ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

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ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

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Last edited by matthias on 2017-11-12 07:57, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by jraskin »

Many thanks for the information !
It was one of my only frustrations with Qobuz... now gone...

All the best,

JF
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by matthias »

Hi JF,
you are welcome.
BTW, did you compare Tidal and Qobuz regarding SQ?
Some say Qobuz is superior.

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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by Linncredible »

Great news, thanks for info! Lots of Keith Jarrett now on Tidal.
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by jraskin »

Hi Matt,

> BTW, did you compare Tidal and Qobuz regarding SQ?
> Some say Qobuz is superior.

I am very happy with the SQ of Qobuz especially with the Sublime+ option which offers to stream in HD for an ever increasing part of their catalogue. I did not compare with Tidal extensively as the catalogue of Qobuz better fits my musical taste. I did not subscribe to Tidal after the test period. Nevertheless, when streaming CD quality both services should be equally good (my guess is that they should send the same files).

All the best,

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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by lejonklou »

jraskin wrote:Nevertheless, when streaming CD quality both services should be equally good (my guess is that they should send the same files)
Yes, that is what I thought too when high resolution streaming started.

Unfortunately that is not the case at all. Sound quality varies a lot between services. In addition there's also variation over time from the same service. For instance, if you play a song from Tidal at 7 pm and then play it again at 8 pm, sound quality can be either better, worse or the same.
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by jraskin »

For instance, if you play a song from Tidal at 7 pm and then play it again at 8 pm, sound quality can be either better, worse or the same.
This sounds like black magic to me. Why would they send random different files across time ? If the files are the same, they should sound the same, right ?

As I said, I am using Qobuz (and not Tidal) and I do not experience any variation in SQ along time. But yes, my hability to listen carefully or not to the music varies across time: this is usually due to my mood, my tiredness, or if I have had some wine or not ;-)

But who knows... they may play some trick to compensate temporary lack of bandwith on their side and send you some lossy compressed file versions when required to keep serving everybody. Qobuz does not seem to play this game.

All the best,

JF
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by matthias »

I read a lot on forums like Computeraudiophile and there are some contributors who prefer the SQ of Quobuz to Tidal but none so far vice versa.
I like that Qobuz does not work together with Roon and MQA and that they offer real high-res up to 24/192.

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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by Discodave »

Regarding the merits of Tidal and Qobuz I had the chance to compare recently given a free trial of the new tier of Qobuz hi res streaming.

I have had Tidal for quite sometime and thoroughly enjoy it. I have no facility to play their MQA so no debate here.

I couldn't wait to have all these lovely files in Hi Res and to test against Tidal, allowing me to know that for an extra £5 a month I would be quids in.

The upshot, I'm staying with Tidal.

I couldn't believe it either but although Qobuz sounded great and more detailed than its 16/44 counterpart (as you would expect)it simply was less musical. I just couldn't ignore it no matter how much I wanted to. Indeed on some tracks it was quite depressing how much it lagged behind Tidal in tunedem, Don't stop till you get enough being case in point.

Anyone else share their thoughts different or otherwise?
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

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Discodave wrote: 2019-04-21 20:36 Regarding the merits of Tidal and Qobuz I had the chance to compare recently given a free trial of the new tier of Qobuz hi res streaming.

I have had Tidal for quite sometime and thoroughly enjoy it. I have no facility to play their MQA so no debate here.

I couldn't wait to have all these lovely files in Hi Res and to test against Tidal, allowing me to know that for an extra £5 a month I would be quids in.

The upshot, I'm staying with Tidal.

I couldn't believe it either but although Qobuz sounded great and more detailed than its 16/44 counterpart (as you would expect)it simply was less musical. I just couldn't ignore it no matter how much I wanted to. Indeed on some tracks it was quite depressing how much it lagged behind Tidal in tunedem, Don't stop till you get enough being case in point.

Anyone else share their thoughts different or otherwise?
Thanks for reporting.
Just for clarification, did you compare Redbook Qobuz vs. Redbook Tidal?

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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by Discodave »

No I didn't unfortunately. Meant to add my streamer is Majik Ds. So I can only imagine the difference if compared with a more musical streamer.
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

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Discodave wrote: 2019-04-21 21:07 No I didn't unfortunately. Meant to add my streamer is Majik Ds. So I can only imagine the difference if compared with a more musical streamer.
From your report I had the impression you compared high-res Qobuz vs. Redbook Tidal and found Tidal more musical. Correct?

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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by Discodave »

Absolutely correct Matt
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by matthias »

Discodave wrote: 2019-04-21 21:33 Absolutely correct Matt
Do you think you can repeat the comparison with RB Q vs. RB T?
Sometimes the high-res. files are differently mastered.

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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by Discodave »

Unfortunately free trial has run out so I can't
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by Discodave »

I would have thought that different mastering would only effect overall sound. Can it effect musicality too?
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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by matthias »

Discodave wrote: 2019-04-21 23:05 I would have thought that different mastering would only effect overall sound. Can it effect musicality too?
In your comparison you compare both HR vs. RB and Qobuz vs. Tidal at once.
So I think you can not get a valid result regarding Q vs. T.
Better comparisons:
Qobuz HR vs. Qobuz RB
Tidal RB vs. Qobuz RB
But sometimes HR is upsampled from RB etc.......

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Re: ECM records start streaming via Tidal, Qobuz etc.

Post by Discodave »

Aha ok.
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