Full CD-quality music streaming is about to sweep across the United States. Two very different companies, Tidal (tidalhifi.com) and Deezer (deezer.com), both of which have made their mark elsewhere in the world, are poised to offer their advertisement-free subscription services to U.S. music lovers. If their launches are successful, and both companies have a substantial collection of classical music, you will be able to access the music you want, whenever you want it, and in sound almost as good as CD, without adding more recordings to your collection or even, God forbid, getting up from your chair.
From what is possible to glean from a combination of internet research and first-person experience with Tidal’s folks and sound at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Denver (October 10-12), both companies have a lot to offer. Five-year old Tidal (formerly WiMP), based in Oslo, promises a “before winter” launch of their full CD quality (lossless 1411 kbps) music streaming service.
With a subscription, which is projected to cost $19.99/month, comes access to over 25 million tracks and more than 75,000 music videos; curated content by experienced music journalists that includes tailor-made recommendations, albums, and playlists; and integrated articles, features, and interviews.
Tidal recently made deals with a number of major home audio brands to allow for seamless integration with their products. Among the companies on the list are Sonos, Denon, Harmon, NAD, Merician, Auralic, Electrocompaniet, Dynaudio, and Pro-ject.
Tidal recently made deals with a number of major home audio brands to allow for seamless integration with their products.
Of great importance is that Tidal had the option, during their demo at the audio show, to play not only pop music, but also pianist Leif Ove Andsnes’ recent Gramophone Editor’s Choice recording, the final installment in his Sony Beethoven Project, which includes Piano Concerto No. 5. The sound was excellent, and navigation easy. Talk of streaming hi-resolution content in the not-too-distant future makes a Tidal membership quite enticing.
The much larger and apparently far more corporate Deezer was founded in France in 2007 by a 23-year-old who began working from his bedroom. It currently boasts 16 million active users worldwide, including five million “Premium plus” subscribers; has a presence in over 180 countries; and offers a library of 35 million tracks.
With its San Francisco and New York offices filled with young people going full stream ahead, Deezer launched its lossless FLAC “Elite” service for Sonos users at the annual CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) on September 15.
Deezer signed a deal with Bose to offer their lower quality streaming service at a discount.
You won’t find a single hint of classical music on the company’s website, but that may be because Deezer appears focused on where the money is. On October 10, it signed a deal with Bose to offer their lower quality streaming service at a discount. What’s especially interesting about this is that Bose, in turn, has a headset deal with the National Football League that prohibits NFL players from wearing headphones from competing manufacturers. On October 17, Apple, which now owns Beats headphones, removed all Bose products from its stores.
Where quality music fits in all these branding wars remains to be seen and heard. Stay tuned.