TIDAL Connect Device Selection Problem
Answered
I recently purchased a Node 2i that I have hardwired into our network via Ethernet connection. For a few weeks, I used it with Spotify Connect with no problem. Because I desired better sound quality, I signed up for TIDAL and downloaded the new TIDAL app with the Connect feature.
Unfortunately, when I follow TIDAL's instructions and open the "Now Playing" screen and hit the device selector button on the bottom left, the Node 2i rarely appears as an option despite the fact that I am sitting five feet from it with no obstructions. Then the Node 2i device will randomly appear and disappear as an option over time when I am sitting in the same place.
When the Node 2i device does appear as an option and I select it, I can choose and play music successfully. But when I try to change to a different artist or mix after a short while, the TIDAL app usually no longer recognizes the Node 2i and starts playing the music out of my iPhone's speakers. When I try to select the Node 2i as the output device again, it doesn't appear; only the iPhone and AirPlay/Bluetooth options appear. Then 10 or 15 minutes later, the Node 2i will randomly pop up as a device option again.
This is very frustrating. Any ideas how to fix this? All software (iPhone, BluOS and TIDAL) is up to date. I also tried uninstalling and reinstalling the TIDAL app, but that did not fix the problem. Device selection works perfectly with Spotify Connect, so this appears to be an integration problem between TIDAL Connect and the Bluesound device.
Many thanks.
P.S. I really would prefer to use the TIDAL interface rather than the BluOS one. In the latter, the only mix I receive in "My Mix" is a single "Welcome Mix" rather than the multiple and varying mixes and recommendations available through the TIDAL app.
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Official comment
Hello Curtis,
Try changing the 'name' of the NODE in the BluOS app under Settings > Player > Room Name. Oddly enough I've seen this help. Once done you may need to reboot both the NODE and the device you use TIDAL Connect with.
Regards,
Sam R. -
A very common frustration for Tidal users... I have noted that starting to play tidal on the BluOS app helps, Tidal connect interrupts playing from the Tidal app but the speaker now appears. As per Sam's comment, I had already chanced the name of my powernode but does not help at all. That said, this is not how things should be working. Even when I pause for a phone call and want to start playing again, the Tidal app has forgotten my powernode.
I think Tidal Connect is missing some algorithm to keep speakers that are not actively broadcasting their presence on the network, in the list. At least for a couple of hours...
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Hi Robert - you will have to contact TIDAL about that then as their App is doing the discovery. That being said we are having a hard time replicating your issue so contacting TIDAL about their App may be your best option.
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For what it is worth, by necessity I have three access points in my home, and I have learned that it is necessary for my phone to be connected to the same access point as the Node 2i in order for me to be able to successfully select the Node 2i device in the TIDAL app. This often requires manually switching access point connections before using the Node 2i.
Although I think I have that problem solved, the TIDAL app still regularly loses its connection with the NODE 2i even while music is actively streaming from TIDAL via the device and my phone remains connected to the same access point as the Node 2i. I can be sitting in the same room playing music for 15-30 minutes, then look at my phone to see what song is currently playing, and the TIDAL app will have disconnected and still be showing the first song on the album or playlist from 15-30 minutes ago. Reestablishing the connection is difficult and requires stopping and restarting the music. Meanwhile, the Bluesound app (which I don't like because of its limited functionality) is correctly tracking the song actually playing. So this is clearly a TIDAL issue. I am about to drop TIDAL because of it. The Spotify app works great with the Node 2i, so I will go back to Spotify when it starts offering CD quality in the near future.
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Thanks Tony, so I did. Let us see what they get back with. I have also had issues with their volume control through Tidal connect where the mouse slider works, but keyboard shortcuts don't. And I have four BlueOS devices of which one on ethernet, three on different access points (mesh), and they come and go in parallel, no difference. Mobile app works better than the Windows app I usually use when working. They need to up their game....
And Curtis, I am still sticking to Tidal though (even though I am Swedish). MQA quality is growing fast in my favourite genres and the library is great. Just wish they put some attention.Will keep you posted on Tidal's response.
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Understood, Robert. Despite all the recent controversy (particularly on Reddit) about the MQA technology, I have always been happy with the sound quality on TIDAL.
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Before you drop it Curtis - send us a support request in the app and let us know the makes and models of your APs as our Support Crew may have some IoT traffic handling tricks up our sleeves... no promises but happy to help here if we can.
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Tony, I will need to do that when I get home from work. Because the original portion of my house was constructed with concrete block, my network is a bit complicated.
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I have a related problem when using Tidal Connect on my iMac and my NAD M10. I can select the first song to play with no issues but then when I go to select another song the NAD M10 will generally play the wrong sone and not the one I selected. Most sure if the problem is with Tidal or BluOS. My SW levels are 13.14.20 for BluOS and
2.28.0.275 (W: 2021.05.19-15-cd0889fb089b15ffb7b504a3667708bd0a40e9b8) (NP: 3.0.5.39)
for Tidal.
Thank you for any help you can provide.
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I have been raising a ticket with Tidal and they were responsive. However they thought that version 2.28.0.XXX would solve the issue which it did not. I explained to them that many of us have the same issue on various devices (incl. my own mobile). I believe the issue sits with the Tidal connect platform not being able to manage the playing queue properly.
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When I first read Stephen's comment above, I thought he was reporting a problem different from the one I have had. But just in the last few days, I have started to have the same problem he reports! When I try to play an album from the beginning in the TIDAL app, it randomly selects a song deep in the album. When I try to directly select the first song in the album, it still plays something deep into the album--sometimes even spazzing out entirely and skipping between songs. The TIDAL integration is a mess for me.
