Tidal Lossless Streaming

[sonitus mirus]

Any one try the test page Tidal have set up to compare 320 against lossless yet?

Yes, I could not pass the test.  I did record the samples and analyze them with Audacity, but I'm no expert with the tool and was only looking to make sure there were no obvious differences, such as clipping or one file being louder than the other.  The plots looked very similar.  

 

[mtkupp]

I was in the same boat. Loved the sound quality but was on the fence about the library and interface. I received an email from Sonos on the 18th with a code to try out Deezer Elite for 30 days. Excellent sound quality and an interface and features that correlate with my interests more. Nothing wrong with Tidal for me, I had no bandwidth issues, but I find Deezer more appealing.

 

[HemiSam]

 
I was in the same boat. Loved the sound quality but was on the fence about the library and interface. I received an email from Sonos on the 18th with a code to try out Deezer Elite for 30 days. Excellent sound quality and an interface and features that correlate with my interests more. Nothing wrong with Tidal for me, I had no bandwidth issues, but I find Deezer more appealing.

 
Any idea what size files Deezer Elite is transmitting?  Also, are you relying on your Sonos for a DAC?  They come with built-in DAC's and very little information is available about what they are and the specifications.
 
Thanks.
 
HS

 

[mtkupp]

Currently I'm just listening through my receiver (Onkyo 800 series) . Their site has no information on the Elite subscription I'm demoing. Premium monthly runs $9.95 but I think is limiter to 320. They had a promotion for the Elite subscription of $14.95 for the first year and I'm sure I saw something that hinted at loss-less.
 
From Sonos:
 
Sonos is excited to announce a partnership with Deezer, which has one of the most extensive music streaming libraries in the world. Sonos is bringing Deezer Elite to United States music lovers for the first time, allowing them to stream high definition audio to every room in the home.
To introduce listeners to this new experience, Deezer Elite is available for an exclusive FREE month-long trial. Simply enter promo code ##### to experience Deezer Elite free for 30 days
 
We all know high resolution is open to interpretation, like "all natural". Their current site appears to have no information on the Elite subscription.
or 30 days

 

[HemiSam]

 
Currently I'm just listening through my receiver (Onkyo 800 series) . Their site has no information on the Elite subscription I'm demoing. Premium monthly runs $9.95 but I think is limiter to 320. They had a promotion for the Elite subscription of $14.95 for the first year and I'm sure I saw something that hinted at loss-less.
 
From Sonos:
 
Sonos is excited to announce a partnership with Deezer, which has one of the most extensive music streaming libraries in the world. Sonos is bringing Deezer Elite to United States music lovers for the first time, allowing them to stream high definition audio to every room in the home.
To introduce listeners to this new experience, Deezer Elite is available for an exclusive FREE month-long trial. Simply enter promo code ##### to experience Deezer Elite free for 30 days
 
We all know high resolution is open to interpretation, like "all natural". Their current site appears to have no information on the Elite subscription.
or 30 days

 
Thank you, mtk.  
 
I've been looking into wireless.  The Definitive stuff got my attention as it's more flexible with higher res files than Sonos, but it's got some challenges as well.
 
I believe Sonos are realizing they're getting ready to be caught by several competitors and that a good bit of folks are focusing on higher quality audio with the whole analog revolution.  This is probably some interim step...I hope for their sake.  They do what they do well, but they appear inflexible and their forum smacks of customers wanting more than plain vanilla...  
 
HS

 

[mtkupp]

This market is heating up. I went with Sonos because it was a simple way to get my music streamed to my shop area. If I was to do it again and audio quality was my primary concern I would look at Bluesound.

 

[Mad Queen]

I could not pass the test either. But I've just realized that about 20% of test takers are going to get 4 or 5 of the tracks right purely by chance and believe they can hear the difference. 

 

[mtkupp]

   
Any idea what size files Deezer Elite is transmitting?  Also, are you relying on your Sonos for a DAC?  They come with built-in DAC's and very little information is available about what they are and the specifications.
 
Thanks.
 
HS

I found this info on Sonos support:
 
https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2930/kw/Deezer

 

[toolio]

This drives me crazy. Searches for many artists do not come up with anything, unless their name is part of a compilation album with other artists. However, once you search for a song recorded by that artist and then look under "other albums" suddenly everything in their library appears. And I'm not talking about lesser-known artist. Many big names fail to appear in a search. However, things are improving. A search for Leonard Cohen was futile last week, but works this week. Edit: last night I noticed that many Rod Stewart tracks have Rob "Steward" as the artist name.

 

[HemiSam]

 
I found this info on Sonos support:
 
https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2930/kw/Deezer

 
 
Hmmmmm...so they're CD quality FLAC files.  If this is real and the functionality of the graphical user interface/search engine is good then this could be a neat option.  I'll have a look at the Sonos site and forum again to see but if memory serves me it does handle 16/44 files.  The only thing I'm uncertain of is the DAC they use in their units....I'm wondering if the music comes out of their DAC and then I pump it into mine if that will allow mine to be the one that determines what the music sounds like.  Lot of variables...LOL.
 
Thanks...much appreciated!
 
HS

 

[toolio]

I and many others are still having far too many dropout and stutter problems. For me the service started out with lots of stuttering, then things got better for a few days, but again last night lots of dropouts again. Until last night I had never had a dropout on my iPad connected to a DAC (although plenty on a PC) but last evening they came in droves. This was also the case with listening through Chrome and using the PC app. I have two internet providers in my house, one 60 meg and one 50. Same dropouts using either. When I test Qobuz after dropouts with Tidal, no problems. Various tests over the past week clearly point to a problem at Tidal's end, not mine. Others seem to be reaching the same conclusion on other forums. Other than this, I like Tidal and am now paying after my seven free days expired. I will give it a month because dropouts are inexcusable. If they fix the problem, I will remain a customer. If not, I am gone.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

I'd wager their servers just need upgraded. Again, think of the MASSIVE data transfer in streaming lossless audio over the internet.
 
Personally I'd be happy if their damn discovery service wasn't so woefully lacking. 

 

[mtkupp]

   
 
Hmmmmm...so they're CD quality FLAC files.  If this is real and the functionality of the graphical user interface/search engine is good then this could be a neat option.  I'll have a look at the Sonos site and forum again to see but if memory serves me it does handle 16/44 files.  The only thing I'm uncertain of is the DAC they use in their units....I'm wondering if the music comes out of their DAC and then I pump it into mine if that will allow mine to be the one that determines what the music sounds like.  Lot of variables...LOL.
 
Thanks...much appreciated!
 
HS

 
Finally found the link I was looking for:
 
http://www.deezer.com/offers/elite
 
Mentions 1411 kbps flac.

 

[mtkupp]

  I agree.  I've had it for just under two weeks, and committed to another month.  The sound quality is good, but in most cases I can't really  tell a difference between it and Spotify, except that I know it's a higher bitrate. The thing is, I already have a massive collection of well-mastered material.  So far, Tidal is filling a need I don't have.
 
The last issue is no support on Sonos.  Not a total deal-breaker, but I might give Deezer a try in December.

Sonos now supports Deezer, I expect Tidal will be supported shortly.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

 
Sonos now supports Deezer, I expect Tidal will be supported shortly.

 
GAH. WHEN WILL DEEZER BE IN THE US??
 
EDIT: by which I mean "not only for Sonos".