Sound Quality of red book CDs vs.streaming

Jumping in a bit late and admit I haven't read the bulk of the thread. Riddle me this. I am using a custom gaming pc as my source with an asus dsx soundcard outputing via AQ carbon coax spdif feeding a Bryston Bda 1 balanced out to a Krell Showcase then on to my Levinson 334 for stereo left right channels. Tidal sounds much more dynamic and better than my ripped local files that sit on a ssd. I am not even using hard wire networking I am using wifi. My Jriver is setup wasapi output and so on. This doesn't make sense.

Now going back and forth seams it varies depending on tracks I am comparing. Something new to drive myself nuts about.

I’ve found that the SQ of my red book CDs exceeds that of streaming using the identical recordings for comparison. [...]
I’m wondering if others have had the same experience

No, I have not. I find the quality similar.

I’ve found that the SQ of my red book CDs exceeds that of streaming using the identical recordings for comparison.

One word, compression. Either by the streaming company to save on size when streaming.
Or because they used the compressed later release version of the music they stream, even though it’s the same piece.
The uncompressed harder to find versions always sound better.
Prove it to your self, buy these two and compare
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=Golden+Earring&album=Moontan

Compressed version http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/149610

Original uncompressed version http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/89118

Cheers George

rvpiano

any new gear in 2021 ?

Happy Listening!