Sound Quality of red book CDs vs.streaming

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.

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?

I have not yet gotten into a streaming service though I understand the value of having access to a vast catalog of music.

Trouble with streaming you don’t know what version of the album your getting, some have had the daylights compressed out of them.

This is what I use to find the most dynamic version type in your artist and album.
"more green/highest right side number". click on it and find the cat no. then search for a used cd on ebay. Latest are usually more compressed I noticed.
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=Pink+Floyd&album=The+Wall
For this The Wall the top one 1991 I’d go for trouble is there’s no cat no for it, just that’s it’s a South African one.

Next best is half way down and it has two cat no.s C2K-36183 / C2K-36185
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/92174

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=C2K-36183&_sacat=0&...

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/pink-floyd-the-wall-c2k-36183.62279/page-2

Cheers George

audioengrI enjoy reading your posts for the most part. I do not see your gear listed nor pics in Virtual Systems?  Happy Listening!