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Shootout: Roon versus Plex, Qobuz versus Tidal: Who Won?

After a good bit of up front reading and preparation, a first ever (for me) digital streaming competition took place this weekend at home involving the contenders above. It put many of my preconceived notions about digital streaming these days to the test and was quite the eye opener!

I started with Plex and my personal music library of mostly CD resolution FLAC files. Then I added Roon, Tidal and Qobuz and had it out.

It’s mostly over now. The results were clear.

How did it end? Roon soundly thrashed the spunky upstart Plex. Then Qobuz beat out Tidal mainly based on cost.

Lots to talk about.

Key Findings:

  1. Plex could not match Roon for overall sound quality or overall listener experience.
  2. Sound quality to my ears was a wash between Qobuz and Tidal so Qobuz wins mainly based on cost (and no need for MQA though my streamer delivers full MQA compatibility).

I enjoy and tested all genres of music.

​​​Test system was Cambridge Evo 150 to Ohm Walsh F5 speakers in larger main listening room and to KEF ls50 meta speakers + sub in smaller 12x12 room.

128x128mapman
overthemoon
400 posts
 

Thanks for sharing!  

  • I have Plex and its how I get Tidal
  • also have Roon so plex is just my backup file
mapman's avatar
mapman OP
21,851 posts
 

My pleasure.

I tested with only CD res files and above.

Roon sounded clearer and delivered with more authority than Plex regardless of source. Like a layer of haze removed and more to hear now. Yay!

Plex is also limited to CD resolution.

I need more time with Roon ARC still.

Plexamp is very good with Carplay.

I would account the high grade for Roon sound quality to its keen focus on music and a customer base of music lovers who want to get the most they can out of the music.

Whereas music is just a part of Plex. It’s focus is more audio/video with the prime focus on video.

Also Roon cost a good bit more than Plex. Don’t let that deter you if you are true music lover/audio enthusiast. It’s a very affordable high end audio component. You will be shocked to learn what you have been missing without it.

The Roon user experience is simply awesome It is like you are turned loose and can listen to anything in the world’s largest record store with plenty of tools provided to find your way around and discover new things about the music and the artists who make it. A music lovers paradise!

 

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,610 posts
 

thanks for sharing the info @mapman 

i too run roon (love it) and to me tidal masters and qobuz sound equally good, both really excellent

tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 

I think Roon and Qobuz are fantastic.  I definitely get my money's worth out of both.  The sound quality and selection of music is outstanding.  I have had maybe two search results come up empty in two years of use.  

Having a universe of music at my fingertips is something I never imagined just a few years ago.  

czarivey
5,691 posts
 

Only certain artists/albums streamed with good quality the rest of 99% just about same low-quality compressed stream that is maximum MP96.

The cheaper you go the less disappointed you will be. I use add-free YouTube and switch between YouTube cast and YouTube Music. 

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