Have any of you - Tidal/qobuz/Am users - tried to level match and listen? My observations from the last 3 months -
1- Qobuz is vastly superior to anything - the sound quality is just something else - but their UI is pure pain (subjective), and makes listening to music a task (Subjective again). Their output is almost same as Spotify with 1 or 2 DB average difference between them.
2 - Tidal - I am not sure. Ignore MQA. Their Hi-res (non-MQA stuff) - pumps up louder 3-5DB (compared to Spotify). When you level match with Spotify, most differences disappear and songs can sound better on either. DEPENDS.
3 - AM - Again, their songs output way louder - massive differences here. Sometimes in excess of 7DB. Compared to Spotify and Tidal. You level match and then to my ears, AM is mostly bass-ier, the same songs on Tidal/Spotify/AM - AM almost always puts out more bass (subjective).
****Also please note - I am a complete Apple user - from phone/tab/computer/apple TV/watch/ipod - almost completely in the eco-system so this is not a bias, but an observation.
4 - Spotify - As the output Level bench mark. Rarely I have come across anything that is playing louder than either AM/Tidal. UI/Connectivity not withstanding.
Source - (taking wiim pro out of equation)
MacBook Air M1- RME ADI 2 DAC FS - Genelec Sub - Genelec Speakers.
******Using Desktop app - with MacBook Air M1 - USB to RME - All apps set to 100% volume - RME volume fixed on 30 - just changing services. All of this measured on decible X on mobile - kept at the same place.
What is happening? Am I missing something? This confuses me immensely.
***(Also I have given up on Qobuz - as I realised BEST SQ or not I just can't use it. - Will revisit in a year's time)
Why are different services pushing different DB output on the same volume? Am I looking at things wrong?
Is there inherently more volume in Hi-res? But then Qobuz & Spotify should also have major differences?
****also please note - my setup is nearfield - so even 3 Db is very noticeable.
Help out a lost soul. PLEASE.
1- Qobuz is vastly superior to anything - the sound quality is just something else - but their UI is pure pain (subjective), and makes listening to music a task (Subjective again). Their output is almost same as Spotify with 1 or 2 DB average difference between them.
2 - Tidal - I am not sure. Ignore MQA. Their Hi-res (non-MQA stuff) - pumps up louder 3-5DB (compared to Spotify). When you level match with Spotify, most differences disappear and songs can sound better on either. DEPENDS.
3 - AM - Again, their songs output way louder - massive differences here. Sometimes in excess of 7DB. Compared to Spotify and Tidal. You level match and then to my ears, AM is mostly bass-ier, the same songs on Tidal/Spotify/AM - AM almost always puts out more bass (subjective).
****Also please note - I am a complete Apple user - from phone/tab/computer/apple TV/watch/ipod - almost completely in the eco-system so this is not a bias, but an observation.
4 - Spotify - As the output Level bench mark. Rarely I have come across anything that is playing louder than either AM/Tidal. UI/Connectivity not withstanding.
Source - (taking wiim pro out of equation)
MacBook Air M1- RME ADI 2 DAC FS - Genelec Sub - Genelec Speakers.
******Using Desktop app - with MacBook Air M1 - USB to RME - All apps set to 100% volume - RME volume fixed on 30 - just changing services. All of this measured on decible X on mobile - kept at the same place.
What is happening? Am I missing something? This confuses me immensely.
***(Also I have given up on Qobuz - as I realised BEST SQ or not I just can't use it. - Will revisit in a year's time)
Why are different services pushing different DB output on the same volume? Am I looking at things wrong?
Is there inherently more volume in Hi-res? But then Qobuz & Spotify should also have major differences?
****also please note - my setup is nearfield - so even 3 Db is very noticeable.
Help out a lost soul. PLEASE.
Last edited: