Qobuz vs Tidal

Finding several references indicating Qobuz has more albums in Hi-Res Audio quality. I don't use hi-rez MQA and only need the service with the most Lossless FLAC (CD Redbook) quality files, offering the most "remastered" albums, even better.

Not a Tidal or Qobuz fanboy, could care less about brands, only care about the provider who offers the best FLAC service and ease of use, access, to quality content. If Spotify offered FLAC/Lossless, it would be game over, but they do not - not yet. Maybe some year! 

SOUND:  
Still confused why I'm hearing a notable difference between Tidal vs. Qobuz for simple CD 16-bit/44.1 FLAC tracks   ???

1. Why Qobuz sounds closer to real CD, more accurate, layered, with better instrument separation ??? (on my all-tube system).

2. Is Tidal doing something to alter or bass-boost their FLAC tracks?

3. Has anyone found Amazon Music HD (FLAC/Lossless) to sound more rolled off or more compressed (856k average) comparatively?

@decooney

by the sound, it seems there is some add’l processing going on with the tidal stream

it is a little more tizzy, less warm, slightly phasey in comparison to quboz

or is quboz just processing differently? don’t think we will ever know

@dannad
For just regular HD (CD quality), I don't think there is any difference. 

dannad, 
Nope, not talking MQA. Don't use MQA, prefer not to. Yes, hearing a difference for sure. Yes, specifically talking "regular HD CD quality" - FLAC Lossless only and yes, hearing a worthy difference.  

re: Tidal vs. Qobuz sound with CD quality tracks (16/44.1) only;  

Update:
Checked with a few critical-listener colleagues today who are using my exact same MHDT DAC (16-bit R2R Ladder tube design) and (both with similar type all-tube audio systems) hear a distinguishable difference at CD quality level with Qobuz vs. Tidal. Both report it's not the same to them either.  In fact, one switched from Tidal to Qobuz today as a result sampling 3 well regarded albums.  He indicated "instantly hearing a quality improvement with Qobuz over Tidal with regular CD bit/transfer rate". And, he too is a long term Tidal consumer like me.  We are now of the belief Tidal is doing something during digital transfer to alter even CD tracks, somehow. Will need to read up more on Tidal's software engine.   

Listening now:
Just sampled several tracks I've played for the past year with Tidal Hi-Fi. With Qobuz there is this a notable naturalness to strings and voices - more similar to CD through my same DAC with a tad more enjoyable tone and texture there. I use string/eectric guitar and piano keys as a reference too. My ear is particularly tuned to these instruments, fwiw.  


TIN PAN ALLEY - Stevie Ray Vaughan:
>>Listen to this track on Spotify Premium, then Tidal Hi-Fi, then Qobuz Studio Premier and compare<<.  Qobuz is simply more natural to me. 

LANDSLIDE - Fleetwood Mac (2017 Remastered):
>>Listen to the tone of the strings and texture of her voice and compare<<. High strings offer a very nice tone and timbre on Qobuz. 

Qobuz Studio Premier is nice.  It also could be our MHDT DACs are helping to realize the difference in 16-bit FLAC. It’s not smeared with Qobuz CD-FLAC quality, at all.  I don’t know what it is, but really like it.  Tried Amazon, will revisit quarterly. Thought for sure Amazon would dominate soon, not yet IMO. 

Glad to see the competition with streaming services heating back up!