Apple music streaming via ipad vs tidal wiim mini

[ckernel8]

View attachment 485996
Airplay 2 is capable of lossless when something in the chain is only Airplay 1. The graphic is actually incorrect and the max quality is 24/48. But, when everything is Airplay 2, which is the most common usage mode, it is lossy.

That's exceedingly stupid. I apologize for misleading. What the hell are you thinking Apple?

edit: It seems lossless is maintained if streaming from one Apple device to another Apple device using Apple Music lossless for example. Still extremely dumb.

 

[masterhw]

edit: It seems lossless is maintained if streaming from one Apple device to another Apple device using Apple Music lossless for example.

yes, in these few cases the Airplay initiator becomes a remote and the stream is actually coming from the Airplay receiver. if you monitor network activity you will see almost none, meaning the music isn't being sent from one device to the other. the other device is going out on the internet and getting it themselves. this is the approach Spotify, Tidal, and almost every other service uses, but Apple is stuck in the past as their Airplay model seemingly predates when it was reasonable to expect embedded devices to be internet capable.

 

[Diseasex]

OK done some A/B testing with nice bassy song... the difference is clear and dont need to make more tests
Test 1 :
song Feeling Fades (ABGT 627) from ABGT 627 compilation

Iphone apple music -> 5m USB -> Minidsp flex (USB). No EQ, ALAC
song feels muffled, with sounds heard while putting effort in

tidal -> wiim mini -> toslink -> MInidsp flex (TOSLINK), No EQ, FLAC
feels louder, with sounds heard much easier, better enjoyment of music and more "punchy"

Maybe its the way minidsp processes USB? It doesnt feel like its added color from wiim mini, rather than quality of apple music streaming seems "bluetoothy"

 

[caught gesture]

OK done some A/B testing with nice bassy song... the difference is clear and dont need to make more tests
Test 1 :
song Feeling Fades (ABGT 627) from ABGT 627 compilation

Iphone apple music -> 5m USB -> Minidsp flex (USB). No EQ, ALAC
song feels muffled, with sounds heard while putting effort in

tidal -> wiim mini -> toslink -> MInidsp flex (TOSLINK), No EQ, FLAC
feels louder, with sounds heard much easier, better enjoyment of music and more "punchy"

Maybe its the way minidsp processes USB? It doesnt feel like its added color from wiim mini, rather than quality of apple music streaming seems "bluetoothy"

That is a long USB cable run.

 

[Diseasex]

That is a long USB cable run.

Is it, however the signal is digital. And I added passthrough power to reduce signals cut that were happening.

 

[ckernel8]

OK done some A/B testing with nice bassy song... the difference is clear and dont need to make more tests
Test 1 :
song Feeling Fades (ABGT 627) from ABGT 627 compilation

Iphone apple music -> 5m USB -> Minidsp flex (USB). No EQ, ALAC
song feels muffled, with sounds heard while putting effort in

tidal -> wiim mini -> toslink -> MInidsp flex (TOSLINK), No EQ, FLAC
feels louder, with sounds heard much easier, better enjoyment of music and more "punchy"

Maybe its the way minidsp processes USB? It doesnt feel like its added color from wiim mini, rather than quality of apple music streaming seems "bluetoothy"

"feels louder" man what... "seems bluetoothy" what...

What are you even doing in this forum my man? This is the kind of language that we explicitly rail against because it's pure nonsense.

 

[Diseasex]

So you’re saying you can’t hear Bluetooth difference ? What are you doing in audio my man?
I’m aware I have few moving parts - long cable, wiim mini vs iPad as a streamer , 2 different streaming providers and no tools/hardware to pinpoint the culprit - aside from umik-2.

But there’s big difference for a trained ear, I have no doubts

Edit: thinking about it I had similar perception of pc -> usb -> minidsp of sound being materially worse vs wiim , so could be minidsp here

 

[HalSF]

The OP is having a series of powerfully subjective revelations with sighted testing, and has no doubts. It’s that stark a difference. The only explanation is Apple Music bad, Tidal audiophile. These are the principles Audio Science Review was build on.

Trick or treat!

 

[Diseasex]

The OP is having a series of powerfully subjective revelations with sighted testing, and has no doubts. It’s that stark a difference. The only explanation is Apple Music bad, Tidal audiophile. These are the principles Audio Science Review was build on.

Trick or treat!

I only asked help narrowing it down and I think I did now... Thanks for input and videos. No thanks to HalSF

 

[antcollinet]

I only asked help narrowing it down and I think I did now... Thanks for input and videos. No thanks to HalSF

However, the simple fact is if you are not comparing with sufficient controls, level matched, blind and statistically significant - you've no idea if what you are hearing is in the sound waves reaching your ears - or created in the wetware between them.

No matter how "night and day" it might sound.

 

[Diseasex]

However, the simple fact is if you are not comparing with sufficient controls, level matched, blind and statistically significant - you've no idea if what you are hearing is in the sound waves reaching your ears - or created in the wetware between them.

No matter how "night and day" it might sound.

Out of curiosity, can you or can you not hear the difference between Bluetooth and lossless in blind test ?

 

[masterhw]

Out of curiosity, can you or can you not hear the difference between Bluetooth and lossless in blind test ?

out of curiosity, can you? https://abx.digitalfeed.net/

 

[antcollinet]

Out of curiosity, can you or can you not hear the difference between Bluetooth and lossless in blind test ?

Don't know - never tested it. I only use bluetooth when cycling or to small bluetooth speakers when travelling - and then it doesn't really matter.

But I'm confident that with the high bitrate codecs (AptX HD or LDAC) I would not be able to. As I am confident you would not be able to either. At least to any degree that influences enjoyment of music.