2. pc-audio
  3. 162500-153106

Why do I "need" Audirvana, Roon or the like versus just Tidal App?

Hi, I stream Tidal MQA and their hifi via my Macbook Pro. I use the Tidal app on the MBpro which unpacks MQA, contains my playlists etc. In the future, I may also stream ripped cds on very rare occasion from a connected hard drive, as well as any hi res audio files I may purchase. However, 99.9% is an is likely to continue to be Tidal streaming. Maybe, just maybe adding Quboz or Amazon in the future...


I feed this from my MAC via USB out to my integrated amp and DAC (Peachtree Nova 300). I have no plans to have a separate server etc in the short term, …but may do so in the future.


I cannot understand what, if anything, Audirvana (or Roon and the like) would bring to.the table in my scenario. Perhaps better MQA unpacking? Slicker interface? Better sound quality?

I would greatly appreciate you all's thoughts on this! Thank you very much.


bogbeat

Showing 4 responses by phcollie

phcollie's avatar
phcollie
342 posts
 
I can not speak to the Apple products but I stream Qobuz, via Audirvana from a dedicated lenovo laptop. I tested and trialed Tidal, The tidal and Qobuz apps & Roon.  The SQ was noticeably better with the Audirvana & Qobuz pairing.  The software assumes control of the digital sound path, bypasses the laptops resident mixers, becomes the only thing using the Wasapi driver and ensures end to end bit perfect processing before sending to my DAC.  It is a little different with Mac OS. While I am not a huge fan of the interface limitations, I care about the quality more and for that reason, for me, Audirvana is necessary.  The fact that all future updates are paid for with the initial price (Was $75) makes it a great value.
phcollie's avatar
phcollie
342 posts
 
@noromance 
Yes.  Test again with a trial of Audirvana (Free) & a quality stand alone DAC.  Night and Day.  
phcollie's avatar
phcollie
342 posts
 
Dug up this old thread.  Today I tested the Qobuz application again, playing Ben Harpers "Winter is for Lovers". Did side by side comparison with Audirvana playing the same high res tracks. 24/96 to my stand alone DAC.  There is no comparison, Audirvana player of same song has much more detail, Shimmer on all of the high notes, and even more reveal of his fingers sliding on the frets. Harlem is a good one to tell all the differences. Audirvana removes a "veil" that exists and I suspect the same reason I like this clarity better than with the Roon test of same. 
phcollie's avatar
phcollie
342 posts
 
I understand.....I have the legacy 3.5 paid version.  On a Mac, that version functions differently as I recall but can not remember the details. The older macs had a usb conflict and some issues with "integer mode".
Works flawlessly on Windows 10 64bit.  The old website detailed some of this but not the new studio site they have up.  Not being judgmental at all but Apple can just be a general pain in the ass.  Some guys had great luck with the post 2008 Macbooks but it still had to fudge the stream a bit compared to the absolute bit perfect with the Windows boxes.  
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