Is Tidal on it's way out?

Posted by: DomTomLondon on 13 December 2017

Just saw an article on a popular tech site that Tidal only has about 6 more months of cash left to last. If true, It's a bit of a shame. As I was hoping that it would at least force others, like Spotify and Apple Music, to introduce a lossless streaming option.

It would seem that the lossless and MQA streaming Tidal does offer is not enough to take customers away from Spotify. I trialed Tidal Hi-Fi for a month and found it okay. Sound quality was a little better then Spotify, but not enough to warrant double the price. Also not all albums where available as lossless. It's not properly integrated into the Naim system the way Spotify is, so again it made playing music on my SU a bit confusing, having to jump back and worth between the Naim and Tidal apps. Finally the user experience in Tidal leave a lot to be desired. There are very few playlists and the music recommendations are awful. Quite a few people I talked to also said that they rather have a great user experience and continue using Spotify. So I can see why Tidal has not been able to get the customer numbers it could have. 

Posted on: 13 December 2017 by ChrisSU

I don’t understand your comment about Tidal not being integrated into the Naim app. Using the Tidal input on the app, you don’t have to leave it and go to the Tidal app if you don’t want to. I’m not Tidal’s biggest fan, but in this respect, it seems to work. 

Posted on: 13 December 2017 by DomTomLondon

Maybe it's been updated since I used it a few moths ago.  I found the Tidal interface in the Naim app quite limiting, and I had to switch back to the Tidal app to search for new albums. Then I tried to play the albums within the Tidal app, but could not figure out a way to control the SU with the Tidal app.

Posted on: 13 December 2017 by seakayaker

I will be disappointed if TIDAL goes under, I am a HI-Fi subscriber and find the monthly fee reasonable for the number of albums I have access to play and it sounds mighty fine.

JMHO - YMMV

Posted on: 13 December 2017 by Nick Lees

I’d be surprised if many or any of the streaming services made money. Qobuz’s outreach is tiny compared to the big boys, but at least they can supplement their streaming subscriptions with download sales.

I don’t know what the solution is, but one place costs can’t be cut is the artist royalties from streaming, which are pitiful unless you get hits in the millions.

Posted on: 13 December 2017 by Japtimscarlet

Sounds like you were doing something wrong somewhere??

And sound quality should have been much better than spotify also ...it is for me ...

Posted on: 13 December 2017 by Obsydian

I do Like Tidal purely for streaming to me it is the best quality and my source for my Nova. I thought Apple where poised to buy it last year but it never happened.

Question is who would buy Tidal for the money Jaz Z and Co want.

A major issue with Tidal until recent app improvements was the lack of any investment or development, rumour always being they were broke.

Qobuz again sounds flaky, all these folk signed up to 1 year deals.

I really don't want to the rip or NAS setup, i love the ease and laziness of streaming but accept it's always going to be behind NAS type methods sound quality wise.

Posted on: 14 December 2017 by Mike1951

https://www.google.es/amp/s/ww...-doomed-to-fail/amp/

Oh dear. Looks like it's almost time to revert to Spotify on my ND5XS and wait for their lossless to begin.  And just as the firmware update seems to have solved the dropout problem! Harrumph. 

Posted on: 14 December 2017 by Obsydian

I use these and have paid subscriptions for the following (note Tidal is on the Naim Nova offer and Deezer 99p a month for 3 mths).

1st - Tidal is clearly the best (compromise vs NAS) in terms of sound quality, native Naim support, but very Yank focused and no Android Auto integration - £20 a month (single HIFI account);

2nd - Deezer i use in the car and on my phone, i don't like the sound on my Nova vs Tidal - has Android Auto integration (sounds awesome) - £15 a month (family lossless MQA)

3rd - Spotify, i rarely use it now (but the best UI and playlists)and only maintained it for family, sounds dreadful on the Atom and now Nova - £15 a month (family 320k)

My perfect solution would be Spotify HiFi, they have talked and run beta, signed up all the major music labels this year, yet still no Hifi.

Posted on: 14 December 2017 by DomTomLondon

I am also waiting for Spotify to come out with a Hi-Fi option. However I couldn't hear a huge difference between its 320 stream and Tidal's Hi-Fi stream. I tried listening to the same track side by side through a headphone DAC, Yes there was a difference, but it wasn't huge. Still, for more serious listening, it would be nice to have a Hi-Fi streaming option.

Posted on: 14 December 2017 by Obsydian

I did read (Spotify Forum) it was possible to use Spotify HIFI through the web app or google chrome, whether it is a red herring is another matter.

