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.
CD v Streamed
Uncompressed CD audio will take about 10.6mb per minute to play, to stream that takes big space and dollars to stream an album, see what your streaming company’s takes mb per minute to stream, find out and post up here.
I hear CD’s are better, I get better dynamic range from CD every time it’s A/B to me, now that could be that the streaming companies are using the "later compressed re-issues" of the same albums, you can find that out here https://dr.loudness-war.info/
Or that the streaming process itself compresses the music to save "streaming size" to save big dollars even if in small amounts.
Here’s a video from the CEO of Disc Makers Pty Ltd, yes he probably also biased because he manufacturers CD’s and vinyl, and is a very bad dancer.
https://youtu.be/YHMCTUl2FQo?t=1
Cheers George
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- 99 posts total
- 99 posts total