CD v Streamed

A streaming service streams the file you request. (As an aside note that compression of a file and compression of music in the mastering stage are two completely different things).On Qobuz you may have an option of a CD quality file or a higher quality file. The resulting file is streamed at the bit-rate of the file. There is no ’downgrading’ in Qobuz, there is no point as the streaming costs are so small.  If you are experiencing different dynamics that is down to the master used, not the streaming rate of the file. Compression of a file will not compress the music.  These compressions, as noted, are completely different things.   Here’s the explanation from Qobuz re bit rate. 


“The Bitrate, the flow of binary data, expresses the speed of information per second. It is measured in bits per second and is calculated fairly easily. For CDs: 44,100 samples per second, each one sampled over 16 bits, everything over two channels (left-right stereo). We therefore get a bitrate equal to 44,100 x 16 x 2 = 1,411,200 bits per second: the bitrate of a CD is equal to 1.411 Mb/s.
In the case of streaming, the size and therefore the quality of the files should be chosen depending on the bitrate of internet available. With a theoretical maximum bitrate of 13 Mb/s, an ADSL is adequate for CD quality streaming (at 1.411 Mb/s). For Hi-Res sound streaming at a bitrate of 9.2 Mb/s, it is clear that you can quickly reach the ADSL limit. A fiber connection would therefore be preferable. For smartphone streaming, most platforms offer an MP3 format with a maximum bitrate of 320 Kb/s.”

If you are experiencing different dynamics that is down to the master used

We've been saying that all along also, as they usually use the later versions/re-issues of albums which are normally more compressed than the originals.

But what we want from different streaming companies, is a 1min live streaming size in mb, to see how it compares to CD's 10.6mb for 1min

Cheers George 

@duckworp, 
I appreciate your comments.  In fairness, George has been quite consistent in pointing out that the fundamental issue is streaming providers opting to stream the more compressed "mastered"  versions of recordings. 

Simply correcting this pattern and offering instead the lower compression (Usually the earlier versions)  recordings would result in a noticeable improvement of the streamed sound quality. This could be implemented easily. 
Charles 

Psyop

 so, do you feel a need to “re-educate” people that they shouldn’t be enjoying playback that you subjectively view as inferior?  Let’s keep in mind that we are not talking about something like the difference between mp3 and lossless here. We are essentially comparing relatively small variances in lossless playback

It’s complicated. My experience with regards to digital is downloaded hi res files are tops followed by CD.  FLAC files from CDs on my server SSD are pretty much indistinguishable from CD.  I have a very good CD transport and DAC.  I use Qobuz. Streaming 44.1,16 bit is not even close to CD or FLAC.  24 bit files on Qobuz sound as good as CD, sometimes slightly better.  I enjoy streaming Qobuz for quantity although quality is oftentimes on par if in hi res.  I downloaded a hi res file last week that was recorded at 11.5MHz it said.  It is very good.  The cymbals were like liquid.  The highs were the closest to vinyl that I have heard yet.