The difference between full redbook CD streams and spotify is not as big as calimed here. The redbook CD stream is in principle 1411 kbs. However, if it is compressed with FLAC (as is done by these streaming services) the necessary bitrate is only about half, or even less. The BBC recently did some experimental cd red book streaming of live classical concerts, and the bitrates they needed were even less than half. They also did some serious research on the audibility of lower bitrates, and their conclusion was that 320 kbs was indistinguishable from full redbook cd quality. There are a few websites with blind samples where you can test your own ability to distinguish different sample rates in a statistically convincing way, and few people if any can indeed distuinguish 320 kbs from the real deal. For internet radio stations this is also an important issue because higher bitrates demand far more bandwith, and better than perfect would be a waste of resources. But it is admittedly a borderline case.
I am curently using Spotify as that is what the children wanted. However, for classical music I find the interface not very convenient, and the plan is to switch to Qobuz once my son moves out. More generally, I think these streaming sevices are absolutely wonderful. It is the difference between having your own private library of books and a large university library with just about everything ever written.
As for the gear side of things, I think adding a Chromecast Audio, Apple Airport Express or Sonos Connect is the easiest way to add this facility. The inbuilt DACs are excellent, but if you feel the urge to spend more, they all have digital outputs for an external DAC. Personally, I am perfectly happy with the analogue output of a Chromecast Audio into my Quad amplifiers and Quad 2805 electrostats. However, when I replace my old Quad 33 pre amplifier I will get one with digital inputs like the Pioneer U-05 (I no longer use any analogue sources).
I am curently using Spotify as that is what the children wanted. However, for classical music I find the interface not very convenient, and the plan is to switch to Qobuz once my son moves out. More generally, I think these streaming sevices are absolutely wonderful. It is the difference between having your own private library of books and a large university library with just about everything ever written.
As for the gear side of things, I think adding a Chromecast Audio, Apple Airport Express or Sonos Connect is the easiest way to add this facility. The inbuilt DACs are excellent, but if you feel the urge to spend more, they all have digital outputs for an external DAC. Personally, I am perfectly happy with the analogue output of a Chromecast Audio into my Quad amplifiers and Quad 2805 electrostats. However, when I replace my old Quad 33 pre amplifier I will get one with digital inputs like the Pioneer U-05 (I no longer use any analogue sources).