Streaming music is a miserable experience

[itripn]

Hey all, I have a 2023 R1S (that I love), and have been holding on to some frustration for a while, around the streaming of music. This primarily relates to the Tidal app, and occasionally the Apple Music app. I do not stream with Spotify so I am not sure if these issues extend to that app. Also, I do subscribe to Connect+ so this isn't a tethering to phone issue.

With the Tidal app, I find two frequent and super annoying glitches:

1. At least once every few songs, the playhead (for lack of a better metaphor) will jump back a few seconds and replay what was already played.
2. Near the end of the song, last 3-5 seconds, the playhead will jump to the next song skipping the end of the current song.

It doesn't happen as often with Apple Music, but it has happened. When this happens, I immediately look at the LTE strength meter on the display, and it is generally full bars, occasionally one bar missing. This happens when I am driving in sub/urban areas of Portland that have high cell coverage.

I give it a pass when it happens within a couple of minutes leaving my house, because I assume it struggles with leaving my home wifi and switching to LTE -- even though it should be much better at handling that.

Does anyone else experience these types of issues with any frequency in similar conditions? If it's just me, I'll file a request with the service center. But if others see this I have to assume there is some fundamental flaw in their streaming (buffering) system in the vehicle.

As a side note, I tried for a while to just play bluetooth from my phone to avoid these issues, but the R1S is so bad at picking up where it left off that I constantly have to fumble with my phone before driving to get back to what I was playing the last time I left the vehicle.

Thanks,
Ron

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[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I've had great experience with Amazon music. Don't use Tidal or Apple Music or Bluetooth music at all. So just an off-the-cuff answer, it seems people's experiences may be related to their app of choice? Good luck, hope you get it resolved. ?

 

[Rivian Owner]

So a couple of things to consider that might help you find the issue. First, have you tried streaming with Bluetooth from your phone and driving around the areas where you seem to have the skipping reversing issues? If it is specific to the cell coverage, I would guess your phone is going to experience the same drop of the data stream (if that is what is occurring) especially considering it is inside a metal enclosure which will reduce signal strength. You might want to try and setup Spotify to see if you get the same symptoms. If Spotify operates differently, it may be better a buffering data, which would indicate that the issue is with the Tidal service. You could also try driving into areas where you know the cell signal is weak and see if you can get the Tidal ap to error when you know the service is weak. You need to replace parts of the overall system (Tidal servers to Rivian, to location) to properly identify where the real problem is.

 

[itripn]

So a couple of things to consider that might help you find the issue. First, have you tried streaming with Bluetooth from your phone and driving around the areas where you seem to have the skipping reversing issues? If it is specific to the cell coverage, I would guess your phone
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Thanks for the thoughtful reply, I appreciate it!

I have driven around streaming from my phone (bluetooth) and do not have the same issues when I am in the same area.

I did just notice there are some streaming options in the Tidal app. It was set to High and I changed it to Low (96Kbps). I am not jazzed about the loss of quality, but I will be curious to see if it helps. And I'll report back.

Oh, one other issue I'd love to hear if it's shared with others or not -- Volume level 1 in my R1S is probably twice as loud as needed to have comfortable conversation in the cab with music playing. And, each additional step (1-2, 2-3, etc.) takes the volume up far more than any other car I've ever driven. I just wish the ramp started quieter and ramped more slowly.

Thanks again for the reply!
Ron

 

[Greg Chick]

I would rather have a CD player. I am not impressed with the beta testing done on everyone in the WWW IT "of things". No one is overseeing the release of the streaming of content, except the listeners. So to that I say, Revolt!
Why buy into an inferior system just because it is "Giga speed" or able to come from the "godalmighty phone".
Ok, now I will go back to my LP's and get some Analog.

 

[Heimat]

I would rather have a CD player.


Have you looked into something like this?

 

[MountainBikeDude]

I primarily use Tidal for streaming music in my 2023 R1T. I don't have the skipping issue you're referring to. I did have an issue where it would take about a minute for the song to resume that was playing during my previous drive, a workaround I had was to go into the song list and select the next song, then go back to the previous song. worked every time instantly. I also put it down to the vehicle not fully awake and me directing it's processes to the music player.

One issue I've had that's been the same for a while, is tidal album art. often after an update, it will sometimes take days before abum art starts to appear in the app.

 

[SwampNut]

Ok, I'm 3D printing a mount for this right now. Does anyone know where Rivian put the phono-level input jacks?

 

[SSteveEV]

All I want for Christmas is USB based onboard music playback.

 

[SwampNut]

Another dead tech that will never come back to cars.

 

[Greg Chick]

Ok, I'm 3D printing a mount for this right now. Does anyone know where Rivian put the phono-level input jacks?

There were actual LP players for cars that did not skip in early 70's! I just used 8 track, then Cassetts in early 80's. What is good about these things is you buy the disc and play the whole thing or skip songs any time no ads no monthly fees.

A CD player could use a USB input.. King Crimson rules.

 

[Greg Chick]

I would rather have a CD player.


Have you looked into something like this?

USB to Rivian calling....

 

[SwampNut]

A CD player could use a USB input..

Not exactly. There are tech details. You cannot connect a CD *player* by USB, you can connect a USB *drive* which would then require the car to be the player. It's a data connection, not audio.

King Crimson rules.

We did this Tuesday and got the autographed record. Hung out with Steve Vai's son. There was EV charging by the theater.

 

[Greg Chick]

Steve Vai is the most incredible guitarist, he is like an eloquent gymnist shredding as he does ballet.

 

[Greg Chick]

Steve Vai is the most incredible guitarist, he is like an eloquent gymnist shredding as he does ballet.

Wich port can a music loaded flash drive be used with? In the console on the left or the right?,

I can drop n drag CD's on to a flashdrive and play them? I could put the music in my cell phone, but then the cell needs to be linked to the truck. Then my calls come in on my dashboard, I do not like that.

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