When Amazon HD became available, I transferred all my playlists from Spotify. It seemed like the logical thing to do because I already had Amazon Prime. At the time, I was streaming from laptop, Amazon desktop app via USB to DAC. Or sometimes I'd go "line-in" to pre-amp via Echo Dot. Kind of makeshift deal, but it worked. Couldn't really tell much difference between Amazon and Tidal SQ in that configuration. Amazon HD price - $12.99/mo & Tidal $19.99/mo, so no brainer.
Then I got a Bluesound Node 2i a few weeks ago. I'm going Bluesound -> DAC via coax. Though unexpected, I tried out Qobuz and IMHO, it was clearly better sounding than Amazon HD on both CD quality and Hi-Rez.
Given that both services stream 16-bit/44.1 Khz & 24-bit 96Khz/ 192Khz, and over the same system downstream ... I don't understand how this is happens. But it does. [Maybe somebody can explain that in laymen's terms]
Now when I threw Tidal back into the mix, something interesting happened: Tidal became the new reference; but ONY for MQA tracks. In my system and to my ears, it's the best of all of them.
I listen to a lot of Blue Note jazz from the 60's, as well as Trane and Miles on Columbia, Impulse, Atlantic, and Prestige - mostly from 50's and 60's. I've heard certain tracks/albums many times going back 40+ years. Going back and forth between the same albums and cuts ... for example Herbie Hancock "The Prisoner" or Wayne Shorter "Speak No Evil", Tidal comes closest to the originals. But again, that's ONLY for the MQA stuff.
In terms of CD-quality offerings, Qobuz beats the competition, and for Hi-Rez it's only slightly behind Tidal - by the slimmest of margins. Comparing library sizes, and titles, Amazon is the clear choice.
Conclusion: I cancelled Amazon HD, effective with the next billing cycle. There are about 2 or 3 weeks left on the Qobuz /Tidal trials, and as of right now, taking everything into consideration, I'm going with Qobuz. Well, that's my take on it. YMMV
Happy Listening!
Then I got a Bluesound Node 2i a few weeks ago. I'm going Bluesound -> DAC via coax. Though unexpected, I tried out Qobuz and IMHO, it was clearly better sounding than Amazon HD on both CD quality and Hi-Rez.
Given that both services stream 16-bit/44.1 Khz & 24-bit 96Khz/ 192Khz, and over the same system downstream ... I don't understand how this is happens. But it does. [Maybe somebody can explain that in laymen's terms]
Now when I threw Tidal back into the mix, something interesting happened: Tidal became the new reference; but ONY for MQA tracks. In my system and to my ears, it's the best of all of them.
I listen to a lot of Blue Note jazz from the 60's, as well as Trane and Miles on Columbia, Impulse, Atlantic, and Prestige - mostly from 50's and 60's. I've heard certain tracks/albums many times going back 40+ years. Going back and forth between the same albums and cuts ... for example Herbie Hancock "The Prisoner" or Wayne Shorter "Speak No Evil", Tidal comes closest to the originals. But again, that's ONLY for the MQA stuff.
In terms of CD-quality offerings, Qobuz beats the competition, and for Hi-Rez it's only slightly behind Tidal - by the slimmest of margins. Comparing library sizes, and titles, Amazon is the clear choice.
Conclusion: I cancelled Amazon HD, effective with the next billing cycle. There are about 2 or 3 weeks left on the Qobuz /Tidal trials, and as of right now, taking everything into consideration, I'm going with Qobuz. Well, that's my take on it. YMMV
Happy Listening!