Tidal Sound Quality

[Rexp]

7 hours ago, sandyk said:

Streaming will never sound quite as good as a high quality local rip, even with the exact same source material.

This will be obvious to most with a half decent set up using JRiver 26 for example.

Actually the opposite is true, most CD rips sound utter crap. Luckily there are some great masterings on Tidal. 

[Rexp]

4 hours ago, STC said:

Anyone want to take a blind test?  

Yes if you exclude MQA

[Rexp]

On 2/9/2020 at 7:38 PM, STC said:

Finally, I have decided to stream music and choose Tidal HiFi. However, the sound quality was not as good as playing my original CD rips through the JRiver. The classical master version sounded good but Norah Jones Don't go away (master) did not have the bite that I was used to. Here are the measurements which probably explains why I find the CD rips through JRiver sounded better.

 

 

The HiFi version is slightly louder than the master. Having said that I preferred the "Master" version. 

 

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Both files did not extend beyond 20 plus KHz.

 

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This is the final output (in digital domain). The original file in my library was ripped from Norah Jones SACD album. The version in the JRiver library is the PCM layer ripped with iTunes. It is 16/44.1kHz version. All files were streamed through 24/96 project setting of Reaper. The DAC was set at 96000 sampling rate. One thing is clear from this that all three files were differently mastered. I will attempt another measurements with EQ'ing the Tidal output to match the JRiver and see if the SQ is to my liking.

 

 

Was it this album:

https://tidal.com/album/151824

 

[Rexp]

23 minutes ago, STC said:

These two. 
 

https://tidal.com/track/151825

 

 

https://tidal.com/track/77599452

 

Yes thats the version (hifi) i listen to, might have the CD somewhere. 

[Rexp]

On 2/10/2020 at 1:33 PM, sandyk said:

 

 In that case you must have a lot of CDs that were made after the start of the Loudness wars, or your CD ripping leaves a lot to be desired due to poor ripping techniques including the choice of writer and the PSU used.

 Yes, some CDs were rushed out at the beginning of the CD era that were inferior to the LP mastering where more care was taken in many cases, and the lower maximum output levels used in the AAD days often showed up deficiencies in the player , Preamplifier areas etc.

 If the exact same recording from Tidal sounds better than a local rip then you have MAJOR problems in the Digital area of your PC/Server  Don't expect great results from a typical Laptop or a bog standard Mac Mini, as they are usually too electrically noisy, especially where USB is used.

Actually you are right, like for like, the rip does sound better. I ripped this and compared:

https://tidal.com/album/111213079

Shame my favorite albums weren't done so well. 

[Rexp]

On 2/12/2020 at 11:33 AM, Rexp said:

Actually you are right, like for like, the rip does sound better. I ripped this and compared:

https://tidal.com/album/111213079

Shame my favorite albums weren't done so well. 

But if I download the Tidal album to my phone, the rip and Tidal sound similar. 

[Rexp]

1 hour ago, STC said:

It is difficult to reliably do AB test as far music is concerned. If you take few seconds sample and compare them you will notice the difference. Once you know the track by heart it is hard to unhear the best version in your brain and we will fill in the missing info in the inferior version.  

I wish

[Rexp]

3 hours ago, sandyk said:

 

After NUMEROUS replays of the same track they may start to sound the same, but perhaps more like the inferior version as concentration lapses ?

I found this track good for identifying the differences, the streamed Tidal version is more diffuse sounding than the download with weaker bass, its easy to spot:

https://tidal.com/track/111213084

[Rexp]

10 hours ago, sandyk said:

 

 I am not surprised that this sounds a little better than Tidal. My 2009 rip of tracks such as "What Am I to You sound pretty good.

 Interestingly, this time the Bonus DVD has AC3 5Ch. Audio instead of LPCM

You can download the Tidal version here if you want to compare to your rip:

https://store.tidal.com/my/album/112707015