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Tidal’s New Lossless Tier Says Goodbye to MQA (but does it really?)

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AdamG

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Here is the link: https://twitteringmachines.com/tidals-new-lossless-tier-says-goodbye-to-mqa/

“Tidal, beginning in Australia, is offering a new streaming Tier that separates lossless CD-Quality (HiFi) from Hi-Res MQA/Atmos/360 Reality Audio (HiFi Plus). Here’s what the new three-tiered approach looks like:

  • Premium – $11.99 AUD a month with standard sound quality (320 Kbps)
  • HiFi – $17.99 AUD a month with lossless High Fidelity sound quality (1411 Kbps)
  • HiFi Plus – $23.99 AUD a month with lossless High Fidelity sound quality (1411 Kbps), Master Quality audio (up to 9216 Kbps), and immersive audio – 360 Reality Audio, Dolby Atmos Music”
 
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AdamG

AdamG

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If the above article and link story proves true. Looks like @amirm was right about MQA going away and it took 2 days for news to break.
 

KeithPhantom

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Finally, the only service that both has a decent interface and interconnectivity with other apps and doesn’t seem to be really missing a lot in terms of music library. But still, I’ll be waiting on Spotify HiFi and what’s their take on this matter.
 

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What does the atmos library look like?
 

pjug

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From the article:

HiFi Plus – $23.99 AUD a month with lossless High Fidelity sound quality (1411 Kbps), Master Quality audio (up to 9216 Kbps), and immersive audio – 360 Reality Audio, Dolby Atmos Music

You would think if they are saying goodbye to MQA they might use different terminoligy than Master Quality audio

Edit: I'm confused. Does HiFi Plus tier still include MQA. I think so? But also hires PCM up to 9216 Kbps? The confusion fest does not make Tidal attractive to me.
 
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DavidMcRoy

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From the article:

HiFi Plus – $23.99 AUD a month with lossless High Fidelity sound quality (1411 Kbps), Master Quality audio (up to 9216 Kbps), and immersive audio – 360 Reality Audio, Dolby Atmos Music

You would think if they are saying goodbye to MQA they might use different terminoligy than Master Quality audio

Edit: I'm confused. Does HiFi Plus tier still include MQA. I think so? But also hires PCM up to 9216 Kbps? The confusion fest does not make Tidal attractive to me.

My take on this is that Tidal MAY BE being intentionally vague with their language. The term “MQA” doesn’t appear in this particular notice, but there are still references to MQA (the process) in Tidal online propaganda if you look for it.
 

Chrispy

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Doesn't really say a lot. PR releases can be like that.
 

Freeway

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I believe they are testing the airwaves in response to the MQA backlash especially in light of Spotify coming out with CD quality.
Kind of vote with your wallet. Will peeps pay for their snake oil (Hi Fi Plus) on the rocks?
 

JSmith

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Here is the link: https://twitteringmachines.com/tidals-new-lossless-tier-says-goodbye-to-mqa/

“Tidal, beginning in Australia, is offering a new streaming Tier that separates lossless CD-Quality (HiFi) from Hi-Res MQA/Atmos/360 Reality Audio (HiFi Plus). Here’s what the new three-tiered approach looks like:

  • Premium – $11.99 AUD a month with standard sound quality (320 Kbps)
  • HiFi – $17.99 AUD a month with lossless High Fidelity sound quality (1411 Kbps)
  • HiFi Plus – $23.99 AUD a month with lossless High Fidelity sound quality (1411 Kbps), Master Quality audio (up to 9216 Kbps), and immersive audio – 360 Reality Audio, Dolby Atmos Music”
It's also worth to note Tidal announced this in Australia around the same time Qobuz launched their service in general in Aus;

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/qobuz-launches-in-australia-and-nz.22971/

Good to see some decent offerings and competition in this space.



JSmith
 

amirm

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I believe they are testing the airwaves in response to the MQA backlash especially in light of Spotify coming out with CD quality.
Kind of vote with your wallet. Will peeps pay for their snake oil (Hi Fi Plus) on the rocks?
Indeed. Test marketing is always done in a small market and then brought back to larger ones. This way they get some stats on uptake of MQA by itself and can then weigh the cost/benefit. Speaking for myself, if they charge me more for MQA, I will opt out.
 

OdysseusG

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The atmos library is what would get me to upgrade. Depends how robust it is.
It's slowly expanding but has been very thin. I was very interested until we listened around at a buddy's place with all the requisite gear. Almost every single Atmos version was very obviously bright compared to the stereo mixes, often painfully so.
 

abdo123

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It's slowly expanding but has been very thin. I was very interested until we listened around at a buddy's place with all the requisite gear. Almost every single Atmos version was very obviously bright compared to the stereo mixes, often painfully so.

That’s very strange.
 

firedog

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My take on this is that Tidal MAY BE being intentionally vague with their language. The term “MQA” doesn’t appear in this particular notice, but there are still references to MQA (the process) in Tidal online propaganda if you look for it.
Tidal almost never uses the term MQA. They usually talk about Master Quality and Masters.CD

Can we trust these 1411 Kbps are not MQA files with tags removed?

My guess is that the "CD" tier will also stream to you so called "MQA-CD": it's important for you to get something that isn't up to CD quality for your money, right? Especially as Tidal have eliminated thousands of real Redbook albums in their catalog and replaced them with the bastardized MQA versions.
 

Mnyb

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Living in Sweden where Spotify dominantes the market . I’ll opt for waiting a bit more and test thier hifi offering.
I have a quite large local collection, streaming is more of complementary activity for me.
If I really really like something i get myself some files or media .
 
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