Is there a difference in sound quality when streaming TIDAL Vs CD player


I hard wired my modem located in my family room using Cad6 cable to my Apple TV and direct wired my Apple TV to my ARCAM AVR550.  I have an OPPO 203 connected by both an RCA cable and by HDMI to my ARCAM.  

The dealer I purchased my ARCAM from told me to play my CD’s through my RCA connection and to watch DVD’s through HDMI.  If I listen to CD’s through the RCA, aren’t I using the DAC on the OPPO player rather than the DAC on my ARCAM and wouldn’t the DAC on my ARCAM be a better DAC.  My friend told me I should use a digital cable rather than an RCA to improve sound quality to utilize the DAC on my ARCAM?  If this is the case, wouldn’t the HDMI be the same as by using a specific digital cable?  I listened to my CD’s through the RCA Vs the RCA cable and I thought it sounded better through my HDMI cable.

i will be looking forward to your responses.

Thank you,
128x128larry5729
Via the Tidal app, click heart icon at bottom right, then click gear wheel icon at upper right.  New page lists loudness normalization under heading for playback.  Disable the function.
rhljazz, are you saying I should disable the loudness normalization function?  If so, why?  I thought this feature when engaged eliminates the volume differences you get from one album to another.  So, why would you disable this feature and choose to adjust the volume levels constantly between songs and albums?  Are you doing so because this increases the dynamic range?
Yes, especially when performing a direct comparison between Tidal and a cd.  Any manipulation of the signal affects sound quality.  Although they claim the feature is sonically transparent, it isn’t.  Just as MP3 was claimed to sound as good as a cd.
The feature is useful for casual listening to play lists as you mentioned so as to avoid constant attention to the volume control.  I don’t listen that way so I leave the loudness normalization disabled.
Since it only takes a few seconds to switch off/on, you can change the setting as needed to match your listening session.


My experience matches exactly what wrenth says.
Red book CDs sound better than Tidal, even Master recordings.

Based on this and other discussions/threads, I think the relative SQ from different digital sources is system dependent.  Not surprising when you think about it, but also means the best way to determine what gets you the best SQ is to listen and experiment.

My experience, which is limited, leads me to the following ranking, worst to best:
- Redbook CDs via Oppo transport and DAC
- Redbook CDs via Oppo transport and PS Audio DS DAC
- Local NSA via PS Audio DAC
- Tidal via PS Audio DAC

Honestly, I am not certain I could consistently tell a difference in blind testing of the last two.

My experience with MQA vs standard files from Tidal is both evolving and mixed.  Evolving bc a couple months ago I declared on another thread that MQA was superior (at least for my system my ears), and then I went back and listened more closely, doing some A/B comparisons where possible, and changed my mind, determining that there is not a consistent difference one way or the other.  My theory is that it depends on the quality of each type of recording.  Some standard files sound better than MQA and vice versa.

Another thing to consider is the connection type - for example, PS Audio seems to tout ethernet or I2I connection, believing this makes a big difference in SQ.  I am sure those who enjoy their DACs without these options could disagree.  There are those who swear that the ethernet cable itself makes a difference (lookin at you, Supra fans!) in this chain.

And like many, the damn fine convenience of Tidal has me looking at but not spinning my cds, except for in the car. And I do continue to buy CDs, for the car and for when the internet crashes (which is rare but still scary), and also to support the artists and the independent record stores.