Qobuz Qobuz versus Tidal for WiiM Pro Plus

[cc_rider]

As a Veteran, I pay $5.99/mo for Tidal HiFi. Works for me.

 

[harkpabst]

For a single account with monthly payment the five in Germany relevant services charge:
Apple Music HD 10,99 €
Amazon Music Unlimited HD 10,99 € for Prime members
Qobuz HiFi 14,99 €
Tidal HiFi Plus 19,99 €
Spotify Premium 10,99 €
Only looking at offered resolution without any discussion about audible different sound quality Spotify and Tidal could be named as too expensive. ;-)

You made me look up the Tidal HiFi Family plan ... and I was shocked to find it's 1 € cheaper per month than Spotify Premium Familiy!

 

[steadyshot]

This thread is responsible for reviving this afternoon my Qobuz subscription ;-)
Started to look for albums which I have not found on Tidal. Successful. Reason enough. What I also likely had forgotten was the booklet option which is so nice for many classical recordings. But again for me no audible differences between the services. So even more chances to find recordings in two services.

For me tidal is like having an aliasing filter that smooths the sound artificially (especially through tidal connect ) JPLAY and WiiM app presents the sound of Tidal in a cleaner way but not up to the level of Qobuz. Qobuz sounds really clean, hi res and balanced.

 

[Yanto]

This thread is responsible for reviving this afternoon my Qobuz subscription ;-)
Started to look for albums which I have not found on Tidal. Successful. Reason enough. What I also likely had forgotten was the booklet option which is so nice for many classical recordings. But again for me no audible differences between the services. So even more chances to find recordings in two services.

I’ve found definite gaps in the libraries of all services apart from Spotify.

 

[SWM]

Email from Tidal this morning :

Starting April 10, 2024, you will now get access to our music library in full lossless, HiRes FLAC, and Dolby Atmos sound for the same price you pay today of £12.99/month.
This is because we’re making it easier for everyone to enjoy best-in-class sound quality by combining our HiFi and HiFi Plus tiers into a single subscription tier called TIDAL.

One thing that bugs me about the Qobuz app is the way they combine very different genres in the browser i.e. blues / country / folk. It makes finding new artists more time consuming than it needs to be. I just found out from my brother-in-law that the US app has separate categories!

UK app :



US App :

 

[Giro413]

Since getting my WiiM Pro Plus I have been using first Qobuz and now also Tidal to get the best possible sound quality when streaming. I also use the dac in the WPP. I still have a Spotify subscription also, so at the moment I can really compare all three platforms. I seem to have landed on Tidal for a decent combination of good SQ and a catalogue that fits my tastes, but one thing makes me prefer Spotify…

And that is the fact that I get Spotify controls on the lock screen of my iPhone when it is playing on my WiiM Pro Plus (via Spotify Connect). I do not seem to be able to get that very convenient functionality with either Tidal or Qobuz. How can that be? Is iPhone lock screen functionality (and dynamic island) just not supported when using Tidal Connect or streaming Qobuz from the WiiM app? I can’t see why they shouldn’t be able to, when Spotify can.

Although this feature does nothing for the sound quality, I do find myself using Spotify more because of the seamlessness having your currently playing music displayed on your phone's lock screen offers.

 

[harkpabst]

And that is the fact that I get Spotify controls on the lock screen of my iPhone when it is playing on my WiiM Pro Plus (via Spotify Connect). I do not seem to be able to get that very convenient functionality with either Tidal or Qobuz. How can that be? Is iPhone lock screen functionality (and dynamic island) just not supported when using Tidal Connect or streaming Qobuz from the WiiM app? I can’t see why they shouldn’t be able to, when Spotify can.

Although this feature does nothing for the sound quality, I do find myself using Spotify more because of the seamlessness having your currently playing music displayed on your phone's lock screen offers.

It's working with the Android app, so this is probably rather a question for the TIDAl team, not for the WiiM croud.

 

[Giro413]

It's working with the Android app, so this is probably rather a question for the TIDAl team, not for the WiiM croud.

Does anyone else use Tidal Connect via iPhone and get play controls and album art on phone's lock screen and in the dynamic island?

 

[alpha_zulu]

And that is the fact that I get Spotify controls on the lock screen of my iPhone when it is playing on my WiiM Pro Plus (via Spotify Connect). I do not seem to be able to get that very convenient functionality with either Tidal or Qobuz. How can that be? Is iPhone lock screen functionality (and dynamic island) just not supported when using Tidal Connect or streaming Qobuz from the WiiM app? I can’t see why they shouldn’t be able to, when Spotify can.

