Is using streaming services worthy of an audiophile?

Music is culture. Music is people talking to other people en masse.

It is much more important than the brand of tubes we use in an amp.

Now, pushing for better transmission and reproduction is always worthwhile, but let’s not forget that we are merely diddling at the fringes of the treasure that is musical culture created by those who make audio gear worth pursuing. 

In so far as streaming helps us connect to current music, culture, and cultures... it is priceless and none of us are really worthy of any of it.

Best,

E

I use Deezer and have been a customer for several years, Deezer library is massive.  It also streams at 16/48 but you have to have a Sonos player.  I did the Wyred4Sound upgrade ( total ~$800) and now the Sonos up samples to 96Khz and my DAC indicates that.  I use RadioParadise (320acc stream) and let them send me an eclectic mix, when I here something I like I drop it into my Deezer playlist.  If it really strikes me I seek out the vinyl.   

As a newly converted believer in streaming music I have to say Tidal must be hard to beat.
I am playing a lot of their masters albums which my bluesound vault manages to run at the full 192 via its own internal dac which I output via single ended analog outs to my Mcintosh c48.
I was able to directly compare this with the digital out from the Vault going into the c48 which is limited to 96.
The album I used for a 7 way comparo( read on) was crime of the century by supertramp.
The Tidal MQA at full 192 sounded slightly fuller, more lively than the mcintosh limited 96 version although both knocked the ripped flac files at 44.1 into next week for depth and realism.
Next up came a test of my original cd played via digital out and balanced xlr to the c48, here the xlr was a clear winner but I still feel the Tidal MQA was richer.
Finally I gave my vinyl copy a spin...well as you all know vinyl is just well VINYL and it is just so hard to compare it to anything else imho.
For $20 a month I am sticking with Tidal for a while and as it seems they are adding MQA albums daily I am quite content right now, I mean Uriah Heep at 192? Heaven! 

if it's not worthy of audiophile, it's definitely worthy of music lover regardless of quality.

It’s certainly has a respectable position on the audiophile spectrum if you ask me when you consider what modern technology components can do these days. Use your high dollar transport, TT and a fine bottle of scotch to deliver the full on pleasure palace.