CES 2015: Tidal to launch high-res streaming service using Meridian MQA

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Tidal, the CD-quality music streaming service recently launched in the UK, is working in conjunction with Meridian using MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) technology to develop a high-resolution streaming service for launch later this year. The move was confirmed by Pal Bratelund, Tidal's Strategic Partnership Manager, when we interviewed him at CES 2015.

Bratelund says that Tidal is already working with Meridian to adopt MQA, which enables the more effective packaging of high-resolution music files so they can be streamed without using up huge amounts of bandwidth, which has previously been the barrier to high-res music streaming.

"The technology is there, now it's about securing content rights for high-res music, which is a whole different game from Red Book CD quality," says Bratelund.

So how much will the new high-res streaming service cost? "Price remains to be negotiated, it's quite likely that lossless (CD) streaming will be commoditised and the price will drop a little bit and high-res will sit above that. But I don't think we'll see a doubling of the price again [from the current £20/month for CD streaming]. It might be quite a nice offering."

Bratelund also confirmed that Tidal has a growing number of partnerships with hardware manufacturers, including Bluesound, Simple Audio, Meridian, Logitech, Sonos (currently testing it in beta), Linn, McIntosh and Wadia. Meridian added Tidal streaming to its Sooloos system earlier this month, and Linn has done the same for its DS network players.

We awarded Meridian MQA a Stars of CES 2015 honour in recognition of the impact we believe it will have on helping bring high-res streaming to market.

MORE: Read our full Tidal review

Andy Clough
Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.