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Apple Lossless? Do I need Tidal now. Is it better with my Node 2i?

I thought i knew...turns out I dont.

Have been using Apple Music (legacy) and Tidal for the last 2 years.

- Apple Music (for legacy iTunes) via AirPlay to my Node 2i.
- Tidal for HiRes via Tidal app to my Node 2i.

Now that Apple has Lossless and Hi-Res, and most music I listen to, I have questions and seek your help:

1. Do I still need Tidal?
2. Is "Tidal Connect" to my Node 2i better than AirPlay?

I have a Chord Qutest DAC with external LPS, Belles Aria Sig amp and Dynaudio S-40s with Audience AU24 cables.
Thanks,
Ian
ianrmack
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,443 posts
 
@tvad Ok, got it (for now). I really don't need to obsess about file formats or high or super high resolutions at this point in my audio journey. I want to ensure "non-lossy" as my standard and then focus on other things (I'm setting up a new listening room, so as you can appreciate, I have a bunch of 800 lb elephants in the room to deal with.) Thank you for your expertise and for your willingness to converse with me about my questions.
tuberist
952 posts
 
Tvad is Right on the money. I am a Qobuz subscriber and got a free trial with Apple lossless and I could clearly hear the difference between between 24/96 and 24/48 bit rates so I canceled the Apple subscription. Regarding Tidal,  my ears told me the MQA presentation was somewhat sonically degraded and I didn’t like that at all nor the relentless pushing of a certain genre content.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,182 posts
 
@tvad  great tech consulting !
ianrmack OP
227 posts
 
Hi, guys…I’m the OP and I really appreciate the info.

So, if I get this right, I can use Apple Music and stream cd quality Lossless now via airplay to my node 2i then onto my chord Qutest?

if I am getting cd quality from Apple Music and airplay, then I am all set as, since SACD hype, have never experienced an appreciable sonic difference even with $10k+ audio system.
tvad
11,620 posts
 
So, if I get this right, I can use Apple Music and stream cd quality Lossless now via airplay to my node 2i then onto my chord Qutest?

Correct on CD quality Lossless from Apple Music via Airplay.

I don’t have an answer about Node 2i then onto the Chord Qutest.
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