What are your opinions of sound quality of Tidal versus Quobuz streaming on a Lumin. I have a T2 and thought Quobuz was going to sound better than Tidal but at this point I'm not so sure.
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What are your opinions of sound quality of Tidal versus Quobuz streaming on a Lumin. I have a T2 and thought Quobuz was going to sound better than Tidal but at this point I'm not so sure.
I've always thought Qobuz sounded better on multiple brands of streamers including Lumin.
Even taking out MQA vs Hi-Res variable, 16/44.1 Qobuz sounds better than 16/44.1 Tidal to you?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack
My impression of reading Roon forum is that more people prefer Qobuz to Tidal than the other way round. However, some of them are influenced by their anti-MQA stance.
Yes Peter and that was using the D1/Sbooster, NT-505, Oppo Sonica, Bridge II and three different Auralic models including the G1. Tidal is getting better to my ears lately but for the longest time after the MQA phenomenon started an upper mid-range grain appeared and seemed to coincide with their content servers overloading and dropping out. As the reliabilty has returned the sound has gotten better. I still however give the edge to Qobuz in both of my systems through multiple changes from the streamers through to speakers.
That's an interesting observation. Do you have LPS for the modem, router, switch(es)? Are your streamers wired to the router/switch or goes through a WiFi to Ethernet device? Ever tried any sort of isolation such as fiber conversion or GigaFOIL?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack
Peter
At the present they are all hard wired to a Mesh network pod. At one point I had the D1 and the Bridge II in the same system so I was using an un-managed switch between the pod and the two hard wired streamers. My Xfinity modem is straight AC into an APC UPS to the wall outlet. No aftermarket isolation devices like the Gigafoil as I don't have any desire to make my streaming complicated. The Aries G1 is plugged in to a PSA Power Plant with a quality Digital specific TWL power cord. The Teac in the Family Room system uses the same power cord into a SurgeX and both it and the Aries are both connected to the Mesh pods with a Supra ethernet cable.
I'm curious how you can set a level playing field while comparing streaming services.
First there is the issue of level matching. Can you assume that the levels on identical pieces are the same on each service? Different encoding processes are used for each. Is there a way to compare levels easily? Even a small change in level will favor the louder service.
Then there is the issue of understanding if the source is identically mastered in both services. I suppose there are some records where this is possible, but I've found it vexingly difficult to figure out exactly what source master each service is playing.
I'm not dissing anyone's observations here - it's just that I'm having a hell of a time deciding which sounds better with casual listening. Sometimes they sound the same, sometimes I hear gross differences that I can't believe are caused by the services themselves - so I assume I am listening to different files.
I personally could not tell a difference between the two when playing 16/44. I kept Tidal only because it had a bigger library (at the time). I do realize that Qobuz offers fulll hi Resolution while Tidal does not (since MQA is lossy), but that does not bother me since I am using 16/44 and upsampling via software. I am hoping for Amazon HD to be able to connect with Roon and if that happens I will move to Amazon.
We all hear what we hear so it is good we have two choices. I have both services but only use Tidal when something I am looking for specifically is not on Qobuz as they are still bargaining with some of the smaller distributors.
I am curious nicoff , how can MQA be lossy ?
The differences between Tidal And Quobuz aren't related to the sound quality of either IMO. The differences are content and format.
How can it not be?Quote:
Originally Posted by FDPDK
"MQA is NOT lossless, the original signal is never recovered, estimate to recover at most 17bits (reduces the sampling rate), reduces the frequency range, SNR reduced by 3bit, aliasing with artifacts at 18kHz. MQA encoding filters manipulates drastically the original source."
You can read the whole story here: https://www.hifiplus.com/articles/hi...-offering-mqa/
See link posted by Mep above. Also another link here:Quote:
Originally Posted by FDPDK
https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/revie...cautions-r701/
Regardless of whether it is lossy, I believe MQA still has an advantage over redbook (some people will disagree and I respect that), especially when it's free with Tidal HiFi subscription. Going beyond redbook with Qobuz costs quite a bit more.
Just talked to somebody who has the same view. In my spare time I'll try to digitally compare 16/44.1 of the same tracks from the two services, although I'm not sure I can get any useful or valid result or how long this will take. If anyone has suggestions of 16/44.1 tracks that you believe to be from the same master, please let me know - MQA and Hi-Res are excluded.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack
Peter
I don't consider $5 a month more a month to be quite a bit more and in over two years with either the UK or US service have never had a drop out which for about six months was a constant with Tidal regardless of the DNS including Cloudfare. As I said both the service and sound quality have improved this year but at this point I am satisfied with the $25 a month Hi-Res service from Qobuz and am just waiting for them to fill out the rest of their US catalog so I can cancel Tidal.
I wish Qobuz offered a family plan, my Wife and Kids use Tidal, and I use both with 90% to Qobuz
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
If I'm not mistaken, you are allowed to use the same Qobuz account on up to three devices, but they cannot be used simultaneously.
Just curious, does listening to Qobuz or Tidal in a moving vehicle create more drop outs? I seem to experience more drop outs while listening to Qobuz or Tidal in a moving vehicle. Can't prove it though.
I had both Tidal and Qobuz. I found I preferred the sound quality of Tidal cd quality and MQA over Qobuz cd quality and Hi-Res by the slightest of margins on my system. I did end up cancelling Qobuz but could have been happy with it if I wasn't trying to be so picky. I still prefer the sound quality of an actual CD or SACD over both of the services but since I am lazy I generally use Tidal. Since everything is system dependent I can see where some would prefer Qobuz over Tidal and visa versa.
