Tidal sound quality on NDS272

Streaming Audio
1

Hello, have started to use Tidal (with firmware update) on NDS272 which have had from new and very happy with.

Im finding Tidal sounds very bright and brittle and not suitable for long listening sessions. Reducing to cd quality improves things but still not the experience i had hoped for.
Playing Tidal through other sources like Sonos and its completely useable for that platform.
So my view is that the issue lies with how the NDS is processing Tidal. Any thoughts and suggestions appreciated.
Thanks Paul.

2

The NDS272 isn’t a thing. There’s an NDS or a NAC-N272. Maybe you are using an NDS and then a 272 as a preamp.

When I had a 272 I tried Tidal and never felt happy with it. It sounded a bit thin and artificial and I gave up on it, sticking with WAV streams from my NAS.

1 Like
3

The best thing for first generation Naim streamers is to use Bubble UPnP server. This will stream Tidal WAV streams to the 272 - Tidal is then effectively ‘local’ and sounds as good as streaming from a NAS UPnP server.

4

Hi Paul

Tidal sounds balanced on my 272/XPS2/250.2, perhaps the issue is elsewhere? Obviously you can check that by using the 272 with another input.

Tidal will NOT do HD music via the Naim app. As pointed out it will do HD resolution music from Tidal via the Bubble UPnP app.

Hope that helps.

1 Like
5

Hi, yes its a NAC N272. Thanks for the replies and i will explore Bubble.

1 Like
6

Bubble has addressed the issue and its sounding GREAT. Thank you

6 Likes
7

Just a thought Paul, but you can also try Mconnect if you’re using an Android device.

8

The Jplay app supports Tidal as well, but to be honest I have never tried Tidal I just stream my local NAS files.

9

I’m curious. How does that make a difference, streaming with the naim app or through other devices? Could you please explain that to me? Thanks!

10

I will try but I don’t have the technical detail, I’m sure someone else will!

Naim only supports SD music via Tidal. Music data is being delivered directly from Tidal to your Naim streamer.

When you use an app like Mconnect (others work the same), you log onto your Tidal account via Mconnect. When requesting an HD album to be played data is taken from Tidal, to your device and then served over your network to your streamer OR any other UPnP on the network. So it’s effectively replicating local streaming, like via a Core.

2 Likes
11

The 1st gen Naim streamers can only natively handle Tidal up to 16/44.1 due to hardware limitations. As you have a Nova this does not apply to you, it can handle 24 bit Tidal streams.

There are various ‘proxy server’ type workarounds that can get 24 bit Tidal and Qobuz to work on the older models. I haven’t tried Mconnect, but used BubbleUPnP Server, which worked well. I also found that it improved sound quality on Naim streamers, including both 1st and 2nd gen models.

1 Like
12

Ah I didn’t notice that. I was referring to the situation with the 272.

1 Like
13

Genuinely curious. Does this mean that a generation 1 streamer can play Tidal Max/HD music files up to 24bit/192khz. Does the Bubble Upnp run on an I-pad?

14

It’s best to have Bubble Server runnnig on a Pi or PC.
I dont think Bubble runs on Apple devices.

1 Like
15

Why is that? Is that because the processing is offloaded to the PC?

16

It acts as a proxy so Tidal/Qobuz are essentially local streams.

1 Like
17

Is there a way to remote control that from a phone?

18

Thanks. So does Bubble effectively take the place of a desk-top app like tidal? I assume there would be no physical connection between PC and Naim streamer - they would just share a common network?

19

Yes, just not an iPhone.

20

Yes, they just share a commo n network. You can also use the Qobuz app and share with bubble. The Qobuz app is nicer to use and Bubble localises the music streaming converting to Wav as well.

2 Likes