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Music fans who feel that music streaming services from Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, and others can't satisfy their desire for high-fidelity music may be eyeing Tidal or Qobuz. Both services offer a basic plan at $11/month, curated playlists, hi-res lossless streaming, offline listening, and easy ways to interact with up-and-coming artists.
Also: Spotify vs. Apple Music: I've subscribed to both streaming services, and prefer this one
If hi-res music is your priority, both streaming services offer 24-bit, up to 192kHz lossless audio in FLAC format, with negligible differences in audio quality that are subjectively undetectable to most ears. Additionally, both services are available on iOS and Android, and can be easily integrated into your Sonos, Denon, or Wiim system.
So, your decision between these two services depends on your preferences and the kind of curated content you prefer in a music service. Let's explore them both.
Features
Tidal Qobuz Price $ 10.99 $ 10.83 Audio formats AAC (up to 320kbps); FLAC (16-bit/44.1 kHz); Hi-Res FLAC (up to 24-bit/192 kHz); Dolby Atmos MP3, WMA, AAC (up to 320kbps); WAV, WMA, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC (16-Bit/44.1 kHz); WAV, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC (24-Bit up to 192 kHz) Editorial content Yes Yes Offline listening Yes Yes Hardware integration Tidal Connect Qobuz Connect Special features Artist direct upload Music purchases via Qobuz Store
You should subscribe to Tidal if...
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