Digital Drive

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RE: tidal sounds like shit - Updated Thoughts, & You May Be Right

Posted by Jeff Starr on March 1, 2017 at 15:41:47:
I think I had said I was happy with the quality of Masters, but that I thought a good transport with the CD was still better than Tidal's 16/44.

It has been brought up that the versions Tidal has may be different and that may be it, or they are transferring CDs, rather than the files used to make those CDs. Or it is their player, and Roon may be necessary to get the best out of Tidal.

Last night I found that Tidal had a number of Juliana Hatfield CDs, and her former group the Blake Babies "God Bless The Blake Babies".
When I played " God Bless" on Tidal it was bad. I have a copy that was ripped and burned about 12+ years ago. And it was done on a desktop using whatever software came with it. I had expected the Tidal version to be better, well the CD on my Lindemann 825 just sounds so much better.

I have heard a few audiophiles claim that Tidal 16/44 is superior to their rips. I don't think you can make a blanket statement like that.

I imagine that the new MQA releases have been carefully processed and chosen to get Masters off the ground, while their other content is not getting the best versions.

I was disappointed with the first 16/44 file I heard, but not knowing the recording, I had no reference.

I am beginning to think that other than Masters, Tidal may only be of use as background music, and to audition potential purchases.

Bullethead, thanks for prompting me to look/listen deeper.