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Sound Quality of red book CDs vs.streaming

I’ve found that the SQ of my red book CDs exceeds that of streaming using the identical recordings for comparison. (I’m not including hi res technology here.)
I would like to stop buying CDs, save money, and just stream, but I really find I enjoy the CDs more because of the better overall sonic performance.
 I stream with Chromecast Audio using  the same DAC (Schiit Gumby) as I play CDs through.
I’m wondering if others have had the same experience
128x128rvpiano
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Listen through OPPO 105D
 DAC and other high-quality devices
All from HHD Hard disk
The files were transferred to the DAC via a 105D stream

This was a mess of unintelligible stuff, but I can see that you don't have the equipment that is up to the task, just as I suspected.  If you are using USB and many different software playback apps, the results will be poor.

The devil is in the details.  This is a system and every part of the system must be optimized to get stellar results, including the playback app, the interfaces, the computer,  the cables, the ripping, and the DAC.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio


audioengr
3,282 posts
 

There was an article in Sound On Sound about 10 years ago on jitter and how it was not really a problem for good modern dacs and like I said this was 10 years ago. The article did say if you are chaining multiple dacs then you would want an external clock but how many do that in a home situation.

And your point is?  There are a lot of BS articles out there from people that don't know Shiit from Shinola.

I don't take stock in sources with no credibility.  I know what I measure and I know what I hear.  My customers agree with what I hear.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Remember you are listening to compress audio with streaming. Wont sound better than CD.
I only play flac from a usb stick on my system. It sounds better than streaming.

Finally, something true, although FLAC from Tidal is not compressed on playback, so it could possibly match CD playback given the right playback equipment.

I can play MP3 from Amazon Prime music with my newest XMOS USB converter, Wireworld Platinum USB cable and one of these:

https://sotm-usa.com/collections/sotm-ultra/products/copy-of-tx-usbultra-regenerator-1

The SQ from this beats the CD digital output from my Oppo by a country mile, even though it's compressed.  This is because reducing jitter is more important than MP3 compression.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

axo0oxa
98 posts
 
I have found that redbook sounds better than those same CDs ripped to FLAC files and streamed through the exact same system the CD player goes through. Both the streaming (ROON) and CD player use the same DAC (TEAC NT-505). Streaming when I am not critically listening is fun though due to the ease and how one can free associate with your music and mood switching to different bands and songs with just a few clicks and not having to get up. Now I do not have true hi rez files to compare the CDs with, so I cannot speak to that comparison.
whart's avatar
whart
3,020 posts
 
I’ve just started taking digital seriously as a playback medium (as opposed to using it for background music or work related stuff) and have been pleasantly surprised by how good it can be, even with a relatively modest set up, compared to my vinyl front end, which is far more ambitious.
One thing I’ve found is that there is a dramatic difference in presentation based on the sources and mastering. (Something I’ve been acutely attuned to in vinyl and and am now chasing down in CDs). The sonic differences are often quite dramatic.
I have not yet gotten into a streaming service though I understand the value of having access to a vast catalog of music. I suppose the point of my comment also leads to a question: apart from formats, gear, and approach, isn’t a huge sonic differentiator the source and mastering? In using a streaming service (and this is a question, not intended to be loaded), what choices do you have among different sources/masterings for a given recording? (I know that from my days of listening to classical music, which I do far less of today, the particular performance, by conductor and orchestra, as well as label, were factors so if streaming services offer a number of different recorded performances of a piece, perhaps you have alternatives). What about different masterings of rock and jazz?
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