Yes. But only one album: Cava Menzies & Nick Phillips 'Moment to Moment' (which I greatly enjoy btw).
I have streamed this via the Tidal App but also own the 24/96 download from Blue Coast Records, the only format available for download.
In my system the download is clearly better. But so what. I wouldn't suggest anyone make a decision based on anything but experimenting in their own system.
The biggest digital domain improvement by FAR for me was upgrading my CD player to a Modwright Sony 999es. Since then the only digital files I download are DSD with provenance, meaning mixed direct to DSD from the console or from the tape master. This is really limited to Native DSD and Blue Coast Records, but both DSD256 & 512 formats sound stunning.
The next step down is SACD in the Modwright Sony, and the delta is very small. Redbook in that CDP is a larger step, but is still WAY better than ripped and streaming, with streaming being at the very bottom of the list.
My overall point being that I prefer buying, holding and playing CDs, so I worked to make that as enjoyable as I could in my budget. If streaming is your lifestyle choice then focus on setting your system up to optimize that. I don't think there is an absolute and system-independent answer to whether ripped CDs a stream sounds better.
I have streamed this via the Tidal App but also own the 24/96 download from Blue Coast Records, the only format available for download.
In my system the download is clearly better. But so what. I wouldn't suggest anyone make a decision based on anything but experimenting in their own system.
The biggest digital domain improvement by FAR for me was upgrading my CD player to a Modwright Sony 999es. Since then the only digital files I download are DSD with provenance, meaning mixed direct to DSD from the console or from the tape master. This is really limited to Native DSD and Blue Coast Records, but both DSD256 & 512 formats sound stunning.
The next step down is SACD in the Modwright Sony, and the delta is very small. Redbook in that CDP is a larger step, but is still WAY better than ripped and streaming, with streaming being at the very bottom of the list.
My overall point being that I prefer buying, holding and playing CDs, so I worked to make that as enjoyable as I could in my budget. If streaming is your lifestyle choice then focus on setting your system up to optimize that. I don't think there is an absolute and system-independent answer to whether ripped CDs a stream sounds better.