2. digital
  3. 131794-103946

Is using streaming services worthy of an audiophile?

I read that a lot of people on this forum use Tidal etc. Is this ok from audiophile perspective? I mean, do people who use such services actually know what quality is streamed? Don’t you lose all control over your music when you surrender to streaming services?
defiantboomerang
2psyop's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
2psyop
1,600 posts
 
+2 randyhat. I am not sure I understand the analog vs. digital debate. I guess I could if I had to pick one or the other... but I don’t. I mean I can purchase a turntable, tonearm, cartridge, needle and phono preamp AND I can aquire a DAC, streamer or computer to play digital music. I can listen to either format. I think the debate is silly because if I were thinking one is better than the other I would be listening to that format and if I changed my mind switch back. What is the problem????
BTW I have two audio systems, in one I have a tube amp, the other a solid state amp.... again not a problem only more options.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,308 posts
 
I’m not sure how many died and true audiophiles are interested in reducing their listening experience to merely another application on a computer.

Having said that, that's mostly what I end up doing these days. Even when I play a record, the ADC is running to get the music ready for loading to my music server. I guess I am a traitor. But I do spend more time than ever actually listening to and enjoying the music so at least I am a happy traitor.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Untreated CDs in untweaked systems are kind of the worst case scenario, inasmuch as they almost ALWAYS sound thin, wiry, bass shy, rolled off, tinny, electronic, lumpy, two dimensional, boring, synthetic, fake, congealed, and a lot like paper mache.

This is why I don't listen to CD's.  I listen to .wav rips of CD's.  The operative word is "almost".  There are very good digital systems now that beat even the best vinyl and sound very much analog.  I'm lucky enough to enjoy one of these.  It's much more difficult to make digital sound like analog than making analog sound like analog.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

areasonableman
15 posts
 
I really like Tidal. I was actually quite dismayed when I A/B'd it with the vinyl rig I had at the time. I had to concede that the only big reason I wasn't selling my collection was for the physical aspect.
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
Geoffkait,

You obviously took my words and twisted them completely. I have come across people who say they cannot listen to digital, at all. Analog is the only thing they listen to. What a shame. Lots of music they are denying themselves of. 

No, I am not "hot dogging" you, I am trolling you because I have nothing better to do....Hel-loo!

More to discover