![]() ![]() ![]() Roughly a century of perceptual science has determined that undamaged human ears have a frequency range of approximately 20 kHz and a dynamic comfort zone of approximately 90 dB. The primary differences between CD quality and hi-rez audio are expanded frequency range and enhanced signal to noise ratio. With regard to your inability to hear a difference, that's not very surprising. I believe you are correct in that Chromecast tops out at hi-fi (16/44.1). But in the case of both their services I found an improvement in quality over their respective 16-bit/44.1khz CD quality versions. Select Display & Sound Advanced sound settings Surround sound format selection Manual. Turn on your Chromecast at the top right of your TV screen, select your profile Settings. ![]() I had a hard time distinguishing between Qobuz Hi-Res files and Tidal 'Master' files. To customize the sound format on your Chromecast with Google TV (HD) or Chromecast with Google TV (4K), adjust your advanced sound settings. I spent hours comparing Qobuz and Tidal, a lot of it over Bluetooth headphones. The codec of Bluetooth with my headphones and phone should be worse than CD quality, therefore there is no technical reason as to why the "Master" quality should sound better than the "HiFi" file - as bandwidth is being bottlenecked my the Bluetooth connection, below CD quality. I don't like to advertise that, because I know logically it doesn't make sense but regardless, I'd rather listen to the Master/Hi-Res version even over Bluetooth headphones, than the HiFi/CD Quality equivalent-the majority of the time. OK - so you also raised an interesting point that I happen agree with you on, although some more technically informed users with take qualms with this - I also can tell the difference between "CD quality" (Hi-Fi in Tidal terms) and "High-res" (MASTER in Tidal terms), even when using things like Bluetooth headphones and a smartphone. HiFi (via Chromecast or Apple TV and the like).MQA compatible receiver/Tidal Connect compatible device.So in terms of preference from best quality to worse (pls no MQA debate), in regards to Tidal: You are correct that Airplay/BT/etc shows the "Master" quality - but that's a bit misleading, when you cast it you are being withheld below the threshold those devices are capable of (in the case of Airplay, whether it's Airplay 1 or 2 - the cut off is 16-bit/44.1khz, CD quality) - Bluetooth (depending on the version) will be worse than that. Chromecast actually pulls the files directly from the Tidal servers, where as when you use Airplay/Bluetooth/etc the stream is going through your phone, and then to the casting receiver (chrome cast/apple tv, etc). ![]()
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