BTW, I just updated the BluOS firmware a few days ago, before this problem developed.
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I too have had problems with the use of the Node 2i and Tidal shortly after the introduction of Connect.
1. In Tidal app using Connect, it might let me play a whole album but there is no skipping around or picking songs. If I try to chose a single, it will skip to the end of the album to play the last song and I can't even pause the song at that point.
2. In Tidal app if I try to use Bluetooth option, playback will drop and the app becomes useless again.
3. In Bluos app, it too is not seamless. It might play an entire album but playback easily drops.
Everything is updated; no internet problems in my home; Tidal works great in car and on laptop; I've controlled for every known variable, but the pairing of Tidal and Node is pointless now and has me guessing which part of that couple I swap out. I want the music quality we're all hear talking about and what should be the relative ease of using the Node.
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Thank you for your patience All
We have replicated this issue fully and are currently testing solutions in our QA Lab - we hope to announce a fix very soon.
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Great Tony, looking forward.
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Yes, thanks for the update, Tony. Looking for to many Node uses without my fingers crossed.
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This is good to hear, Tidal Connect has been erratic lately.
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I also have this problem, as someone who likes jump around albums and tracks this is not great, it just plays the last track ....totally unacceptable that this got released like this, in my world this would be a Major Issue and everyone would work for a fast fix it. Please treat this as urgent.
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Still going on. I contacted Tidal support and got a generic "we're working on it" response. This is a MAJOR flaw. It severely limits using Tidal Connect. I don't know whether Tidal or Bluesound bears responsibility for this, but someone is doing a very poor job.
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It would be good if we got a more detailed timeline on this fix ....I bought the Bluesound Node 2 to work with Tidal and its totally useless to me. Please can we get a better detailed timeline from Bluesound or Tidal ?
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I just saw a post elsewhere that says Bluesound just released an update that fixes this. Hasn't arrived for me yet, but fingers crossed!
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I just got a Bluesound Upgrade .......and its fixed !! version 3.14.26
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It does seem to be resolved. Everyone else notice a difference? Not sure if this was a Bluesound or Tidal resolution, but thanks to whoever engineered it!!
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The track selection problem seems to be resolved, but the Tidal app still loses connection with my Node 2i within about 10-15 minutes after I start playback. The playback continues, but the Tidal app simply reverts to showing the first track I played and it no longer shows as being in play mode. By contrast, the BluOS app accurately shows the state of ongoing playback.
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Hi Curtis
TIDAL is aware of this problem in the TIDAL App and is looking into it. It may be best to track the issue with their Support Channels though.
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So the Track selection problem is indeed fixed but, This is your device and it cost me a lot of Money please can ensure us that Bluesound is working with Tidal to get this fixed ASAP ....disconnecting from the Bluesound is something that happens regularly and its very annoying.
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I just got the Node 2i and Tidal cannot "see" the Node 2i.
This wouldn't be so bad, but the BlueOS interface is simply unusable with Tidal. Can we please either resolve the Tidal Connect issues (which I understand is on Tidals end of things) OR (should be AND) improve the BlueOS Tidal integration? Why am I not at a minimum seeing a list of recently played songs?
Kudos for the Spotify integration, this is exactly how the Tidal integration should be. If that is possible please make it happen.
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Hi Mel
This is how TIDAL Connect works; https://support.bluos.net/hc/en-us/articles/360056154514 - if you are having issues, please select Help, Send Support Request so our Support Crew can help troubleshoot your local network environment.
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An update on the issues from my end (below shared with Tidal support team):
After a few of the latest upgrades, discovery of BluOS players have gotten better (although the Tidal Connect still struggling to find players at all at times), thanks for that. And, even better the horrible scrambling of playlists has disappeared.
However, when listening on Tidal Connect BluOS and playing from my laptop (Windows 10 app) and I pause music for 10 minutes (e.g. for a phone call) the music starts playing on laptop speakers again rather than the Tidal Connect - even a 2 min break and connection lost... Heavily annoying.
These things never happen when playing from Mobile (android) on same network/same players so quite an odd issue of Tidal Connect on Windows laptop.
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Hi all. Picking this one up again.
Like all of you, I used to experience the track scrambling thing but that is indeed gone.
The one thing that remains is this annoying loss of connection to the speakers.
I usually start playing my songs from the Tidal connect app, where I normally see my speakers with no problems. But it all goes wrong after 15 or so minutes... The speaker keeps on playing the playlist but the Tidal iPhone app has completely lost the connection (speaker not even discoverable anymore). The speakers are also gone from the BluOS app (which only use for changing settings because it is such a poor app!). Soooo annoying!
I read the comments above and also started wondering whether there could be a link with how the different devices connect to the network. I have one router and 2 relay antennas and perhaps the connection was initially to one given antenna for both the phone and the speaker and then one of the 2 said devices connected to eg the router directly and so there is a change in the connections.Still should not be happening for devices and services so expensive.
Any updates on the bluesound front about this? Thanks.
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Using the Tidal App on a Windows PC, I have not experienced any playback problem on BlueOS devices with Tidal Connect, except for dropped and missing connection.
Especially, after idling for a while, the BlueOS device may disappear from the "Tidal Connect" device list. It may re-appear after minutes, hours, or overnight. The only way to re-establish connection promptly is to reboot the BlueOS device. While the BlueOS device disappears from "Tidal Connect", the BlueOS app can still use Tidal service without problems.
Not a huge problem but this can be quite annoying.
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