CD v Streamed

Part of the fun of vinyl is that it shouldn't work so well.  It's just not possible, it would seem, for vinyl to sound so good.  The stereo 33 1/3 LP concept was sketched out by two engineers on a cocktail napkin.  With those auspicious beginnings, I think it is a testament to the ingenuity of not just manufacturers but also the contributions of hobbyists alike that made the LP what it is.  The same goes for CDs too.  

I see hi end or hifi streaming as still a cottage industry.  I imagine a lot of people have and will continue to make contributions to this technology.  For now, this technology at least for hi end hifi is still very much in development without a lot of clear paths to all of the hardware needed.  I hung onto my previous CD player for 15 years because hi res digital and streaming- at least something beyond iTunes was bewildering.  I spent about 4 months last winter studying and trying to learn and understand hi end streaming technology.  I visited some shops and listened to various digital rigs.  I finally settled on a DAC and Transport that just blew me away with the sound upgrade from my old CD player.  But I had a few setbacks with my attempts at streaming.  Where I am today I have learned a lot and I can look back and think, "Gee, I could almost live without a record player and CD transport with how good my music server and streamer sound today."  (Not that I'm ready to give up my analog rig).

Hi George, this review is for you.  I found an album that rocks on Qobuz. KD Lang's Makeover track 3, Keep on Moving.  It is in 44.1/16 format on Qobuz.  I bought the record.  It came as a 33 1/3 two record set (14 tracks) in an unusual turquoise vinyl.  Keep in mind that my stereo system consists of a digital side with two sources and an analog side- CD transport, RS9 Music Server with ROCK running Roon and a Sota Star/SME/Soundsmith.  For reference only, the investment into the analog side is a few thousand more than the digital side.  So close to even.  I have listened to other records and their digital counterparts but I will focus on this album, Makeover because it has accentuated bass and highs with vocals and also, Keep on Moving really jams.  
In summary, vinyl is king.  The sound is close between both formats but when I played the vinyl I got goosebumps.  That seals the deal right there.
The digital:  Bass is just ever so slightly crisper.  The vinyl:  The highs are sweeter.  Soundstage- I could tell no difference.  Dynamic Range- Seemed the same.
Cool factor:  Goes to the vinyl because watching the grooves spin on that semitransparent vinyl is mind blowing.  Playing music with an iPad is cool too.
Please feel free to come audition my stereo when you are in the mood to come to sunny, hot, sticky, plenty of gnats middle Georgia.  Don't worry the listening room is air conditioned although when the whole system is powered up with 1400 Watts of heat dissipation and 95 degrees outside the A/C is a bit taxed.

If you get sweeter highs from vinyl, more likely than not your digital replay is affected by RFI/EMI or imperfect clocking. Absent those two, distortion levels on vinyl will always be higher and dynamic range lower. Fixes include ethernet filters, USB isolators, better cables or better clocks.