Just added an album from TIDAL to my music library and am playing via Plexamp.
While every other album I’ve added from TIDAL shows to playback as FLAC, this particular album is showing as AAC 97 kbps. That seems odd. On TIDAL, it shows that the album is available in MQA, so I would think it should be able to play as 16/44.1 FLAC.
Is there anyway to verify what’s actually being played? Plex web dashboard just says Unknown (AAC). Plex Dash says AAC (97 Kbps).
I don’t know of a way to verify what you should get from Tidal.
Plex does not have access to MQA. FLAC files are provided as part of Tidal HiFi, but not all albums are available as FLAC.
Right. I meant it seems odd that if they offered the album in MQA that it seems them would also have the album in FLAC.
Either way, if the album wasn’t offered in FLAC, AAC 97 kbps seems pretty low.
Well, I guess the mystery will remain for now. 
EDIT:
I checked again, and I guess I was mistaken. That album is not available as a TIDAL Master. Also, it appears the “normal” quality level on TIDAL is AAC 96 kbps, so this would all make some sense if there is no higher version of the album available.
i’ve encountered a few albums that are NOT offered in lossless, but a meager 96kbps…
The Ataris - anywhere but here: “https://listen.tidal.com/album/11691463”
Sounds like that is the case with this particular album as well! I was just caught off guard when I saw the lower bitrate. First instance of TIDAL not offering FLAC for me. Either way, it appears we can trust what Plexamp and Plex Dash are telling us!
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