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Can Streamed Music Sound Better than any other source?

I am about to make the leap. Jumping into a Server or is it a Streamer? To use existing DAC-Oppo 203- or upgrade? I love the concept of access to all the music on line. So I don't actually own any of it-thats fine. Buying downloads adds up quickly. $20/month sounds like a bargain.  Roon's system looks appealing. I can add Tidal and be done, right? I get a lot of great counsel from my old school expert at the HiFi store I support locally but he can't even spell stream.
I was born in the 50's and want to use this listening option now. As this technology is still evolving, I am not inclined to overspend on gear that may be as valuable as a VCR in a year or two.
In the end I want to know if I can have this new source sounding better than CDs and LPs. I am not going back to reel-to-reel so if that is best source, please ignore it as it regards my purposes.
Thank you. I look forward to learning from the responses!!
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rlb61
789 posts
 
As I have gotten older, I have placed a premium on quality versus quantity. To me, streaming doesn't sound particularly good at all, but you get the convenience of access to a large quantity of recorded music, and running a playlist from a tablet. OTOH, physical media sounds best to me (I'm a shiny silver disc guy), and provides a much higher quality listening experience in all respects. 
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder   One could make the same point about any aspect (accessory / peripheral / component) of a system or the room. Can you explain? Thank you. - David.

Comments about sources made out of context of particular audio systems imo are of little value.

david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@rlb61   +1 on placing a "premium on quality versus quantity."

Regarding:

To me, streaming doesn't sound particularly good at all

It's in the implementation and execution. Streaming can rival the best vinyl based systems. The same applies to physical media.

One can have a preference for and choose one over another, but to say [streaming]: "doesn't sound particularly good at all" is not accurate.
calvinandhobbes
307 posts
 
I've made my streaming sound a lot better than when I started building my digital system last year. The sound quality from my Denafrips Pontus II DAC helps, but efforts to reduce the amount of EMI and RFI in my digital signal path seems to have even more effect. Changes which have produced a noticeable improvement include: (listed in order of more to less improvement)

1. Going from a PC or iPhone as a streamer to a dedicated streamer (possible reason: less electrical noise from general-purpose computing devices not optimized for low noise)
2. Turning off WiFi and HDMI outputs on my streamer & using Ethernet via a WiFi Extender.
3. Switching from an AmazonBasics Cat 6 Ethernet cable to a Supra Cat 8 cable
4. Using Qobuz instead of Spotify (Amazon HD and Tidal sound worse than Spotify Premium to me)
5. Putting a Audioquest Jitterbug noise filter on my streamer's USB output
6. Using a Stordiau Lush USB cable

Even though it takes work to get streaming to sound good enough to be enjoyable, the upside is that I have millions of tracks of new music that I can explore. What I like, I'll try to get as a local file for better sound quality.
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