How to properly stream TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer, et cetera?


Hi guys,

So I've been meaning to ask if there's an optimal way to stream these streaming service, if you know what I mean..., like some players which directly support TIDAL or Qobuz or Amazon Music and stuff, but what if I stream TIDAL through Roon, would the sound quality get better? and why?
I know that Roon does a lot of signal purification jobs during the whole transmitting process, still, I'm very much confused hahaha, since the cloud service is the original place of the music files, no? how come during the transmission the sound could be optimized!?

If that's a true fact that it's possible to level up the sound quality better than the original, so the theory can also be applying on the hardware parts I presume, like I can buy an real nice hi-end router to upgrade the network quality from the beginning, then the DC power supply, audio grade network switch, specialized cables, all the way to speakers, is that right?

Best,

preston8452

Before you start down the rabbit hole, that will no doubt ensue here soon, take daleberlin's observations as being accurate. 

The best way is through a dedicated streamer… like Aurlic, Aurender, Linn, etc. You need to match a dedicated streamer to your system. It will buffer the bitstream, completely isolate it from electrical noice and vibration and supply a clean pristine bitstream to the DAC. My streamers (An Aurender N100 and an Aurender W20SE). The latter is the most expensive component in my system (see my system under UserID). Under virtually all circumstances (in a high end system) a dedicated streamer will significantly out perform a PC.

 

Qobuz is generally the accepted best high fidelity streaming service… both signal and max high Rez content.

Yeah, I recently bought a Roon Ready streamer called Munich M1T by Silent Angel, I mean since it's " Roon Ready ", so I wonder if there would be any sound difference between directly streaming TIDAL via the app and via Roon Ready feature... 

Given Roon Ready is sorta a big deal nowadays I presume haha.

I recently upgraded to a Small Green Computer Sonic Orbiter i5 with Ultra Rendu bridge.  One reason I did this was to try Roon, which I like.  I might like it too much, as all the info it provides can be a distraction from listening.  But the best thing has been combining Roon with Qobuz.  This allows you to seamlessly merge your own library with music you add from Qobuz.  For example, I am an Elvis Costello completist.  But there are a few albums, singles and collaborations that I was either missing or unaware of.  A few clicks and most of these were added to my library.  They're not downloads, so if I cancel Qobuz or if Qobuz discontinues them, they're gone.  But there is no additional cost over the Qobuz subscription for this feature.  Now, if I play Elvis Costello music, these Qobuz selections will be mixed with my own collection.

Sound quality, I have to say that even Red Book resolution stuff from Qobuz sounds wonderful to me, rich, detailed and with a large soundstage.  No etch or anything that induced listener fatigue.  But I really didn't use Qobuz much without Roon, so it's hard to say what Roon's affect on Qobuz is in my system.

 

Time to do your own comparison on your system to find out.  Roon Trial or purchase a month seems like the ticket.  I use Tidal and compared it with and without Amarra software and it definitely sounds better with Amarra.   Not sure what they do?  I was hoping it wouldn’t sound better due to Amarra’s iffy interface.  Compared Qobuz to TidaI  and they sound very close giving an edge to Qobuz.  I use Tidal due to an annual subscription deal.  I compared USB cables and yes they make a sonic difference to my ears.  Also, using an ethernet cable sounds better than wifi but I could not distinguish a difference between basic CAT 8 ethernet cables and high-end ones.  Roon trial down the road in my sights…