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Downloads Versus Streaming

Hi Again,

I’ve been streaming Qobuz through my Bryston Pi to my Ayre QB9 Twenty. Despite being told that streaming quality is every bit as good sounding as my local library on an external SSD, my ears tell me otherwise. Even at higher bit rates and resolutions. Yes, a better streamer and/or tweaks and upgrades would have effective results, at this stage I believe I’m better off with downloads. I’m just wondering what you folks out there have experienced regarding this matter and what you’ve done to make improvements.

128x128goofyfoot
goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot OP
1,381 posts
 

@lalitk I come to find out also that many titles, even on major labels, are being hyper compressed. That would certainly negate any benefit from higher resolutions.

mahler123
3,409 posts
 

I had read the same

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,613 posts
 

“I come to find out also that many titles, even on major labels, are being hyper compressed. ”

@goofyfoot

Why do I get the feeling that you have already conceded to the notion that downloads will always sound superior to streaming :-)

I feel like we are on two different islands! 

goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot OP
1,381 posts
 

@lalitk I don't know why you think that, the same level of compression happens on CD's and I'm guessing can occur with downloads, so my comment wouldn't indicate siding with one format or another. Compression is very real and often abused. So I'm just pointing out another possibility as to why one recording may be difficult to listen to and why another sounds great, even if it's from the same tape master.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,613 posts
 

@goofyfoot

I see, well in that case we make the best out of what’s available and continue the pursuit. It’s probably why I continue to buy downloads, CD’s and Vinyl.

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