Whether or not Tidal is really lossless depends on how you define lossless.
Tidal offers two tiers of audio quality: HiFi and HiFi Plus. HiFi offers lossless audio streaming at up to 16-bit/44.1kHz quality. This means that the audio is not compressed, and it is as close to the original studio recording as possible.
HiFi Plus offers high-resolution audio streaming at up to 24-bit/192kHz quality. This is even higher quality than lossless audio.
However, some people argue that Tidal’s HiFi tier is not truly lossless, because it uses a codec called Ogg Vorbis. Ogg Vorbis is a lossy audio codec, which means that it compresses the audio in some way. However, the compression is very light, and the difference in sound quality between Ogg Vorbis and lossless audio is likely to be very subtle.
Additionally, Tidal uses a different mastering process for its HiFi tier than it does for its HiFi Plus tier. Tidal masters its HiFi audio files to make them sound louder and more punchy. Some people believe that this can result in a loss of sound quality.
However, it is important to note that the difference in sound quality between Tidal’s HiFi tier and its HiFi Plus tier is likely to be very subtle, and it may not be noticeable to everyone. Additionally, the sound quality will also depend on your audio system and your hearing.
If you are serious about audio quality, and you have a good audio system, then Tidal’s HiFi Plus tier may be the better choice for you. However, if you are on a budget, or if you don’t have a good audio system, then Tidal’s HiFi tier may be a good option.
Ultimately, the best way to decide whether or not Tidal is really lossless for you is to try the service out and see if you are happy with the sound quality. Tidal offers a free trial, so you can try it out before you commit to a subscription.
