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Tidal, Deezer

Could someone with experience with music subscription services please advise. My confusion is that these music services advertise that you can download music for offline listening. Wouldn't that be putting music files in your storage...creating a music library? I have had itunes and rhapsody, both of which you can download music files into your computer. Surely there must be others you can do the same? Thanks for any advice
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easola01's avatar
easola01 OP
161 posts
 
Okay, getting closer to figuring this out. Getting maybe 2 services to provide different functions and greater selection is very appealing. It looks like tidal and deezer elite are great choices for streaming...SQ and all. But I would like to do my offline listening through my computer. Tidal...I don't know about deezer...only goes to your phone or tablet for offline listening, so does spotify go to your computer for offline listening? If I have to give up SQ to do offline through computer I will. 

As I said before, I can do this with itunes, but as I understand it AAC files are no good for metadata? Spotify does mp3, and that would work for metadata provided I can play through computer. Any suggestions? Perhaps a music subscription/streaming not mentioned?
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,306 posts
 
I'm looking at the Spotify app as displayed on a MacBook Air.  Downloaded albums are listed under "Playlists".  When I turn WiFi OFF, these are still available and playable.  I expect something similar will be true for Tidal as well, just haven't tried with it. 
easola01's avatar
easola01 OP
161 posts
 
Tidal states offline is only on smartphones and tablets...but your spotify goes on to your computer for offline listening?
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

I found Tidal SQ to sound the same as the same local music file, but the SQ is highly dependent on the player software. They all sound different: Roon, Jriver, Audirvana, Twonky, Kazoo. The most live and accurate sound I have found is Linn Kinsky and Minimserver running on a Mac. All freeware. You need a DLNA/UPnP endpoint to take advantage of this. The Raspberry Pi with Digione is a cheap way to try it out, but that is a bit buggy IME. Kinsky does not allow for Tidal streaming though.  You need BubbleUPnP  server and Kazoo control software to do Tidal.  Both of these are also freeware.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio


uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I have just verified on my laptop that Tidal does indeed NOT allow offline downloads to a "normal" pc.
Bummer......
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