Qobuz vs Tidal

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
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I’ve been testing QoBuz vs Tidal for a while and have run into some interesting observations.

For example, this new Andrea Bocelli album is listed as “High-Res” for QoBuz, but it is only 16/44 (see below). Playing the same album on Tidal Masters shows 24/96 (see below).

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I had a demo account before the closed beta and noticed quite a few titles that were listed as Hi-Res but only played at 16/44. I will say that over time some of those finally started playing at a higher rate. I imagine they are working through these types of issues with their setup for the US. I wonder if their service in Europe has these same types of issues? I will say that some of the Hi-Res albums I was able to play on Qobuz sounded amazing. I don't have an MQA capable DAC so its a bit unfair of a comparison vs MQA on tidal although I do get the first unfold with my Aurender. With that said I seem to have liked the Qobuz Hi-Res slightly better than the half unfolded MQA tracks on tidal but I'm not sure I'd be able to pass a blind listening test. Knowing me I'll find a reason to keep both services.

George
 
Mike said:
I’ve been testing QoBuz vs Tidal for a while and have run into some interesting observations.

For example, this new Andrea Bocelli album is listed as “High-Res” for QoBuz, but it is only 16/44 (see below). Playing the same album on Tidal Masters shows 24/96 (see below).
Click to expand...


Mike, after one year of use, I observe the following evolution on Qobuz: more and more hi-res titles available.
The Blue Note 24/192 albums for example, are truly excellent.
The weekly new releases are 60-70% 24/88.2, 24/96 or higher. Important classical releases even near 100%.
Mind you, I'm mostly interested in classical and jazz, occasionally blues, pop, rock, world music, but even the most popular rock and pop appear to be often in hi-res.

Sometimes, and this will vary from region to region, some titles are listed as hi-res, but are only streamed in 16/44.1.
To have access to the hi-res version, you'll have to buy it.
But... sometimes, a while after the release, the hi-res version becomes available to stream.

I have Tidal also, but I don't have a MQA DAC.
My Tidal account fills in the gaps of the albums that Qobuz doesn't offer (less and less).

Both services are now also compatible with Apple Carplay (Qobuz only since last week).
 
I have a dCs Rossini on loan at the moment, before I would not give an advantage to Tidal or Qobuz, but with the Rossini, I have to say I really appreciate MQA files.
 
On Computer Audiophile David Caraff from Qobuz has said that Qobuz is working on differentiating/identifying albums which are available for purchase in HiRes but only streamable in redbook. They have the right to sell HiRez but not stream.
 
veindoc said:
any differences on ease of creating or retrieving playlists of music between the 2?
Click to expand...

Nick,
You can use Soundiiz to migrate playlist between the two services and any other streaming service like Spotify, Deezer.

If you have the premium version of Soundiiz I believe it allows you to keep playlist in sync between services.
 
My local impromptu audio group did a Qobuz vs Tidal comparison. Each picked a song and it was played via each. One person handled the switching so it was completely blind. All participants chose Tidal.
 
nc42acc said:
My local impromptu audio group did a Qobuz vs Tidal comparison. Each picked a song and it was played via each. One person handled the switching so it was completely blind. All participants chose Tidal.
Click to expand...

Tidal output seems to be a little bit louder then the Qobuz output, if not adjusted it can influence the outcome of such a test. Have to say I like the MQA files over a good MQA DAC.
 
Mike said:
For example, this new Andrea Bocelli album is listed as “High-Res” for QoBuz, but it is only 16/44 (see below).
Click to expand...

I found there are multiple listings of "Si" albums in Qobuz Hi-Res. Some result in "The Record Label does not permit streaming of this album" for my Sublime+ UK testing account. Some result in 16/44.1 as you've experienced.

However, I can stream the "If Only" track in 24/96 in "If Only" Hi-Res single from Qobuz.
 
shadowlight said:
On Computer Audiophile David Caraff from Qobuz has said that Qobuz is working on differentiating/identifying albums which are available for purchase in HiRes but only streamable in redbook. They have the right to sell HiRez but not stream.
Click to expand...
If that is true, it is lot less appealing than I originally thought.
 
That's not up to Qobuz but the label and sometimes the restriction goes away after the new release period has passed.
 
Yes, that's true, but I'd rather they hide the non-streamable albums/tracks from streaming accounts. Instead they allow people to have the option to purchase the album using the native app.
 
wklie said:
Yes, that's true, but I'd rather they hide the non-streamable albums/tracks from streaming accounts. Instead they allow people to have the option to purchase the album using the native app.
Click to expand...

Hopefully Qobuz will be able to figure out how to differentiate albums that are streamable in hi-res v/s purchase only. One reason that the current situation might exist is that all their applications/apis (that 3rd party like Aurender, Lumin, etc use) allow you to purchase hi-res right in the app and once you purchase you can also stream in hi-res.

Edit: Realized that you are from Lumin after I posted :D
Edit 2: Qobuz might have to add a new api where the option is set by the users that will only display just streamable hi-res
 
They both sound great. It's a splitting hairs game of this is better than that. What Qobuz brings us a new library of music. I have used it for the last 6 to 8 weeks and enjoy the depth of high rez Jazz and Classical I find. It also has a broad European based alternative,pop,rock catalog. It's new music to me.

If you want to purchase downloads it's too easy. Point and click. If you want to save to your offline library to playback streams while away from an internet connection, it's also very easy.

In short, don't get so hung up on sound quality. Its fantastic. Use it to find new music that may suit your taste. If you don't like what you find and hear, quit the service.
 
Since a few weeks I use Qubus. I have no experience with Tidal.

IMHO there is very little hires content. It does not really matter to me but I think maybe 1 in 20 albums of the music I look for is available in hires. Also what annoys me to no end is that the almost never have the full catalogue of certain artists. I you look for bands like Alternative 4, the 3rd and and Mortal, Einsturzende Neubauten etc Tidal normally has some of their music but certainly not everything.

My other main complaint is that looking for classical music can be a PITA when there is no universal way to spell the composer's name. Like:

Sjostakovitsj vs Shostakovich vs Schostakowitsch vs Sostakovic etc.

A Dutch newspaper also found out that search results are app dependent. They got different results on the phone app, streamer app and computer app. If I remember correctly this true for most streaming services.

So far I'm happy with Qobuz but I do hope they will expand their catalogue more.
 
Search results is one of the main complaints I have made to every service. Its absolutely frustrating with Roon. How can they not hand me all my "The Who" album when I only type "who".
All I'm saying is the search engine is no worse or better than any other.

The catalog of music is another story. They vary between sites. If your only going to have one service, try a few and find the one that best suits you.

I personally find Spotify to be the best at serving suggestions I may like. In their "Discover" browser every Monday they have an especially for you section that changes every week and I look forward to what's new in there.

In all reality, when I want to find new music, I actually leave the big sites now and just look elsewhere. Forum chatter such as "what are you listening to tonight" usually has some jems. Actually Pandora can serve up some surprises. I listen there too and when I hear something I like, pull it up on Qobuz or Tidal.

I have a complaint how I'm sick of spending close to $70 a month on subscriptions. I want to dump Roon first. I don't upsample. Why do I need to spend $14 or so a month for a library took that's not that great, as in it leaves so much out of search results because I did not include a hyphen or capitalize wrong. It does integrate HQ player well and I assume they will take on Qobuz. It's going to be a monopoly play. Pretty smart really.
 
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