Tidal to launch in 20+ new countries this quarter

So Naim, how about it?

You could make an argument that Qobuz doesn't have a broad enough catalog or global reach. Tidal does, making it an ideal candidate for Naim's existing streamers, providing of course that they are capable of web streaming, as opposed to the connect model used by Spotify and Naim Today.

Don't wait on one leg standing for This to come to the Naim steamers

regards

ingenius 

qobuz's catelogue is now immense and apparently growing significantly every day (something like 25m to 30m titles).. across all genres.. regularly I see new masters and versions of albums that weren't there even a week previously.. but I agree at this time they are focussing on parts of Europe currently rather than global roll out.

For speed and  music quality they are hard to beat. For breadth of content they appear pretty much swings and roundabouts with Spotify, with the latter having the edge. For global distribution, it does appear to be focusing on Europe at present... Might be a mixture of investment and music rights business model 

and  yes I agree Qobuz does appear to be targeting the more discerning music lover who appreciates quality replay equipment as well as their music... They reguarly review new hifi equipment as well as new recordings etc.

I went into my local Naim Audio / Linn dealer this morning, initially intending to join a session advertised by Linn to demonstrate a Linn streaming system. I was expecting hordes, but I was the only person there (although many other customers came and went). So instead of having a specific Linn demo, I had the benefit of a couple of hours discussing the different approaches to streaming and system development of the two companies. I also enjoyed the demonstration of a different tagging application which I am going to have to explore.

But before leaving I did get to see the Linn control application with Tidal. Wow! That is what Naim Audio needs to embrace. I'm not too fussed if Naim goes with Tidal or Qobuz, or any other, but it has to offer some form of quality lossless streaming. I would happily spend £20 /month for a service like that. The control app looked very good too.

100% agree Qobuz is improving rapidly. I was previously on a 12m special offer, but now I'm paying monthly, so when Tidal is available here in Switzerland I'll give it a try. I'm guessing the apps will be better, and of course there is the promise of a hires service, but Qobuz's classical and jazz catalog will be hard to beat. Good times!

+1 for Qobuz- The quality and the catalogue is great, try a 3 months gift for yourself and decide.

Yes. Qobuz or Tidal. But neither are possible through a Naim streamer. Yet.

Also, why should it be one of the other.. It should be down to consumer choice. The interfaces are very similar. Sonos can easily integrate approx 40 services (including Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Google, Deezer, Spotify, SoundCloud etc) with a standardised UI and thats just for the UK. 

Different streaming services are akin to different web radio stations.. each as their own style on favourites, editorials and choice playlists.

As said above, good times. The Internet is really embracing the music lover now.

Simon

What would be an interesting development is if MFSL and Audio Fidelity put their remasters available either through one of the existing services or more likely through one of their own. Seeing as many of these are unavailable to buy it would seem to be the classic no-brainer as high 2nd hand values don't butter many parsnips at Mobile Fidelity's head office. 

Another positive development would be a service that hunts down and provides non brickwalled versions of the albums available, that their curation is on remaster quality. 

I can listen to Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal through my Squeeze Box Touch, currently listening to an Ethiopian Jazz playlist through Tidal which I have on 7 day free trial. This is being accessed through a beta program ickstream which gives access to several streaming services. This is obviously the way forward - a gateway to a myriad of services. 

SJB 

Yawwwwwwwwn.  Paying again for recordings we probably already own.

Clive, could you please elaborate a little bit on that ? To me, the impossibility of using my own tags is the major limitation of current client applications. It makes these applications virtually useless for classical music or opera. It would be good news to know that someone had recognized and addressed this problem. Thanks, nbpf

Not sure whether it's up your street but JRiver Media Center lets you define your own tags and use them to construct views. Absolutely superb for classical music (the reason I use it). The tags can be based on expressions too if you want to do fancy things, There's a query language, wizards for those who like them, a DNLA server with the same customisable views. 

Thanks Clive and likesmusic ! Best, nbpf