Whereas taking part in an Ask Me Something (AMA) session on Reddit on April 11, Tidal CEO Jesse Dorogusker, mentioned that the music streaming service would quickly add the choice to hearken to hi-res lossless audio within the FLAC format. The brand new format can be unique to the service’s HiFi Plus subscriber base. Dorogusker didn’t present particular timing for the change.
Tidal HiFi Plus has at all times supplied its listeners lossless FLAC audio at CD high quality, however the firm solely streamed its Masters assortment of better-than-CD high quality hi-res tracks within the MQA format, one thing that a lot of Tidal’s prospects have objected to. A number of the AMA individuals referred to MQA as a rip-off and snake oil.
At concern is the priority that MQA isn’t a very lossless format like FLAC, which some audiophiles see as an obstacle to getting the perfect sound high quality. The MQA downside is compounded by the truth that if you wish to hear MQA audio at its highest attainable degree, you want a tool like a DAC/amp that may absolutely decode the MQA format.
Curiously, Dorogusker’s feedback come simply days after the corporate that oversees the MQA format (also called MQA) introduced that it will likely be coming into into administration — the U.Okay. equal of Chapter 11 proceedings. The timing raises questions on the way forward for MQA at Tidal. In the meanwhile, Tidal is the one streaming music service that makes use of the MQA format.
With a transfer to assist hi-res lossless FLAC audio, Tidal would be part of Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, and Qobuz within the lossless hi-res streaming house. If Tidal had been to drop MQA from its service, it will lose a significant level of differentiation. For as a lot as MQA has its critics, there are additionally those that consider the format can sound higher than its lossless hi-res rivals.
Furthermore, each Apple and Amazon provide their full hi-res catalog inside their customary pricing tiers, whereas Tidal would make its personal hi-res lossless providing a paid improve at virtually twice the price of these competing companies.
Music followers have additionally been patiently ready for Spotify to make good on its promise to launch Spotify HiFi, a lossless audio tier, however thus far that has but to occur.
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