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CD Quality Versus Streaming Quality

I realize this will be a contentious subject, and far be it from me to challenge any of the many expert opinions on this forum, but if I may offer my feedback vis-a-vis what I am hearing, and gain some knowledge in the process.

i will begin saying that my digital front end setup is not state of the art, but i have had the good fortune to listen to a number of really high-end systems. I guess the number one deficit in my digital front end is a streamer server, and no question about it that will improve the sound.

My CD player is a universal player; Pioneer BDP-09fd. It uses Wolfson DACs. It has been modified to a degree. I have bought and sold other players, but kept this one, because it has a beautiful sound that serves the music well.

Recently, i ventured over to my son’s place and we hooked up my player (he doesn’t have one and rely’s on streaming only) We compared tracks / albums of CD quality and master quality streamed on Tidal with ‘redbook’ CDs I have. For example, some Lee Ritenaur CDs and some Indian classical and the wonderful Mozart and Chopin.
His system is highly resolving.

we were both very surprised to find the CDs played on the player to be the better sound. And not just by a little. The sound was clearly superior, with higher resolution and definition, spatial ques, much better and clearer imaging. Very surprising indeed. Shouldn’t there be no difference? This would suggest the streaming service is throttling the bandwidth or compressing the signal?

i am most interested to hear others’ observations, and suggestions as to why this might be? I do love the convenience aspect of streaming, but it IS expensive for a chap like me of fairly modest means. The Tidal HiFi topline service is $30 per month I believe, something the good lady is not too thrilled about. God forbid I should suggest Roon on top of that I may likely get my walking papers. I jest, but only partially LoL. My point is, if I pay this sort of money, isn’t it fair to expect sound to equal the digital stream from the CD player and silver disc?
Thoughts?

AK





4afsanakhan
larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,009 posts
 
I like the library Tidal offers using a streamer.  They have a lot of hi res quality.  I always thought 24 bit is better than 16 bit.

It would cost a fortune to buy CD’s verses Tidal’s library.  It is also nice to select artists and songs while relaxing rather than having to get up to change a CD.  Perhaps the convenience is what is causing people to switch.  I would also be curious to know if you did a blind test if you could hear the difference.
label19
36 posts
 
Primephonic shoots itself in the foot by limiting the devices it can stream to.  There's not a lot of point to streaming hi-res to a phone or even a desktop computer.

lobinero's avatar
lobinero
76 posts
 
Im not going to get to tech with my opinion , my current setup consist of a Marantz 6004 CD hook up to an Audio Ilussion M3A, Belles Virtuoso dual mono amp and Vandys 2 SigE. After researching, I recently went streaming with a Bluesound Node 2I. My interconects are Peanut BJ between the CD and AQ Red Rivers between the BS and the power amp. My vinyl setup is a LP12 modestly upgraded with a Lingo 3.
Upon A/B/C comparing, I definitely feel streaming is superior to  my CD setup. I used the standard Quboz which they claim is cd quality. There is a significant upgrade in the DAC and interconnect with the streaming route. Its covenience to explore so many artists is limitless, although not all titles per artists are incuded. As compared to vinyl, records have that sweet SQ and wider sound stage. Streaming and cd has a somehow restraining wall that you don't allow you to enjoy beyond. However, I find streaming so pleasing second best and without having to switch sides every 20 minutes extremely convinient , that Im streaming now 90% of the time. It also save you on buying unheard vinyl that you might not like down the road.
I have not gone the Quboz expensive route yet, but who knows? I wonder if there is a significant and justifiable SQ improvement.
Know I would say to fully enjoy Streaming, a good Dac and interconnects are essential to get the best of it. 
And that's my .02
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 





Streaming will eventually be better.


Umm maybe, but not when there’s millions of $$$ to be saved by the streaming/downloading companies saving on space by using the more compressed and easier for them to obtain later versions.

The only way I see them going to the trouble of finding and paying for the earlier uncompressed versions then streaming/downloading them uncompressed to you also,
is for them to "SHOW WHAT VERSION YOUR GETTING"
so you can check it here that your getting the early uncompressed ones, and for them to be committed audiophiles also.
https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=Traveling+Wilburys&album=Traveling+Wilburys
and like these
https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=Bruce+Springsteen&album=Born+To+Run

This is very possible if this streaming/downloading compression thing grows too big and if the Dynamic Range website has corruptible $$$$ owners, I can see the streaming companies taking them over.
They are apparently a bunch of muso’s that started it, I believe that Springsteen or Neil Young or similar was one of them that funded it

There are people that are attacking it because they don’t like it.
"Someone tried to vandalise the database by deleting about 76k entries. I restored those entries and ..."

Cheers George
mastering92
870 posts
 
If you can tell the difference between 320kbps and 1411kbps (data information rate) then you are a true audiophile.
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