Streaming platforms: Tidal vs Qobuz etc.

[StingRay]

If you only subscribe to Qobuz, then Roon will show the available versions in Qobuz plus whatever files you have stored locally. By subscribing to both Tidal & Qobuz, the available choices and versions for artists is significantly widened (i.e. Tidal fills in an artist catalogue if incomplete on Qobuz and vice versa).

Many people (as can be seen from comments on this thread, forum and elsewhere) just see Roon as another method to control a streaming subscription, play local files, etc. That functionality is extremely basic in Roon; all the other stuff it can do to enable discovery and enjoyment of music is immense. It really does need to be properly experienced, set up properly, over quite a period in order for users to fully realise and exploit its potential.

Thanks. I only use one streaming site, at the moment Qobuz and I only have a few downloads stored. I'm not sure it will be much good to me and it is about £90 per annum. I discovery music elsewhere, I probably discover too much to be able to play it all. I don't use playlists or favourite albums. I can understand using Roon if you have a large collection stored locally and also use streaming sites. Seems a lot of the information on Roon is from Allmusic, which I use anyway and that's free.

 

[MartinC]

Roon to me seems like an interesting concept but it's wildly overpriced compared to what I might consider paying for it. At something more like £2 per month I would consider it.

One bonus for some with Roon is that it provides a means of applying digital EQ, but I have that covered elsewhere.

 

[StingRay]

Roon to me seems like an interesting concept but it's wildly overpriced compared to what I might consider paying for it. At something more like £2 per month I would consider it.

One bonus for some with Roon is that it provides a means of applying digital EQ, but I have that covered elsewhere.

Prices went up a lot in 2019, from $499 to $699 for lifetime, it is still $119 per annum. Having missed the cheaper price there is no way I would pay $699. At least they charge you in $s not £s at the same amount. 

The problem with lifetime is they could disappear soon after you have paid.

I see how Roon could work in some systems but does not seem worth it for me, I don't have my albums ripped or have many downloads, I just stream from Qobuz or another streaming service. Album reviews that are on Roon are same as on Allmusic, these are also on Tidal. 

 

[DomT]

I used to have a Tidal account but cancelled it several months ago following me ripping my 900 CD collection to use in my Auralic and Innuos streamers. I intermittently used Spotify but the quality just wasn’t the same and so even though I was paying my subscription I hardly ever used it. Then out of curiosity I signed up to Tidal and wow what a difference in sound quality. There is a difference between ripped CDs and Tidal but of course we don’t know if it’s the same recording or not and in any event it requires really concentrated listening to try to discern a difference on my Auralic Altair G1. I remember that when I first got the Altair that I did some tests and using the integrated Tidal app sounded a bit better than the Tidal Connect app. Anyway I am just relaxing listening to the music and it’s great. Very happy especially as in a Portugal it’s much cheaper than the UK.

 

[DomT]

A quick note about using the Innuos Sense app with a streaming account, in my case Tidal, and also having ripped CDs. The Sense app shows you all Tidal and my ripped CDs in the same window and from what I have read this is what Roon does. I have never used Roon as it is too expensive for what it is and the Innuos Sense app is just such a pleasure to use.

 

[ola_strandberg]

Can I ask a question aside from sound: I am a long time Tidal user, and I’m noticing more and more that only the most recent edition of albums seem available - i.e. when a remaster/reissue is released, the original disappears. Not sure if this is depending on record label or platform though… Can anyone share an insight? For example Roger Waters Amused to Death, there is only the 2015 remaster available on Tidal, but I want to listen to the original one. I have thought of this a few times recently, although I can’t recall examples right now.

 

[oldius]

I tried Amazon Unlimited today. Unfortunately, it isn't compatible with either my Cambridge 851n or my Squeezebox Touch. It was compatible with a CCA, but the quality of that, using the Cambridge as the DAC, was nowhere near streaming Qobuz directly through the Cambridge as a streamer and DAC.

Generally, I use Spotify and Qobuz, with both compatible with both my streamers. I still find Spotify far superior to the others, for the music lover, with a better catalogue, algorithm and user interface. Just as an example, Qobuz has given me Ed Sheeran and the Travelling Willburys in my latest weekly selection, following last week's Chris DeBurgh - it could not be more wrong!

 

[oldius]

Can I ask a question aside from sound: I am a long time Tidal user, and I’m noticing more and more that only the most recent edition of albums seem available - i.e. when a remaster/reissue is released, the original disappears. Not sure if this is depending on record label or platform though… Can anyone share an insight? For example Roger Waters Amused to Death, there is only the 2015 remaster available on Tidal, but I want to listen to the original one. I have thought of this a few times recently, although I can’t recall examples right now.

Deleting previous versions is an option on one of my platforms so check your Tidal settings.

 

[Vincent52]

I'm obviously being thick here, but wtf is
&amp? 🙄

 

[Warszawa]

Can I ask a question aside from sound: I am a long time Tidal user, and I’m noticing more and more that only the most recent edition of albums seem available - i.e. when a remaster/reissue is released, the original disappears.

Happens on all streaming platforms. Annoying, as remasters are often compressed to f*ck. From Tidal's perspective, why wouldn't they free up the server space.

One of the reasons I listen to mainly CD rips stored on my streamer's hard drive.