TidalGet, got better and worseUS
MQA replaced by FLAC; 360 Reality Audio removed
Tidal replaced MQA tracks with FLAC versions and removed Sony 360 Reality Audio, keeping Dolby Atmos
What changed
- Hi-res stereo formats
- Was Before: HiRes FLAC and MQA
- After: HiRes FLAC; MQA tracks replaced by FLAC versions
- Immersive formats
- Was Before: Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio
- After: Dolby Atmos only
What this means for you
MQA tracks now play as FLAC, and a few may have no replacement. Sony 360 Reality Audio tracks no longer play; Dolby Atmos is the only immersive format.
How we know
Tidal's pricing page listed Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio in an archived copy from Mar 3, 2024.
On Jun 17, 2024, Tidal's support page said MQA and 360 Reality Audio would be unavailable from Jul 24, 2024.
It named FLAC for stereo and Dolby Atmos for immersive sound going forward.
The updated page says MQA tracks were replaced by FLAC versions; 360 Reality Audio tracks are grayed out.
Sources
- Tidal Support: Upcoming Changes to Audio Formats (Jun 17, 2024) · archived copy
- Tidal Support: Audio Format Updates (Aug 15 2024 archive; live check Sep 26 2026) · archived copy
- Tidal pricing page, US: Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio listed (Mar 3 2024) · archived copy
- Tidal Support: Subscription Types, HiFi Plus stereo formats incl. HiRes FLAC and MQA (Sep 24 2023) · archived copy
Full research notes
Tidal's support article "Upcoming Changes to Audio Formats" (updated June 17, 2024) says: "Starting July 24, 2024, you will no longer be able to access music in the MQA or 360 Reality Audio formats via any TIDAL application or integration." FLAC is the stereo format "we'll support going forward" and Dolby Atmos the immersive one. MQA tracks in a user's Collection are "automatically replaced by the highest quality FLAC version", and MQA downloads must be redownloaded as FLAC; 360 Reality Audio tracks are "grayed out and unavailable for streaming". Tidal says it has at least 16-bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC versions for nearly all MQA tracks, but "may not have a replacement for every single one". The renamed article "Audio Format Updates" (August 13, 2024 capture, and live on September 26, 2026) confirms the change took effect July 24, 2024. Tidal's Subscription Types article (September 24, 2023 capture) lists HiFi Plus stereo formats as "HiRes FLAC, FLAC, AAC, Master Quality Authenticated audio", and Tidal's pricing page listed "Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio" as immersive formats in the March 3, 2024 capture.
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