A question about what "streaming" is


Time to replace the CD player.

Streaming sounds good, but what is it? 
Is it like satellite radio, which means, it's like listening to a radio show (like listening to FM radio)? Or can I play a song I want to hear at any time, more like a database where I can browse and play a song I want to hear?

Thanks.


river251
You can use your MAC to stream and it should sound very good it might sound as good as the Cary. Remember a streamer is a computer within a manufactures cabinet. I have seen $300 computers in 10k streamers.

Your DAC should be the best you can afford it matters most in streaming along with a good USB cord and yes it matters.
When I stream via my Mytek Brooklyn Bridge streamer/dac/preamp, the sound quality is clearly superior to what I get directly via my Windows laptop. Heck, at least 50% of the time, streaming sounds better than what I get from vinyl...at least when I'm streaming from Qobuz or Primephonic.  And ethernet makes things better still.   Right now, I'm truly enjoying some Qobuz-sourced Tony Bennett. 
If you’re new get a free 3 month trial at Amazon. $8/mo after that (for Primers.) Play around on your computer or smart phone. Make some playlists you like.
The problem with Amazon is that they are not available on many streamers besides BluSound.
Qobuz is your best bet (and best sound) but their library is smaller.
All services allow you to download music for when the internet is unavailable. My lp
Downloaded tracks only stop working when your subscription lapses.
You can download your faves and take them with you to BF Egypt.
Don't worry about testimonials about what sounds best, get the hang of it first.
There are many different approaches to streaming. Everyone likes their own brand. Still, it is usually best when you have questions of this nature to seek out the advice of a good urologist.
Not knowing if you have a Uber expensive system or a more basic setup makes answering this difficult. I was in the same place a few years ago. You can buy an audioquest black thumb drive dac used for probably $50.  A red used for probably a little over $100.  Plug this in a usb on your Mac, get a 3.5 to rca splitter from Amazon to run between the out jack of the Audioquest thumbdrive and your preamp or integrated/ receiver and you are good to go. $60 and you have decent quality streaming. Better DACs get better results but if your system doesn’t allow you to hear the difference why spend the money. I started with. Raspberry pi with a hifiberry dac stacked on top- a little complicated for someone without curiosity- and still use it even though in my main system I have purchased a slightly better standalone DAC. GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY.