Tidal FLAC vs. Qobuz
Does the recent change by Tidal, from MQA to FLAC make Tidal the better choice for streaming? Or, since Tidal only seems to offer FLAC on its own app and not the BluOS defeat the purpose since you need to transmit by Bluetooth instead of ethernet?
Currently, I stream from Tidal over direct ethernet cable to a Bluesound Vault streamer, to a McIntosh amp and Revel speakers. I have a trial membership to Qobuz but I find Tidal has a much better catalog. Since Tidal added Flac I thought it would be the obvious choice moving forward, but isn't the point of FLAC defeated since you need to send wirelessly from the Tidal app over Bluetooth?
@bipod72 Yes, but you're not getting the highest audio resolution. Qobuz has h res flac, and the Tidal Connect app does, but not regular Tidal. I can stream Tidal and Qobuz direct to my Bluesound and the phone is merely a remote. But to get hi-res flac from Tidal you have to use the Tidal Connect app on your phone, but can only play over a 2 channel amp / tower speakers by using wireless hifi. Wireless defeats the purpose of Tidal Connect and hi res streaming |
@mojo771 I get high-res because my CXN is directly connected to the internet via ethernet. My phone is merely the control just like you but I control via my wi-fi connection. I"m not transmitting the stream from my phone.
This isn’t necessarily true. If the Vault is connected to the internet via ethernet and the Vault is a direct input on your system, then the app on your phone is still just a wi-fi controller. Tidal Connect streams do not travel through the smartphone or tablet on their way to the paired network streamer. I’m not sure if the OP’s Vault is directly connected to the net via ethernet or not. If the OP Is connecting the Vault via Wi-Fi, then yes high-res is compromised. |
Except Spotify / Tidal are not hi res. Only Qobuz is high res flac. Qobuz also has many cd quality options that are not hi res flac. Tidal is mqa, which many say is not really hi res, Which is why they went to flac (on some recordings) but only thru Tidal Connect app. And Tidal says you cannot get hi res flac unless you go to their Tidal Connect App which is not available on the Bluesound, so only mqa. |
@mojo771 I forgot you're the OP so apologies. I had to go back and reread. Tidal Connect is high rez but regular Tidal isn't, you're correct. The Bluesound website says its BluOS supports Tidal Connect which I take that you should be able to use Tidal Connect with your Bluesound. Do you have to manually update the firmware on the Bluesound or is it automatic via the BlueOS app? |
This is where I got annoyed at both Bluesound and Tidal. They are very careful with their wording on this issue. I had to email them both multiple times to get a straight answer. They seem to be intentionally misleading. Tidal is "integrated" into the BluOS. So you can stream mqa from tida; usiing only the BS Vault. And Tidal has flac thru Tidal Connect on the Tidal Connect app, that you can stream through the Vault - wirelessly. But you cannot access flac direct from tidal thru the Vault. My BluOS app was just updated after an update prompt, and the Tidal Connect app was just released. So now, I subscribe to both Tidal and Qobuz. I stream Qobuz hi res flac direct thru the Vault, and when they don't have a flac option available I stream mqa from Tidal. I see no reason to use the Tidal Connect, unless / until they "integrate" into the BluOS as they do with mqa Tidal |
