Tidal play with low data rate

[etoniolo]

Hi, on my WiiM Ultra the Tidal account is set to maximum quality and everything works fine with high data rate music.
When I play a song that is only available at a low quality, the app show uses the 97 kbs data rate, but this song is also available at the 320 kbs data rate as a show from the Tidal web player:


Is this just a display error in the Android app or is it using a low data rate stream instead of the high data rate (320 Kbs)?

Thanks.

Emanuele

 

[harkpabst]

The issue seems to be with Tidal here. Using Tidal's Android app I am limited to the 96 kbps stream, just like when streaming from within the WiiM Home app. The Tidal Windows desktop on the other hand offers a choice between 96 kbps AAC and 320 kbps MP3.

I conclude, that the Tidal API (used by the WiiM Home app) doesn't allow to make a pick here, if even the native Tidal Android app doesn't offer that.

I'm sure, some will argue that 96 kbps AAC is better than 320 kbps MP3, but I won't comment on that in any way. It would be nice to have the choice, but Tidal currently wont let us choose.

 

[slartibartfast]

The issue seems to be with Tidal here. Using Tidal's Android app I am limited to the 96 kbps stream, just like when streaming from within the WiiM Home app. The Tidal Windows desktop on the other hand offers a choice between 96 kbps AAC and 320 kbps MP3.

I conclude, that the Tidal API (used by the WiiM Home app) doesn't allow to make a pick here, if even the native Tidal Android app doesn't offer that.

I'm sure, some will argue that 96 kbps AAC is better than 320 kbps MP3, but I won't comment on that in any way. It would be nice to have the choice, but Tidal currently wont let us choose.

Why is the choice always between high bitrate MP3 and low bitrate AAC when they could offer high bitrate AAC. Even the BBC do that.

 

[merifon]

For some reason, there are songs (luckily not so many) that Tidal plays at 96Kbit AAC, any setting is chosen or regardless it's Tidal connect or WiiM app.
Those songs are anyway available at normal sampling rate on other platforms. I told this to Tidal support and they seemed to be surprised and told me they will investigate but I didn't see any changes on this.

 

[harkpabst]

Why is the choice always between high bitrate MP3 and low bitrate AAC when they could offer high bitrate AAC. Even the BBC do that.

I'd love to know.

For some reason, there are songs (luckily not so many) that Tidal plays at 96Kbit AAC, any setting is chosen or regardless it's Tidal connect or WiiM app.
Those songs are anyway available at normal sampling rate on other platforms. I told this to Tidal support and they seemed to be surprised and told they will investigate but I didn't see any changes on this.

I think you nailed it.

As I said, I do get the choice between 320 k MP3 and 96 k AAC using the Tidal app for Windows, but no matter what I pick, the resulting stream is really always just 96 k AAC.

 

[merifon]

I'd love to know.


I think you nailed it.

As I said, I do get the choice between 320 k MP3 and 96 k AAC using the Tidal app for Windows, but no matter what I pick, the resulting stream is really always just 96 k AAC.

I could guess that something gone wrong in loading those files on platform, maybe format compression or whatever and quality control didn't catch up. I don't think it's a license matter.
The only other thing I don't like in Tidal, is that streamings started using connect feature, don't update the recently played list...