While Spotify and Apple Music are widely popular, services like Tidal and Qobuz provide unique features and superior audio quality for those looking to switch. Both offer hi-res audio and are accessible across desktop and mobile devices. Recent pricing changes have made Tidal more competitive, offering similar prices to Qobuz but with slightly better value.
Let’s compare Tidal and Qobuz based on pricing, sound quality, and supported devices to determine the better platform.
Price
Tidal has traditionally been known for its hi-res music offerings, a feature now shared with Qobuz and other services. Tidal’s recent pricing adjustments have made its plans more affordable, aligning them with other competitors while still offering hi-res formats.
Tidal now offers individual, family, and student plans at $11, $17, and $5 per month, respectively, with a DJ add-on available for $9 per month. These plans provide access to over 110 million tracks in lossless, hi-res FLAC, and Dolby Atmos formats with additional features like offline listening and personalized mixes.
On the other hand, Qobuz offers Studio and Sublime plans ranging from $13 to $22 per month for individuals, couples, and families, with Sublime users getting up to 60% off hi-res downloads. Qobuz does not have a free or student plan but offers a 30-day free trial for new users.
In terms of pricing and content variety, Tidal emerges as the more cost-effective option with a broader library and a student plan, making it the winner in this category.
Supported Devices
Tidal is accessible on desktop, mobile, and various audio devices, including smart TVs, car audio systems, and streaming devices like Chromecast and Roku. Qobuz, while available on web and mobile apps, is also compatible with several high-end audio systems and smart TVs, offering a slightly lesser range of supported devices compared to Tidal.
Considering device compatibility and accessibility, Tidal takes the lead in this category.
Music Variety and Catalog Size
With 110 million song titles, Tidal offers a vast collection across genres and focuses on personalized curation and exclusive content like interviews and videos. Qobuz, with 100 million tracks, emphasizes genres like classical and jazz, providing in-depth editorial content and a dedicated download store for music purchases.
While both services excel in music diversity, Tidal’s variety and additional content make it the preferred choice in this category.
Sound Quality
Both Tidal and Qobuz offer high-res audio formats up to 24-bit/192kHz, ensuring premium sound quality. Tidal supports Dolby Atmos, enhancing the overall listening experience and giving it an edge over Qobuz in sound quality.
For sound quality and technology support, Tidal shines as the winner in this category.
Podcasts and Videos
While Tidal offers a limited selection of podcasts and over 650,000 video titles, Qobuz does not focus on podcasts or provide video content. Tidal’s supplementary content makes it the default winner in this category.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tidal emerges as the overall winner with its competitive pricing, extensive library, diverse content, superior sound quality, and additional features like podcasts and videos. Qobuz caters more to classical and jazz enthusiasts and offers unique benefits for music purchases, making it a suitable option for specific genres.
Overall Winner: Tidal
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