Qobuz vs Tidal: Find out which audio platform is the best option in 2024.

Among the numerous audio streaming apps like Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, and Apple Music, you might be exploring some of them. But here at iFi Audio, we are not only fans of these apps, but we also love to compare them in our daily lives.

So, get ready with your favorite headphones and let's analyze together the differences between Qobuz and Tidal.

Qobuz: Much more than music streaming

Qobuz is a music streaming service of French origin recognized for providing high-resolution audio quality.

Founded in 2007, Qobuz was pioneered as the first music streaming service to offer high-resolution audio, aimed especially at audiophiles seeking the highest sound quality. It has gained renown as a go-to platform for audiophiles, thanks to its extensive catalog of high-resolution tracks and its dedication to sound quality that meets the most demanding standards.

With a library that exceeds 100 million songs, it provides a musical range that satisfies even the most demanding fans. Its commitment to high fidelity and an easy-to-use interface has earned the loyalty of those who appreciate excellence and simplicity in their music streaming experience.

Tidal: Raising the bar

Tidal is a subscription music platform that focuses on providing high-quality audio and exclusive content to its users. Originally launched in 2014 by Aspiro, a Sweden-based company, it attracted considerable attention after being acquired by rapper Jay-Z in 2015.

Tidal has become beloved among audiophiles and music lovers due to its strong commitment to artist copyrights and fairer compensation. It has received praise for its practice of providing artists with higher royalties compared to other streaming platforms.

The platform has an extensive collection of more than 100 million carefully selected songs and playlists, making it an attractive option for those looking for variety and quality. In addition to its extensive music catalog, Tidal is recognized for its exclusive content, including music videos, concerts and behind-the-scenes material, offering a 360º experience for its subscribers.

Qobuz vs Tidal: Pricing plans

Qobuz offers a subscription plan called Studio, available starting at $124.90 per month, with three subscription options: Solo, Duo and Family. Before subscribing, you have the opportunity to try it for free for a month.

In relation to Tidal, the HiFi and HiFi Plus plans have been combined into a single option that has a price starting at $115 pesos per month. Additionally, it offers individual, family (for up to 6 members) and student subscriptions at a 50% discount, along with the option to add a DJ extension to the individual plan.

Qobuz vs Tidal: Sound quality

When comparing sound quality between Tidal and Qobuz, it is essential to consider two main elements. The bit rate in "Kbps" indicates the amount of sound information transmitted per second. Another important factor is the audio format, which can be lossless or compressed. Fortunately, both Tidal and Qobuz offer lossless formats such as FLAC, although Tidal also provides the MQA format. In contrast, the MQA format is considered a smaller file size with the same quality as the FLAC format.

Qobuz audio quality

• Qobuz offers MP3 files at 320 Kbps, CD quality at 16-bit/44.1 kHz, as well as high-resolution audio at 24-bit/up to 192 kHz.

Tidal audio quality

• Tidal offers up to 320 Kbps low quality, 16-bit/44.1 kHz in FLAC lossless quality and up to 24-bit/192 kHz in MQA. Additionally, Tidal provides a wide selection of content in 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos.

Music catalogues. Which is more complete?

In terms of number of songs, Tidal has a slightly larger catalog than Qobuz. This means that you are likely to find songs on Tidal that are not available on Qobuz. On the other hand, Qobuz stands out for offering more than 400,000 songs in high resolution, in contrast to approximately 25,000 for Tidal. If your priority is audio quality, Qobuz could be the ideal choice. However, keep in mind that Qobuz does not work like Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal, as it does not have podcasts or radio. Just music and nothing but music.

Tidal is different in another way: it provides exclusives for certain artists, such as early releases of songs or music videos. It's possible to listen to a song by your favorite artist on Tidal before it comes on the radio. Additionally, the platform offers an extensive collection of music clips, with more than 650,000 available. This feature could be interpreted as a marketing strategy, however, it provides the convenience of watching music videos directly from the app.

Tidal vs Qobuz: Discovering new music

In Qobuz, you'll find a "Discover" section that presents you with playlists and albums that match your music preferences, based on the category you specified when you signed up. Additionally, there is a "News" section where recent gossip and other happenings in the music industry are shared.

However, Qobuz suggestions focus exclusively on high-quality songs and new releases in various music genres. This could be an inconvenience for some users who prefer to have personalized playlists that include their favorite artists, bands, genres, among other things.

Tidal offers personalized playlist recommendations for users based on their music preferences. In addition, it offers various categories such as "What you've listened to recently", "Mixes for you", "New since your last visit" and "Suggestions", designed to help subscribers discover new music based on their tastes.

User experience and algorithm comparison of Qobuz vs Tidal

Comparing these two services is not easy. Tidal resembles an imposing, perfectly tuned machine, with abundant resources and high-precision algorithms. In contrast, Qobuz, although lacking the same magnitude of resources, could be compared more to a local record store, run by the same person for decades, with modest decor and records stacked everywhere, but with a unique charm.

Qobuz has decided to maintain a close connection with its users by providing an almost personalized experience. The platform provides editorial content that includes detailed liner notes on certain albums, which will surely be appreciated by CD or vinyl lovers who sometimes long for booklets when listening to their favorite music. In this way, Qobuz enriches the listening experience by adding an additional reading component.

 Additionally, Qobuz features a section called "Discover" that includes "Staff Picks," similar to the suggestions you'd get from an employee at a record store. These recommendations do not depend exclusively on your listening history, but are carefully chosen by the Qobuz team based on various musical genres.

The "Panorama" section offers you exclusive editorial content, while "Gramophone" gives you the opportunity to explore one of the most prestigious magazines in the field of classical music.

Comparative table between Qobuz and Tidal

Both Tidal and Qobuz offer excellent options for enjoying high-quality music. However, as we have observed previously, they present differences in terms of rates, sound quality and aspects related to user experience.

Consider using a DAC: They can also improve low quality files

It is not essential to play high-resolution audio to take advantage of a DAC. Although most DACs on the market support high-resolution audio, you'll even notice an auditory improvement in your 320kbps playbacks, as long as you use quality headphones that can take advantage of what the DAC offers. Below is a list of recommended DACs to optimize your experience with Qobuz or Tidal subscriptions.

UNO |🛒👉 Get yours for only $2,049.00

ZEN DAC 3 | 🛒👉 Get it for only $5,249.00

ZEN One Signature | 🛒👉 Get yours here: www.ifi-audio.com.mx | Price: $7,949.00

Use better headphones/speakers

Let's face it, even if you own the best DAC on the market, you're unlikely to notice a big difference in sound quality if your headphones or speakers are low quality. For this reason, we suggest that your first investment in upgrading your audio setup be a new pair of headphones or speakers. Most headphones priced under $1,000 will barely see a minimal improvement with a DAC, so the best way to improve your listening experience is to upgrade to a more premium option.

In conclusion, both Qobuz and Tidal offer high-quality music streaming experiences, each with their own distinctive features. Qobuz stands out for its focus on high-resolution audio quality and its extensive catalog of lossless music, while Tidal stands out for its commitment to artist copyrights and exclusive content. Although both services have their advantages, choosing between them will depend on your personal preferences in terms of sound quality, music catalog and additional features such as exclusive content and personalized recommendations. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that, to make the most of the sound quality offered by these services, it is crucial to invest in high-quality headphones or speakers. A DAC can further improve sound quality, but its effectiveness will be limited by the quality of the playback devices used.