Although this feature does nothing for the sound quality, I do find myself using Spotify more because of the seamlessness having your currently playing music displayed on your phone's lock screen offers.

Controls and album arts work perfectly on the lockscreen of my iPhone and iPad with Qobuz app. But only as long as you don't use Chromecast for streaming. When the app runs locally, e.g. if you want to listen from your iPhone via headphones, everything is fine.
Even if you stream to the WiiM Pro Plus via Apple Airplay, the lockscreen controls work as expected. Chromecast unfortunately has some bad limitations that will hopefully no longer exist with the announced Qobuz Connect.

 

[KCS]

I have Amazon Music now, but I cannot save to favorite or playlist within Wiim Home. I can do that with Qobuz. 1 month free trial :=) Anyone knows if I can do that with Tidal. Besides Qobuz/Tidal, any other suggestions for HiRes?

Seriously thinking about ditching Amazon. Need to spend more time comparing, but Qobuz seems to sound better??!!

 

[Mr Ee]

I have Amazon Music now, but I cannot save to favorite or playlist within Wiim Home. I can do that with Qobuz. 1 month free trial :=) Anyone knows if I can do that with Tidal. Besides Qobuz/Tidal, any other suggestions for HiRes?

Seriously thinking about ditching Amazon. Need to spend more time comparing, but Qobuz seems to sound better??!!

You can 'Add to my music' (and remove again) within the wiim app when playing tidal.
The main now playing wiim screen doesn't show you if it's alreay added.
You have to press the 3 dot menu to do this - still not available directly on the main screen!

Why not use amazon music app or tidal connect though?

 

[wiimamp user]

Using jplay too. But with Tidal ;-) Could not hear any difference. So no reason to change for me.

What about the Hifi Basic and Hifi tier coming together on April 10th?
I must say im very happy with Tidal. Im going to stay.
So on April 10th im getting Hi res?

 

[Mr Ee]

What about the Hifi Basic and Hifi tier coming together on April 10th?
I must say im very happy with Tidal. Im going to stay.
So on April 10th im getting Hi res?

On or therebouts.
And it'll sound better because you want / expect it to

 

[wiimamp user]

Thanks for the replies.
I must say i am very pleased with Tidal.
Bu now i have Spotify and Tidal.
I assume that in not the only one with multiple subscriptions ?
I also have youtube premium. For watching videos.

 

[KCS]

Thanks for the replies.
I must say i am very pleased with Tidal.
Bu now i have Spotify and Tidal.
I assume that in not the only one with multiple subscriptions ?
I also have youtube premium. For watching videos.

Can you cast Youtube to Wiim to use EQ?

 

[KCS]

On or therebouts.
And it'll sound better because you want / expect it to

I can hear the difference between Amazon non-HD and HD, not sure about CD vs HiRes. HiRes seems a bit less bright, but that maybe due Amazon or Wiim down sampling.

 

[KCS]

You can 'Add to my music' (and remove again) within the wiim app when playing tidal.
The main now playing wiim screen doesn't show you if it's alreay added.
You have to press the 3 dot menu to do this - still not available directly on the main screen!

Why not use amazon music app or tidal connect though?

Unfortunately my I-pad is too old. Does support Amazon app. Not sure if it supports tidal connect either :=( Qobuz works well for me. I can save albums or tracks, or create playlist.

 

[wiimamp user]

Can you cast Youtube to Wiim to use EQ?

Yes i think you can.
I mostly use Spotify and Tidal..youtube for videos. Occasionally music video,s.

 

[pmalecek]

Personally, my best experience has been with Amazon Music HD within the WiiM app and Apple Music within Apple TV.

As for the HiRes "hype" - ditch it. Look for recordings with quality Mastering. If the mastering is done well, then the CD quality will cover more than your audio setup can radiate and more than your hearing will allow.

Enjoy the music, forget the numbers.

 

[Wiimer]

Can you cast Youtube to Wiim to use EQ?

When you cast audio from the Google home app on your phone to WiiM, and play the video on the Youtube app, the audio will be output from WiiM.

HiRes seems a bit less bright, but that maybe due Amazon or Wiim down sampling.

Amazon provides multiple audio quality files (SD/HD/UHD) for each track. These different files are automatically selected by the user's playback environment.

Therefore, Amazon and WiiM do not need to use down sampling. This is also the case with other Hi-Res streaming services.