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Qobuz vs Tidal

First off in the last 3 weeks, I have lost 90% of my vision so if there are mistakes please understand.  I am building my last house and will be moving in in late August.  I have ordered a fantastic two channel system, and I have a separate theater room.   The 2 channel system consists of Canary Audio Grand Reference Two Mono Amps, Canary C1800 Pre-amp, Lumin X1 Dac/Streamer, and an Inakustic 3500P power conditioner and Viking Accoustic Grande Voix horn speakers.  My theater room will include a 5.2.2 set up of Tekton Double impact in wall speakers.   My music source is a Lumin X-1 with a 4tb Synology NAS filled with over 10,000 titles.  In my last system I used Tidal to complement my digital library.  I am looking for either Qobuz or Tidal  for my new system.  I am looking for people who have both or have used both.  Which do you prefer and why?   If you have only used one please don't reply.  I need your help as I can no longer research the way I would like.  All your replies will be voice activated so that is how I am getting your information.  Ease of use will be critical due to my sight restrictions.  Thanks for your help.
willgolf
denverfred's avatar
denverfred
252 posts
 
After less than the 30 day trial period, I went with Qobuz over Tidal. SQ is excellent and I can trust nothing too gross is being done to it. Tidal and MQA are OK and I could live with it. 
I’m mostly streaming jazz and classical and Qobuz gives me access to more European, Eastern European and Scandinavian recordings than I ever knew existed.
I’m familiar with the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Get signed up with your local branch for loads of free recorded books and magazines. Probably be talking to you.
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
agree w decooney

amazon is the whale... worth watching

they would squash tidal quboz deezer in a heartbeat if they decided to do so

spotify couldn't give a sh*t about audiophiles, thus the lossy streaming persists


thedogsbloggs
1 posts
 
I've flipped between the two services for the past three years and always miss Qobuz 'sweetness' when it comes to certain elements of tracks that are what hi-res is all about in my opinion.  By that I mean, female vocals and instruments such as sax and piano always sound that little bit more natural and contain that little extra high element and positioning that makes listening really enjoyable. To verify this view I've developed over time, and you've caught me at a point fortunately where my subscriptions have crossed over, I've just asked my missus to play blind a set of a few different tracks to me so I could pick which sounded better to my ears, and Qobuz won out every time. This was using roon. I listened both through my hifi system, pretty decent but not as high end as yours, and some high end headphones. Hope this two pence helps, and I'm sorry to hear about your eyes, but so long as you have your ears, you will always have something truly wonderful to appreciate in life. Remember that.

Kind regards,

Darren
willgolf OP
939 posts
 
Thanks, I am still experimenting with both but will probably end up going with QOBUZ. I think the resolution is slightly better
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
tidal and quboz redbook or higher res feeds both sound very good... but i agree qobuz sounds slightly better, bit more ’solid’ and with a slightly fuller tone, whereas tidal sounds a little leaner, a touch ’phasey’ in comparison, when i have managed to a-b back and forth on the same track, same res

of course the two services could be streaming different mastered versions of the selections, but over numerous listens of numerous selections, the sonic difference i describe above holds, i believe
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