tronds

An easy way to get hold of files to compare is to visit 2L's test bench. They provide files in various formats and resolutions, including PCM/MQA/DSD in both stereo and surround.

There's a small "HiFI"-label in the bottom-right corner which should be backlighted whenever you play lossless audio. Playing in lossless: Playing in lossy:

I found a copy of Europa Galantes version of The Four Seasons, which is located at this link: TIDAL . Granted, I couldn't find it by searching for "The Four Seasons". I had to search specifically for Europa Galante, and found it under their album list. I automatically went for the Europa Galante version because I have it in my CD collection.

The link that ends on .exe is for Windows, and the one that ends on .dmg is for OSX.

Turns out, they still provide the Tidal desktop app from their webservers, it's just "hidden" from the downloadpage. You may still download the Tidal app from their sister-service, WiMP, the scandinavian version of Tidal: http://wimp.no/wweb/resources/wimp_files/release/TIDAL-3.2.3.16-WW.exe and http://wimp.no/wweb/resources/wimp_files/release/TIDAL-3.2.3.16-WW.dmg

Ah, good to know. I downloaded the app back when TIDAL launched in October, but I've been using WiMP (the scandinavian version) up until now. The WiMP app has been updated since last October, so I just assumed the TIDAL app had been too.

I still got the installers for the old desktop app from TIDAL, both for Mac and Windows. It's version 3.2.3.16, so it isn't the newest. However, I do believe you may update to the newest version from within the app. Send me a personal message if you're still interested.

Tidal hasn't started streaming MQA files to the public yet. They have however been working together with Meridian, and done some internal testing streaming MQA files. You may read about it in this article.

Worth mentioning that WiMP had it's own programme named "WiMP DIY" making it dead simple for unsigned artists to publish their work on WiMP (and other streaming services). I don't know if WiMP DIY will "come over" to TIDAL, but would be really nice if it did.

WiMP (The scandinavian version of Tidal) published this article when they rolled out HiFi in Scandinavia. It contains some insight on how they sourced their tracks, and I believe Tidal uses the same material as WiMP.