Directly compared to equipment that can decode MQA (a NAD C658 preamplifier with BluOS), the difference is small. Tidal’s “Masters” is in HD quality, but it is not lossless. If you already have a subscription to Tidal HiFi, the difference is more subtle. Because the question will be whether the difference in sound quality is due to the service or the source material? And when it comes to streaming services, you have to keep your attention. It is usually a prerequisite when assessing sound quality that the things being compared are …comparable. Which is about twice what it takes to watch movies on Netflix in 4K quality! Particularly popular albums can be released in special audiophile versions. 24-bit/192 kHz playback causes the wireless network to gasp for air at 32 megabits per second. This also means that Qobuz places great demands on the internet connection. This means that the HD files can be played on all digital converters (and for that matter all multi-room systems). With them, the quality is called “Masters”, and with both, the HD sound is included in the same subscription as regular CD quality.īut where Tidal uses the controversial MQA format, which is both losssy and only supported by select hardware manufacturers, the file format at Qobuz is FLAC. Qobuz is not alone in offering HD quality. But there is a good deal of coincidence involved. The narrower and more exotic the taste, the less chance. That is, sound with a larger resolution than the 16-bit/44.1 kHz which is the limitation of the CD format.ĭepending on your taste in music and luck, a larger or smaller part of the back catalog from your favorite artists will be available. But the next battshould will be HD audio. At least for listening on the home stereo. High resolutionĬD quality is a minimum requirement for hi-fi quality music enjoyment. And with Apple Music, the picture is the same. Spotify, which is largely dominant, delivers 320 kilobits as its “high quality” sound quality. Unfortunately, streaming has previously been associated with poor sound quality. And even if you have a well-grown music collection and enjoy the feeling of being able to hold an album in your hand, it is faster to find a specific piece of music with your mobile, than it is to kneel in front of the bookshelf and look. Streaming is fantastic: You have access to – more or less – all music, anywhere and anytime.

Qobuz hi res music streaming services