I'm still using Tital and Qobuz daily. Lately I've been playing with upsampling from both to 32bit 192kHz if possible with the i7 transporter. My main complaint about Tital at least as far as their web site is concerned is I always feel like I'm walked into the wrong neighborhood when I jump into it. Qobuz has such a good classical selection that I find it hard to give up on Qobuz. And the HiRez sound it very good. On my system I can't say MQA is leaps and bounds better than my simple upsampling so far. I have Amazon Prime but until I can run it on Room or with the Lumin I'm just not going to look into it.
You may use AirPlay to play Amazon Music on an iOS device to Lumin. This is why we released Firmware 11.7 to improve AirPlay.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrel
Since you like MQA sound, do you happen to like SDLY2 filter of your K-01X?Quote:
Originally Posted by PMCH
Although I never tested this scenario, I guess this should be normal depending on your region and cellular service coverage and your smartphone, since cellular data service is far from perfect. Try downgrading the audio quality in the corresponding app when you are in a vehicle. Or try Spotify instead.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluegrassphile
Peter, I only use the K-01x to play CD's & SACD's but I do believe I use the SDLY2 filter setting. For streaming and hi-res downloads I have my Aurender N10 feeding my Berkeley MQA DAC.
Thanks for the information Peter. I may look into that.Quote:
Originally Posted by wklie
Qobuz Studio price reduction to $14.99
https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/music/streaming/offers
Qobuz: How do I switch/upgrade to Studio Premier
https://try.qobuz.com/faq-studio-premier/
Is anyone successfully streaming Qobuz UPnP from a Mac (10.14)? I'm about ready to look beyond this D2. Audirvana won't run well either, it runs a little. Qobuz not at all. The only Mac desktop software I find that will stream at all (UPnP) is Linn Kazoo. Put another way, Linn fires up 100% every time, nothing else will.
Every time I get on this sub forum I feel like I'm a dinosaur in the twilight zone. I have so much to learn and so much ground to make up. I know this is all basic computer 101 for people who were born in the '80s or later. Heck, I don't know a megabyte from a UPnP. All I know is what my ears like. And I know how to tickle them in an analog way. But when it comes to computer logic, basic and intermediate computer operations, digital, and streaming, I'm lost. I'd love to learn more about it. But I don't even know where to start. The terminology alone is daunting. Sometimes I feel like I'm staring up at Mt. Everest. Me thinks I was born about 30 years too early.
Ideally you wouldn't be streaming any actual audio from the Mac to LUMIN D2 in that scenario. LUMIN D2 should be streaming directly from the Qobuz servers. Is there a specific reason you want to stream from a computer (DSP, or some other processing for example?).Quote:
Originally Posted by XRS
Most common operation would be to use the LUMIN App to browse Qobuz, select the music and then set a playlist playing.
There’s multiple levels and at entry you only really need to know how to hook it up, and this can be walked through on the phone, then you can go further in. Doesn’t take much to hear music out the gate.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluegrassphile
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraFast69
Yeah, I can usually hook things up without much difficulty and get them up and running. And maybe I know a little more than I let on. But I'm seriously computer and digitally challenged.
Thanks. Yes, I am streaming from their servers. Modem>SGP108 Switch>Wired to Lumin D2. I'm just using the provided desktop app (Tidal, Qobuz) for browsing and playlists, the point being the 27" screen. I don't have an ipad. I guess I'll have to buy one thereby adding another device to operate the Lumin. (forget the iphone app, only works decent for toggling options)Quote:
Originally Posted by thingswelike
As far as (being on topic) Tidal vs Qobuz I find I need both libraries and they both sound acceptable at Hi-Res.
I guess the screen size could be an issue, but since we launched the iPhone version, I have to say I use it exclusively these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by XRS
But curating playlists is best done on the desktop or web apps from Qobuz/TIDAL themselves.
It's also worth noting that this was posted on our facebook page a little while ago:
https://www.facebook.com/luminmusic/...56247001179664
When is soon?
If you have to use the desktop, please use Linn Kazoo. We do not provide schedules for future features.
Well both sound the same to me. I cannot make a difference between 16 bits and 24 bits just like famous composers, sound engineers, artists cannot make this difference when they play blindtests conducted by journalists (I can give sources but it is in French - Le Monde newspaper for instance). Honestly, my point of view is that no one can make a difference but this is my point of view. It is a psychological matter : you believe you have a better sound using Qobuz rather than Spotify but too many people cannot make this difference in blindtests. You believe it because you want to have state-of-the-art products and files. And between us, it is so nice to have a message "192K / 24bits" displayed on your Lumin player (or other). Again, this is only my point of view.
So the choice between the 2 will be based on the app behaviour and design, on the reliability and on the ease of use with other devices. Tidal is clearly better on this but Qobuz has very talented curators for jazz and classical.
Just signed up for Quboz a few days ago. Some initial thoughts comparing it to Tidal:
1) The stand-alone apps are comparable in ease of use and design.
2) The sound quality is comparable as well. Tidal might be a tad bit more open, but the difference is not enough to distinguish the two.
3) I have found several albums on Tidal that are not on Quboz. I've only found two albums on Quboz that are not on Tidal.
4) Quboz has a better jazz selection. Tidal has a better classic R&B and Pop selection (more obscure titles than Quboz).
As it stands now, I wouldn't choose one over the other for any reason other than quality of service (drop outs, response to customer complaints, etc.). I'll keep both for now and decide later.
Wondering what’s the difference between the premier and sublime. Wasn’t clear to me at Qobuz site.
Premier took the place of the Basic plan and Sublime and now discount downloads are only with Sublime + at least in the US. The European plans are still marketed differently. If you don't plan on buying a lot of discounted downloads then Premier gets you everything streaming wise.