AAC 320 Playback from Tidal files in Plexamp

[ragingdave]

Just migrated over to Tidal due to its integration with my Plex library, and to plug in some gaps in playlists

I have noticed an issue that I have seen raised here a few times but am yet to see a satisfactory answer/solution to this issue, so thought I would throw my issue in again to raise visability.

If this is a simple setting/toggle somewhere I haven’t selected I am happy to eat humble pie; or hopefully this is something that gets fixed in the future, or, is this something I have to live with? Any answer would be helpful at this point…

Playing Tidal tracks through Plexamp is fine, and I get the expected FLAC 44/16 tag:

However upon adding this to a playlist on Plexamp (alongside my own files) playback resorts to AAC 320:

0

This issue only seems to impact Plexamp, as playing the file (from within its playlist) on the Plex app shows correctly:

.This issue is replicated on Plexamp on any of my devices (Sony Xperia IV, Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, Windows 11 Plexamp)

Happy for any solutions, guidance, explanations etc

[eric8bits]

I have the same issue.

• Source is set to my local library.
• I search for an artist, visit the TIDAL search results and decide to play an album directly from TIDAL.
• 320 AAC.

Is there a solution?

Same issue reported here as well:

Plexamp not playing Tidal flac tracks....... unless

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TIDAL add to Plex Music Library becomes AAC instead of FLAC

I’ve just got a subscription to Tidal and i really love the integration with Plex, but to my suprise when I add music from Tidal to my Plex Music Library it becomes AAC instead of FLAC. I’ve read that this could happen if you had a tidal subscriptions via Tidal and not via Plex, so i’ve changed that. But still it adds the albums as AAC 320 and not FLAC. When playing the file via plexamp it shows as AAC. Is there a fix for this (I couldnt find a lot of new info on this most is from a few years …

Plexamp Windows - TIDAL occasionally playing lossy despite maximum quality setting

I have an issue at times with Plexamp on Windows, which despite having WiFi quality set to maximum, TIDAL content added to my library will occasionally play in lossy quality (AAC 320kbps). See example below and logs attached: [Plexamp_AAC_MQ] [Plexamp_AAC_2] Plexamp.zip (135.4 KB)

[Noah0504]

Which TIDAL plan do you have? I believe this may be an issue if you are subscribed to the HiFi plan (formerly called TIDAL Premium) and not the HiFi Plus (formerly TIDAL HiFi) plan.

[eric8bits]

HiFi (Individual) according to TIDAL. I subscribed with them directly and linked my account to Plex.

[ragingdave]

HiFi here. Should that make a difference?

[eric8bits]

Looks like the TIDAL website implies there is a difference between HiFi and HiFi Plus?

HiFi:

TIDAL Connect
“Listen in HiFi on your supported devices.”

HiFi Plus:

TIDAL Connect
“Listen in all innovative and immersive audio formats on your supported devices.”

[ragingdave]

Still doesnt make sense regarding my original point; I can listen to a Tidal track in HiFi/FLAC through Plex/Plexamp. The moment that track touches a playlist/my plex library it turns to AAC 320

So I am able to listen in HiFi - just there is this nagging (and it is nagging) issue

[eric8bits]

Hm, that is weird. For me it is also 320 AAC when I hit play without adding it to my library.

[Noah0504]

@ragingdave

HiFi here. Should that make a difference?

I think this is a bug with Plex. Previously there was a Premium and a HiFi plan. The Premium plan did not allow FLAC playback. Now any paid plan has access to at least basic FLAC playback, but Plex may need to possibly be tweaked for everything to play correctly. If you go to your dashboard, does it show that FLAC or AAC is playing?

I created this thread recently: Is New TIDAL HiFi Plan Supported Yet?
Also see this: Free upgrade to TIDAL HiFi - Can't Upgrade in Plex

@eric8bits

For me it is also 320 AAC when I hit play without adding it to my library.

Is that the case for everything? If not, I know occasionally the AAC version is what appears in Plex. You can try searching for the album and see if you get multiple results. One of those is usually the “HiFi” version.

[eric8bits]

So far it’s always 320 AAC and it also tells me that, but I am a new user.

Maybe @elan can shed some light?

[ragingdave]

Quick test (apologies for Harry Styles - the missus is listening upstairs, and the first thing I could think of that isnt in my library)

Same story as described

Playing, through Plexamp:

Adding to a playlist:

3 minutes apart!!

If this is a bug as @Noah0504 says, I wish someone with some knowledge/background/sway would at the very least acknowledge it?

[eric8bits]

@elan do you have any insights?

[eric8bits]

Anyone from staff able to clarify why we’re getting 320 AAC instead of lossless FLAC?

[ragingdave]

I get the feeling nobody is going to comment on this alas? Whiuch is a shame. I wish there was a remedy for this

[eric8bits]

Yeah, agree.

I am not asking for a solution. Just an explanation and what we can expect or do.

[Stessull]

I asked about this issue a few months ago and was told by @elan that adding Tidal tracks to your library is a minefield. Not sure why it is now, back in the day the integration worked perfectly. It definitely doesn’t appear to be a priority to sort the problem out, all a bit sad really especially as Plexamp is advertised as the audiophiles dream. Audiophiles don’t want to listen to 320 AAC.

[eric8bits]

Yes but I also get 320 AAC for tracks not added to my library.

If I simply search for an album on TIDAL and hit play I get 320 AAC.

[eric8bits]

I have no idea how but I get lossless quality now for TIDAL songs not saved in my library.

[Stessull]

Save that to your library and see what happens to it.

[tchrischan]

I signed up for Tidal yesterday and having some regrets since finding this out. I already have Spotify through a family account so if I can’t at least get some explanation Tidal will get canceled.

One thing I did notice that may be of interest to devs (though I’d assume they know this): if I use the Android client and I play music through search, it will not show up in the dashboard, implying it’s playing directly from Tidal to Plexamp. But if I pick the same track from my library, it shows in the dashboard as Plexamp playing AAC.