Ran both Tidal and Qobuz together for about 6 months, no point having both so wanted to compare.
Best Tidal had to offer imo was the MQA masters, my dac does MQA unfolds so heard it at its best.
Initially impressive compared to 16/44, either streamed or played from local library, over time though something wasn’t quite right.
Almost like a loudness button being hit, took a while but it sounded “processed” and gone back to 16/44 from Tidal as my preference.
Compare that to true 24/192 from Qobuz...
Sound quality wise, it’s Qobuz for me, any day of the week.
Doing direct comparisons of the same album, same 16/44 version, Qobuz was less processed sounding, better dynamic range, vocals more natural, generally just better.
Music availability wise, Qobuz started off on the back foot, but the situation is much better.
What I really like about the Qobuz choice is that whilst you maybe don’t get every album all the time, what you DO get is the rarer recordings, live concerts and studio cuts etc you may not have known about.
Run Spotify because of it’s direct link to the Shazam App link?
Out n about and hear music you like but don’t know?
Run the app and it’ll tell you, and add it to your Spotify library.
Like the albums?
Enjoy it in full quality in Qobuz.
That’ll do for me.
AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables