helps.

https://support.spotify.com/us/listen_everywhere/on_phone_tablet_desktop/listen-offline/
horence
30 posts
 
As for me, I'm used to to crack Spotify DRM protection with a DRM removal tool. We know all Spotify music are DRM protected like Apple music. There is no right for you to play all these music on any devices in any formats freely. Spotify Music Converter for Mac is the program for me to crack DRM protection and convert music to MP3, AAC, FLAC, M4A, M4B, etc at faster speed with zero loss quality. After conversion, it will be much easier for you to enjoy all Spotify music in any format freely. If you want to learn its detail functions, check at: https://www.tuneskit.com

robcalderon
4 posts
 
If Tidal’s UI would have been anything like Spotify I would have stuck with it, It’s a very good service, however I found the UI irritating. I felt that it kept trying to push a specific  vibe on me and that I had to digg for anything else. Spotify’s daily picks and weekly decoveries won me over. Almost every time I would select one I would just let it play and enjoy it. This all subjective and of personal preference. FLAC and MQA was not an easy trade off. I’m still on trail periods I prefer Tidal quality but using Spotify feels more plseant and premium quality is very good also.
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