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Streaming vs CD transport direct comparison


Yesterday we had a day at a friends comparing the title to this thread.
System consisted of:
  • Speakers — Wilson Alexia series 2
  • Amplifier — Gryphon Audio Antileon EVO
  • Preamplifier — Supratek Cortese or Lightspeed Attenuator LDR passive or source direct (we used the Supratek for instant a/b ability)
  • Sources — Digital: 432Evo Music Server Roon Core (owner has found Roon to be the best)
  • Yamaha CD-S2100 as transport,
  • Totaldac d1-core DAC.

We A/B both (levels matched) CD to 432Evo (streamed, saved and/or to H/D) with a number of albums same versions, classical, jazz, soft rock, hard rock.
The overwhelming consensus of all 5 listeners (some that "were" originally very pro streaming) was that the CD was firstly clearly more dynamic, had better separation and was blacker background between notes and it was also clearer through the vocals that were hard to hear what was being said, than what came out of the 432Evo.
This is the third time I’ve sat in on this kind of A/B on different systems all were similar on how the differences came out.
I can say the streamer would be a slightly better late night low volume level system to play, as it’s dynamics wouldn’t wake other people in the same building. Where the CD you’d be running for the volume every time there was a big dynamic passage.

Cheers George
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cleeds
6,019 posts
 
georgehifi
... both were the "year and label". So we knew if it was, 1st release, later remaster, re-release, or reissue...
That the tracks show they were released in the same year on the same label is no assurance that they were made from the same master tape. Not even close! That’s why some audiophiles tend to prefer Japanese pressings, or British pressings or yet another country of origin - they can all sound different, even on new releases.
And with the amount of a/b’ing all seemed correct, as all had the same outcome.
That’s actually what makes your test results suspect - that there was "overwhelming consensus of all 5 listeners." It’s unusual to get such singular results from a listening test designed to detect preference.

I’ve conducted some similar tests. Sometimes the CD sounds better. Sometimes a hi-res stream sounds better. Sometimes an LP sounds best. As others here have noted, there are so many variables that such a result is hardly a surprise.
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hilde45
5,099 posts
 
@georgehifi Did you compare the CD to a ripped but local version of the CD, say on a local server?

I'm presently ripping my CD collection as FLAC because I can just put a thumb drive in my streamer and then access the music that way.

So -- any comparison like that, where no internet is involved?
ejr1953
918 posts
 
We moved into a new home three weeks ago and I just received a new CD rack (from Boltz) and last night I started unboxing my CD and SACD disks to populate the new rack.

One thing I'd say that streaming offers is that, when an album is remastered, the new version is almost always available on the streaming services.  Though I have what is considered a really good transport/DAC setup, the version I stream from my Roon Nucleus Plus server usually sounds as good, if not better than the CD version.

I'm seriously thinking of culling my CD collection, as I get as much if not more pleasure streaming.
unsound
7,333 posts
 
@georgehif, I understand that there was a unanimous consensus as to a preference. But, was there a consensus as to just how much difference there was between the formats, and if so by how much?
melm
1,084 posts
 
FWIW, I found that ripping CDs to a USB hard disk and playing them through a lap-top running JRiver and out by USB to a DAC definitely improved the SQ over playing the same disks on an Oppo 105 and out through coax into the DAC.  And ripping SACDs, of course. 

All of this was improved further by going to a NAS (with ethernet performing better than wi-fi) and eventually avoiding sending music through the laptop by using DLNA function of JRiver and a digital bridge.  First the Oppo as the bridge, which was actually pretty good, and later an SOtM.

As a committed vinylphyle, I am more than impressed by what these 1s and 0s can actually do.  It reminded me of what some old vinyl grooves actually could reveal as playback equipment improved, mostly after the golden age of vinyl.
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