March / April 2024

Editor's Lead In
New Hi-Fi Gear Is Pushing The Boundaries
Examining the relationship of hardware and software.
Editorial By Becky Roberts

  Each and every year, new features and technologies arrive to push the boundaries of consumer electronics further than the year previous. Very few, however, tend to enrich our daily lives immediately, whether that's because they aren't instantly adopted by the masses or simply aren't useful on such a frequent basis. Thinking about how my listening habits have changed in recent years, I've realized that one fledgling feature has played more of a role in it than any other: Tidal Connect.

For the uninitiated, Tidal Connect lets you 'cast' the service's catalogue to compatible audio devices from within the Tidal app, with the songs streamed from the internet instead of locally on your device. As Spotify Connect does for, well, Spotify; AirPlay for Apple Music; and Google Cast for Amazon Music (and others). These technologies let you control your music streaming playback from an app that's familiar to use, meaning you don't have to rely on separate dedicated app(s) developed for specific streaming products.

The rise of such widely adopted streaming protocols has led to an increase in endpoint streamers, which essentially don't have their own streaming platform (and app) but simply 'rely' on these platforms so that streams can be accessed directly from an owner's music service of choice.

Now that Tidal Connect is well supported by hardware with their own app too, I'm using those apps less and less, satisfied with streaming from the native Tidal app to various products in my house. I can't say I miss those not-too-distant days of being forced to juggle the DTS Play-Fi app for my streamer, the Sonos app for my Play:1, and the Naim / Focal app for my Mu-so Qb. I first and foremost use Tidal Connect for most kit I have and, indeed, come across in my line of work. It's pretty darn handy.

The thing is, I'd hate for those dedicated brand apps to disappear. Firstly, the best ones tend to offer optimal multi-room control for multiple products within that brand's (or family of brands') catalogue. Secondly, most offer a library management and interface for files stored locally or on your NAS drive that are miles better than free alternatives — a pretty big deal for those who primarily stream their own network-stored files. Thirdly, many offer exclusive in-app features that cannot be delivered through a third-party cast solution. And lastly, the most polished can be considered rather swish, welcome accessories for (typically higher-end) kit that enhance them as desirable, aspirational products. Besides, I find it reassuring to know one brand has control over hardware and software when it comes to the sound path, among various things.

Running a software app and keeping on top of all the licensing and updates requires a department of people for most brands, whether in-house or outsourced. So I'm not begrudging those who don't have a sophisticated one of their own — for many, it simply isn't feasible from a resource and/or financial point of view, and so being able to support third-party protocols instead is a true enabler.

But for those who have gone, and still go, to the trouble, I for one very much think it's worthwhile — not to mention 'safe'. What if, say, the software goalposts change out of a brand's control and one (or more) of the protocols their product(s) support no longer plays ball with a streaming service, or becomes no more altogether? Suddenly, that product is possibly less desirable or — worse — defunct. It's arguably a slim risk nowadays considering how established many of these protocols are, but a risk all the same.

'The road not taken looks real good now,' sings Taylor Swift about relationship regrets in 'tis the damn season. (As reviewer-at-large Greg notes in his Richter review (page 28), Taylor's in town, so I'm pandering to it.) And I hope brands with their own apps don't feel that way about the road taken by endpoint streamers.

Such apps may not last long if a music management app as sophisticated and well-supported as Roon was free (or significantly less than $230 per year), mind. But today, and despite the convenience of streaming protocols like Tidal Connect, I think (and hope) there's plenty of life left in the brand playback app yet. 

— Becky Roberts

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