Streaming Services

+1

The streamer and DAC need to equal your other high end equipment.

You have the CJ DAC already. Check out the Arcam ST60 or the Mcintosh MS500.

If your DAC accepts usb, then you can use a computer and get decent results. It helps to use a program such as Audirvana. This basically tries to inactivate the parts of your computer that don’t involve sound reproduction and can introduce noise. It also provides a graphical interface so that you can more easily find your music. One disadvantage is that you shouldn’t use your computer for anything else while playing music. Qobuz works well with Audirvana, not sure about the other streaming services.

Having said all that, I would get a dedicated streamer. It’s much easier and probably will sound better. You will probably be able to use more options than usb.

I have tried a few different ones and have settled on the Cambridge Audio CXN 60. It comes with a decent DAC, which you won’t need, but can natively stream Qobuz and Tidal. If you want to use Amazon or Apple it offers both Chromecast and Apple AirPlay, which allows you stream from a mobile device (Chromecast is really excellent but you need an Android mobile device, AirPlay is at least close to CD resolution for Apple devices). The CA is also tremendous with Internet Radio and Podcasts. I listen to the BBC Radio Three offerings via Chromecast at full resolution, much preferable to their scrawny 64bps Internet stream.

. I had one streamer that cost three times the CA, but it had an absolutely awful software program. The slight improvement in sound quality wasn’t worth the agony of trying to actually use the thing.  The software program to control your streaming experience is extremely important and whatever direction you choose you should try to investigate each device’s program before you buy.

Which service? Qobuz is the best for Classical. Good sound, large catalog, decent search engine. Customer service non existent. My wife really preferred Apple Music, and Apple had recently purchased a smaller Classical service called Primephonic and has an extensive Classical catalog. If you have a problem you can actually get a human at Apple Support.  They now offer high resolution recordings. I use streaming primarily to audition unfamiliar or new recordings and if I really like something will purchase the CD or download. If streaming was to be my only source of Music I would probably opt for Qobuz

Thank you all for the responses! The consensus is Qobuz and I will go with that service.

For me, a tremendous value in creating this thread being that in my newness to streaming I had not even heard of this service before. I am very grateful to now know of it!

For now, the Conrad Johnson HD3 USB DAC I have does have a USB port that I'll hook to my MacBook. Once that's down, I'll begin a next step with equipment upgrade.

Thanks again, everyone!

Best,

Randy

I've tried pretty much every individual streaming service there is, and personally have concluded Qobuz is my favorite. Sound quality is best in my experience and the music selection covers everything I could imagine.

Tidal isn't bad either but MQA is hit or miss in terms of sound quality, and their selection definitely skews more towards hip-hop and pop. I was not impressed at all with the highest level version of Amazon Music.

I’ve had Spotify, Amazon,Tidal,and Qobuz.  I found Spotify to have the largest library, Qobuz has the best sound quality.