Apple Music vs Tidal for SQ


I compared Tidal to Apple music for the first time using speakers, not headphones. Apple seems bright and a bit less smooth the tidal on my system. I never tried the apple codec before but so far not a fan, it seems to have treble that is a bit fatiguing. What is your experience?

kota1

Qobuz here…. Tidal wasn’t a real possibility for me due to the inability to decode MQA.

 

My experience is all the services make it harder than it needs to be figure out which recording you are listening too. Start with the same recording, ensure you are bit perfect, no volume control in the app or automatic controls, and Apple, Qoboz, Amazon HD will sound the same. Tried Tidal. Sometimes it sounded exactly the same. Sometimes it did not. I assume that was whatever processing they are doing.

@oldschool1948 

 

So you are saying the ripped versions sound better? What difference do you hear? Just curious. 

Tidal is good without paying for MQA and I couldn’t really tell the difference any way.

Can anyone clarify the difference between Tidal Master and MQA?

I did trial Qobuz but really didn’t put much effort into the trial before it ran out but this thread has prompted me to have another go.

I don’t hear much about Deezer on AG, nor do I know much about it. Any opinions?

My ripped CDs sound better than Qobuz or Tidal CD quality music. Qobuz HiRes and Tidal MQA sound a bit better than my ripped CDs. Quboz HiRes sounds better than Tidal MQA. DSD128 songs played via the Zenith beats them all.

I play Qobuz through a Zenith MK2 to Matrix-X to PS Audio DSD DAC via i2s.  I play Tidal through the DSD DAC’s Bridge II card.  When playing via the Zenith, I use the Innous Sense app.  I play Tidal via Roon. Sense sounds much better than Roon.