I suspect Spotify will go the Deezer route and adopt MQA, or better still buy out Tidal and integrate it.

Posted on: 14 December 2017 by Innocent Bystander
Obsydian posted:

.I really don't want to the rip or NAS setup, i love the ease and laziness of streaming but accept it's always going to be behind NAS type methods sound quality wise.

And it’s always going to have uncertainty over supply - for some people short term with internet issues, but for everyone long term as businesses like these can and do fold, sometimes with little or no warning. A worry, I would have thought, for anyone   relying on them as their primary music source.

Posted on: 14 December 2017 by Nick Lees
Mike1951 posted:

https://www.google.es/amp/s/ww...-doomed-to-fail/amp/

Oh dear. Looks like it's almost time to revert to Spotify on my ND5XS and wait for their lossless to begin.  And just as the firmware update seems to have solved the dropout problem! Harrumph. 

I have no idea as to its current validity, but that article is from May 2016. Tidal hasn’t gone Kanye yet, though as I said I’m not sure any of them make money. 

Posted on: 14 December 2017 by Japtimscarlet

It would be typical if it does fold

If just spent £100 on 7 months subscription...

Posted on: 15 December 2017 by Gavin B
Japtimscarlet posted:

It would be typical if it does fold

If just spent £100 on 7 months subscription...

Tim - is that an introductory offer? I emailed them ages ago to ask whether there's a way of paying for more months to get a better monthly price, but they said not.

Posted on: 15 December 2017 by Japtimscarlet

No ...it's the standard 6 month pay up front subscription...about £16:66 pm ...and one free month they give you 

Posted on: 16 December 2017 by Kiwi cat

I certainly hope Tidal doesn’t fold. I find it a dream come true. To be able to pick practically any song you can think of, and be able to play it in hi resolution is fantastic. I have over 700 ripped cds , and it helps me sample possible new purchases. I love the way it integrates into the Naim app. Spotify just does not cut it for me, clumsy to operate and low resolution. So Kanye if it losing money, get Kim to help you prop it up by marketing some new mascara or handbags. I would appreciate that!

Posted on: 17 December 2017 by Japtimscarlet

Agree with that kiwi cat 

Posted on: 18 December 2017 by Gavin B
Japtimscarlet posted:

No ...it's the standard 6 month pay up front subscription...about £16:66 pm ...and one free month they give you 

Thanks! Must have another look to see if I can swap over.

Posted on: 18 December 2017 by Gavin B
Gavin B posted:
Japtimscarlet posted:

No ...it's the standard 6 month pay up front subscription...about £16:66 pm ...and one free month they give you 

Thanks! Must have another look to see if I can swap over.

Nope, can't see that sort of option open to me. Can anyone point me to these details?

Posted on: 20 December 2017 by jmtennapel

"Rumours" is a might fine album from Fleetwood Mac that you can listen on Tidal

But until proven otherwise, every streaming service has been announced to die soon, but most of them are hanging in there. I like Tidal. Their focus in curation is not my taste, but their back catalogue is huge. Also for classical music (but you need to dig around). Now ECM is on Tidal too, the option of not owning music but being able to stream HiFi for 20 Euro's a month is nice. Not much to wish for but the addition of other curators than R&B and pop.

Posted on: 20 December 2017 by Bert Schurink

I have always been a bit skeptical about here streaming services. But meanwhile I have started loving Tidal as an option to pre-listen material I intend to buy or to listen every now and then to something I wouldn’t consider owning. 

I am at least happy that I own my core collection. But still hope Tidal hangs in there, as they are great in the Naim context.

Posted on: 20 December 2017 by Obsydian

Streaming won't go away it will if anything evolve and grow, problem for us is will the lossless types last as the masses either data allowance or phone memory or just plain tone dead prefer 192 or 320k.

Posted on: 21 December 2017 by seakayaker

Tidal will continue to collect my $19.99 a month for the Hi-Fi subscription until they fold, I enjoy the availability & quality of the music.  Listening to some albums kept me from making a purchase. Then again having the opportunity to listen to a number of musicians has gotten me to purchase a lot of CD's over the past 5+ months.

Posted on: 22 December 2017 by DomTomLondon

I might need to give Tidal another chance, especially now that they have a free 10 Day (no credit card needed) Christmas trial. And the app is also available now on smart TV devices, like AppleTV.

Will have some time over Christmas to do another sound comparison between it and Spotify. Should be fun.

Posted on: 22 December 2017 by m.paul taylor

I have Tidal FLAC subscription. It is great, especially classical. I don’t understand how listening in FLAC streamed can suggest buying a CD at 320. Can someone explain?