How to Stream Tidal to Volumio (3 Ways) & Troubleshooting Guide

Part 1. How to Use Tidal on Volumio via Tidal Connect [Official Way]

To offer Tidal music in a more convenient and easier-to-use approach, Volumio and Tidal have finally cooperated to provide the new Tidal Connect Volumio feature. Besides, Tidal Connect is now available on Volumio for all MyVolumio Virtuoso, Premium and Superstar users.

In reality, Tidal Connect allows users to stream Tidal music from its app to all supported third-party devices. That's to say, no matter whether you have Volumio Primo, or other Volumio OS devices, you'll be able to use Tidal Connect on Raspberry Pi and play Tidal music on all Volumio devices.

How to Connect Tidal to Volumio via Tidal Connect Feature

Note: Please update your Volumio music player to the latest version v3 or above and update the Tidal app to the latest version. Please check whether your devices are under the same network.

Step 1. Log in to your MyVolumio Virtuoso or Superstar account on the Volumio UI or a web browser.

Step 2. Head to Sources and make sure that the Tidal integration is enabled. Then log in to your Tidal account.

Step 3. Navigate to Settings > Playback Options. Then set the Mixer Type to None for the best sound quality and to let your DAC control volume.

Step 4. Launch the Tidal app on your mobile or desktop device. Also, ensure your device is connected to the same local network as your Volumio streamer, like Raspberry Pi, etc.

Step 5. Play one song and go to the 'Now Playing' page. Select the 'Sound Output' icon to choose the compatible Volumio device.

After that, Tidal music will be broadcast to your Volumio player from your device directly without any limitations.

Extra Tips: How to Verify True Tidal Hi-Res FLAC Output Status

Here we will share tips with you on how to check if the audio resolution shown in the Volumio UI is accurate.

Stream Type	Volumio Display	True Playback Quality	Expert Note on Quality
Tidal Lossless (CD)	44.1 kHz / 16 bit	Lossless CD quality	/
Tidal Hi-Res FLAC	44.1 kHz / 16 bit or 48 kHz / 24 bit	Up to 192 kHz / 24 bit	The Volumio UI won't report the true high-res rate for Tidal Connect. It just show the initial stream rate.

So, the best way to check Tidal Hi-Res quality via Tidal Connect is via the DAC's indicator light or display.

Part 2. How to Play Tidal on Volumio via Volumio Tidal Plugin - MyVolumio

MyVolumio is the premium feature of Volumio that includes two subscription plans: MyVolumio Virtuoso and MyVolumio Superstar. Once upgraded, you can enjoy native Volumio Tidal integration as well as Qobuz.

In other words, just subscribe to one of the plans, Virtuoso (€2.99/month and €28.99/year) or Superstar (€6.99/month and €66.99/year) with a 15-day free trial, you can set up the Tidal Volumio plugin and enjoy Tidal streaming service with their Hi-Fi and Hi-Res quality in Volumio.

Step 1. Download and install MyVolumio or simply update your Volumio application to version 3 or higher.

Step 2. Log in to a new MyVolumio account. Or you can create it on myvolumio.org or from the application's interface.

Step 3. On the profile page, please choose "Upgrade your plan" and select a subscription plan: Virtuoso or Superstar.

Step 4. Sign in or register an account on the ickStream Music website.

Step 5. Click on "Browse" at the bottom left of Volumio and hit the "Home" icon. You will see Tidal or Qobuz available here, please select Tidal as the target one.

Step 6. Now start enjoying all the premium functions on MyVolumio, such as remote control to play Tidal on Volumio, automatic backup and sync, and so forth.

Note: This method is less stable, slower to navigate, and it is not the official method to use Tidal on Volumio.

Part 3. How to Stream Tidal to Volumio Offline for Free

If you want to listen to Tidal music on Volumio offline or without using a MyVolumio subscription, you can convert and play Tidal music as local files via an alternative method. Since Volumio supports importing local music for offline playback, it is free to add and stream Tidal on Volumio.

In this case, you need a powerful tool called AudFree Tidal Music Downloader to get Tidal music local downloads. Actually, this versatile tool is able to convert any Tidal track/playlist/album to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, and more formats supported by Volumio.

What's more, it will maintain original sound quality, even Lossless and Hi-Res FLAC Max quality of Tidal. Metadata such as artist, album, title, etc. are encapsulated and well stored in the output music files. As a result, Volumio Tidal becomes possible and you can import and play Tidal on Volumio for free offline without MyVolumio.

How to Convert Tidal Music for Volumio

Please check the prerequisites as follows before the conversion.

• Download and install AudFree Tidable on your Mac or Windows computer.
• Please make sure you have an active Tidal account.

Step 1Set Audio Parameters of Tidal Music for Volumio

Run AudFree Tidal Music Converter and click the Menu icon in the upper-right corner, then select the Preferences > Conversion button. Here, you can customize the output Tidal audio parameters for Volumio, including format, bit rate, sample rate and channels. Just for your reference, Volumio supports FLAC, WAV, MP3, etc.

