Tidal expands and improves its Masters MQA offering (which is now discounted by 95%)

(Image credit: MQA, Tidal)

It’s a good day for subscribers of Tidal’s HiFi service: millions of tracks from Warner Music Group have now been added to the streaming service’s catalogue as high-resolution Tidal Masters. New Tidal Masters albums include works from The Notorious B.I.G., Missy Elliott, LCD Soundsystem and Madonna.

Tidal has also improved the discovery of Tidal Masters – and in doing so the overall hi-res streaming music experience – by introducing ‘Master Edition’ Artist Radio and Track Radio, which allow subscribers to listen to an uninterrupted stream of Tidal Masters tracks based on their listening habits. Also in response to listeners’ requests, Tidal has also added the Master Edition of My New Arrivals, a personalised playlist of newly released music.

For the uninitiated, Tidal Masters are hi-res (typically 24-bit/96kHz) tracks available to subscribers of Tidal’s £20/$20-per-month HiFi service. Hi-res streaming comes courtesy of MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) technology, which efficiently captures and stores original studio master recordings as files that are small and convenient enough to stream, without the sonic sacrifices traditionally associated with compressed files.

Tidal Masters MQA — (Image credit: MQA, Tidal)

Streamers of Tidal Masters have apparently doubled since 2019, and Tidal HiFi users now stream 40 per cent more tracks than they did last year. This latest Warner Music Group expansion means Tidal now offers the largest MQA catalogue outside of China.

If you haven’t yet tried Tidal HiFi but are curious about streaming in optimum sound quality (and why wouldn’t you be?), now is a good time to try it: Tidal is currently offering new subscribers three months of the service for just £3 ($3) – that’s just £1 ($1) per month for glorious hi-res streaming!

And it’s been a big month for Tidal. The service recently launched Tidal Connect – a similar concept to Spotify Connect. The 'casting' feature allows subscribers to control music streaming (including of Tidal Masters and Dolby Atmos Music tracks) on compatible products (from Bluesound, Cambridge Audio, DALI and KEF, for example) directly from within the Tidal mobile apps.

MORE:

First Tidal Connect products confirmed: NAD, Naim, KEF and more

25 Tidal tips, tricks and features

Tidal vs Spotify: which is better?

10 of the best hi-res albums on Tidal Masters

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of the brand's sister magazines Down Under – Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica. During her 11+ years in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices. In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.

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