More Detail From a CD?


So I think by most accounts here I'm a pretty entry-level audiophile. I've only gotten serious about my equipment over the last 4 years as budget allowed. But I've finally got a simple system I'll be happy with for a while. I have a Pass Labs XA30.5, a PS Audio Directstream DAC w/bridge, and Tekton Pendragon speakers. I've ripped (AIFF) my entire CD collection to a Drobo NAS and I stream through Tidal. Both of those go through Roon for convenience. But along the way I also picked up an NAD 516BEE CD player that I only used a couple of times before getting the Directstream DAC. I pulled it out the other day and played a few CDs and thought I was hearing more than from ripped or streaming. So I did A/B comparisons and to my ears there was definitely more detail. I really did not expect any difference as "digital is digital" but it was there. Would that be the consensus? I'd say I spent countless hours ripping for nothing but playlists are very convenient.
128x128ratboysr
I don’t think there is a consensus about whether CDs sound better than streaming (more detail). It will vary depending on the individual system. There’s nothing wrong with your CDs sounding better, though. If you get the itch to get your streaming sounding as good as you can, there are threads on that.
Your experience doesn’t surprise me. I’ve had the same experience over and over. CD sounds better than streaming when comparing apples to apples (price, technology level, etc). I’m sure there are exceptions to the rule. Just follow your ears. 


mkgus
Your experience doesn’t surprise me. I’ve had the same experience over and over. CD sounds better than streaming when comparing apples to apples

I agree totally, we have had A/B’s with pro streamers in attendance at our meetings, and the outcome was unanimous for CD replay sounding better.

This "could" be put down to this.
Streaming/download usually has later versions of the same album. (which are more compressed)

EG:
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=The+Traveling+Wilburys&album
(scroll down)

Or the streaming/download process is compressed itself.

Cheers George