Evening
Decent question - having started all this malarkey, I almost feel obliged to buy one and report back but … I may not need it.
Progress so far is that I have a Sony UBP-X800M2 and AudioQuest Forest coax cable, delivered today. At the same time, I am changing the whole rack to an Atacama rack so it will be a few days before I know much more.
Here’s the dilemma. As far as I know, at the moment I only have 2 blu ray audio discs. The Cure which states 24/96 and Peter Gabriel I/O which doesn’t sate anything. If the latter comes up as higher than 24/96 then that proves both the output from the Sony and the input to NDX2 are as high as possible - and that’s end of story.
If I/O also says 24/96 when played, it doesn’t actually prove anything.
Does anyone know of a Blu Ray disc that states a higher res that 24/96 that I could buy and test?
As far as the converter is concerned, if I can prove that the coax is in some way limited than I would get the converter which, having spoken to FutureShop, I am at least 99% sure will offer full high res of whatever the disc has to offer. It simply strips out the audio and keeps all that information for audio play and, in my case, ditches the video.
I don’t know much about it but I think it’s much the same as HDMI ARC but as the NDX2 has no HDMI input, the converter is needed to get it into a socket that is available (in my case, Coax)
So, sorry I have no answer yet but I will report back what I find as I feel I owe it to everyone who has shown an interest.
As I said, any recommendations for proper hi res Blu Ray disc would be appreciated.
Thanks
Chris
Pink Floyd Animals 2018 Remix Blu-ray has 24/192 Stereo tracks as does Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary Blu-ray. John Coltrane Blue Train Blu-ray is also 24/192.
Most Pure Audio Blu-ray discs are 24/96 with the odd few also at 24/192.
Appreciate the update you provided, many thanks.
Thanks for that - I have ordered both the Pink Floyd discs and will report back as soon as I have the answer.
Have just started a trial with Tidal (Qobuz to follow) and the app is a mess compared to the Spotify app. Plus Spotify Connect works seamlessly with my Muso, whereas Tidal Connect loses connectivity and I have to open the Tidal app from within the Naim app to get Tidal working again. Very frustrating!
I suppose the connectivity issue might be adressed in the coming software patch from the side of Naim. Just wondering what you feel about the difference in SQ between Spotify en Tidal.
Seems to me that’s one of the main reasons why you would trial Tidal or Qobuz besides Spotify.
Fingers crossed re the connectivity issue! As to sound quality, Tidal seems to have the edge based on my limited experience so far, especially for classical and acoustic music.
Is that using Tidal Connect? If so I agree with you. Tidal Connect sounds better to me compared to traditional Tidal streaming.
Yes, Tidal Connect.
I don’t have a link or any insider information. But, I believe Tidal laid off some people and that their finances are not good.
Hypothetically speaking, if Tidal were to close its doors, Qobuz would be a big beneficiary. I know I would go to Qobuz if I no longer had Tidal.
This was from Music:)Ally on 8th Nov 2024.
Start.
Tidal’s parent firm Block recently warned staff at the streaming service of layoffs to come, removing product management and product marketing functions entirely, while reducing the size of its design team and other roles.
Now there is further context for that in Block’s quarterly financials report: “Within our emerging initiatives, we are refining our investments based on our progress,” explained Block to investors.
“We are scaling back our investment in TIDAL and winding down TBD [a ‘web5’ project]. This gives us room to invest in our bitcoin mining initiative, which has strong product market fit and a healthy pipeline of demand, and Bitkey, our self custody wallet for bitcoin.”
It’s not quite the end for Tidal, then, but it’s a late-phase decline that’s a far cry from the service’s starry launch in 2015 with a press conference featuring its artist-investors including Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Daft Punk, Jack White, Kanye West, Deadmau5, Madonna, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.
This has been coming for a while though. Those founder-artists cashed out in 2021 when Block (called Square at the time) paid $237.3m for an 86.2% stake in Tidal.
By February 2024 Block was reporting a ‘goodwill impairment charge’ relating to Tidal of $132m, suggesting that it had considerably overpaid in a deal that in 2023 was infamously described by a judge – ruling on a lawsuit from some Block shareholders – as a “terrible business decision”.
Block’s financial results over recent years have hinted at a decline in revenues (and thus subscribers) for Tidal. The streaming service sits within Block’s ‘corporate and other’ business line – usually described as “primarily Tidal” – for reporting purposes. In Q3 2021 that revenue was $58m, but the latest financials reveal that it was $44m in Q3 2024.
Tidal hasn’t been a smash hit, then, but – after past controversies and even fraud investigations – in its Square/Block era the service deserves credit for its efforts to innovate, particularly its experiments with user-centric payouts.
During that time there have been occasional rumours of potential acquisitions of Tidal, and with Block more interested in bitcoin than music, we may see some of those suitors pop up again.
End.
DG…
+1 on the Mac Mini ( late 2014)…. 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM, streaming both my lossless library, Tidal & internet radio.
During the first year of Covid I was pushed towards a streaming solution after the Unitiqute packed it in.
Now looking for a Naim DAC to use with the optical output from the Mini…
…I’ll add that the Mini is controlled via iPad. No monitor required.
Initially streaming was achieved using an AirPort hub , RCA out to the 5italic. Still a great budget solution.
I had that combination and it worked surprisingly well with a decent quality optical cable. Then look for a PS for the nDAC a you’ve got an excellent front end.
Roger
Any service that advertises a ‘monthly *’ price based on an annual fee divided by 12 is anything but customer focused - I’m looking 
at you Qobuz.
Very weak marketing strategy.
ATB, J
Most of my music is local files. I use Qobuz to listen to stuff I’m considering buying. I’ve got Qobuz Sublime and the hi-res discounts are very good. For me Qobuz meets my needs - No interest whatsoever in Tidal.
Well quite you need only one or the other if you want a streaming service.
The original question was which one?
Qobuz for me because it isn’t Tidal.
That is all.
Toss a coin?
If that’s how you like to make decisions go for it