Step 2Import Songs from Tidal to AudFree Tidable

When you launch AudFree Tidal Downloader, log in to your Tidal account and find the Tidal track/album/playlist you wish to play on Volumio. You can drag and drop Tidal songs into the '+🎵' section of AudFree Tidable and then click 'Add to list' to load files directly.

Step 3Download Tidal Tracks Locally for Volumio

In the 'Converting' list, tap the big 'Convert' button to start the download and conversion process. When finished, click on the 'Converted' button with the red number alert to access the history list. You can then locate the downloaded Tidal music files in the target folder on your computer.

How to Use Tidal on Volumio Offline

Step 1. Copy the converted Tidal music files to USB drive from your computer. Then plug the USB drive into the USB port on your Volumio device. (Or, you can transfer the converted Tidal audio files to your NAS (Network Attached Storage) or a shared folder on your computer. Then in the Volumio UI, go to Settings > Sources. Next, click Add New Drive and set the share type and the network path.

Step 2. Back to the Sources or My Music section in Volumio UI, then Volumio will automatically detect your USB drive if you plug it into your device. Next, tap the Scan or Rescan Music Library button. If you use a NAS, make sure the share path is saved properly and tap Rescan. Now, wait for indexing.

Step 3. Once finished, go to the Music Library section or via the Folders section to view and play the converted Tidal music on Volumio offline.

Part 4. Troubleshooting: Volumio Tidal Common Issues

In this part, let's figure out the issues and fixes that you might encounter while connecting Tidal to Volumio.

Issue 1: Volumio Device Is Not Showing Up in the Tidal App

Fix 1. Check your network: Please ensure both your Volumio device and mobile or desktop device are on the exact same WiFi or Ethernet network.

Fix 2. Clear Tidal app cache: Try to clear the cache and data for the Tidal app on your device. In this case, the Tidal app will refresh its device list.

Fix 3. Disable Android battery optimization: Go to Settings > Apps > Tidal > Battery, and choose Unrestricted or Do not optimize to prevent the system from putting the Tidal app to sleep.

Issue 2: Tidal on Volumio No Sound

Fix 1. Verify audio output settings: In the Volumio UI, go to Settings > Playback Options, then ensure the Audio Output is set to your DAC properly.

Fix 2. Confirm the mixer type: Please check if you have the Mixer Type to None on Volumio.

Issue 3: Volumio Tidal Connect Suddenly Disappears or Disconnects After a Track

Fix 1. Refresh the system services: In Volumio's UI, head to Settings > System and try to run a Factory Reset (Do not use this method only other steps are not working.). Or, tap the Power menu to restart the system.

Fix 2. Avoid network conflicts: If you use other network discovery services on the same device at the same time, this will cause mDNS conflicts. So, you can try to disable the other services to see if the issue is fixed.

Issue 4: Tidal Song on Volumio Are Skipping, Stuttering or Drop-Outs During Playback

Fix 1. Increase the Audio Buffer Size: In Volumio's Playback Options, increase the Buffer Size from the default 8MB to 12MB or 24MB manually. Also, increase the Buffer Before Play to 30%.

Fix 2. Disable conflicting plugins: Try to disable all the non-essential plugins and then reboot.

Issue 5: Low Volume Gain from Tidal Connect Volumio

Fix 1. Check bit-perfect mixer settings: Go to Volumio's Settings > Playback Options and set the Mixer Type to None or Hardware.

Fix 2. Turn off the Volume Normalization in the Tidal app: Go to the Tidal app's Settings and ensure Loudness Normalization is disabled.

Issue 6: Volumio Resampling Feature Is Ignored by Tidal Connect

Fix: If you must apply a resampling filter globally (e.g., for DAC compatibility), you need to install and configure the separate FusionDSP plugin, which applies its processing to all audio sources.

Part 5. FAQs about Tidal on Volumio

Does Tidal Connect on Volumio Support Gapless Playback?

Yes. One of the benefits of using Tidal Connect is its native support for gapless playback. This allows you to listen to Tidal music with no interruptions or silences between tracks on albums or continuous mixes, allowing you to have a high-fidelity listening experience.

Can I Use Tidal Connect for Multiroom Playback with Multiple Volumio Devices?

Yes. If you are a MyVolumio subscriber, you can use the Multiroom Sync Playback feature. This allows you to group up to 6 Volumio players and stream any source to all of them via Tidal Connect.

View also: How to Play Tidal on Multiple Devices

Why Is My Tidal Playlist Not Showing Up in Volumio?

This may be caused by the synchronization failure or an issue with the local cache. So, you can try to log out and log back in to Tidal in the Volumio's Sources menu, then reboot your device. If this is not working, confirm that your Volumio account is connected to the exact same Tidal account that included the playlist you are looking for.

Part 6. Final Verdict

In a word, this article contains the best ways to play Tidal on Volumio. If you want a direct and stable method, use Tidal Connect. If you want to listen to Tidal songs on Volumio offline, use AudFree Tidal Music Converter to save Tidal music as local files and play them via USB on Volumio. Start and enjoy your Tidal Volumio journey from now on.