I'm with George. It's not CD vs Streaming. It is all about the mix and remix. Even many original mixes back from the day, analog, are compromised. Jazz records mixed poorly with the incredible frontline horn performances one way and the rhythm lumped in the mix (Hubbard Hub Tones) or mismatched levels between horns (Miles' Cookin') or gorgeous mic'ing and DR on a horn and rhythm combo but the combo mixed off and away (Shepp Ballades). I have a midfi system, and yesterday was streaming John Hartford's Gentle on My Mind album (Qobuz HR),sounded good, followed by Steely Dan Pretzel Logic, and had to turn The Dan off after a few songs. I don't have the CD or LP, so no idea what version this was....but had heard it recently streamed at a neighbors....his was from a certain remaster I thought sounded great. Yes, not apples to apples. Now there is Tull's This Was album. Streamed Qobuz a/b through two sets of speakers I have hooked to same system (bluesound node 2) same amp same room. The very high end speakers can't handle it...or should I say handle it all too well and I find the DR compression annoying at the high end. The lesser speakers sound really good, most likely missing the detailing. Put on the Shepp Ballads same comparison, high end speakers are fantastic, every single reed articulation and breath. I have not looked up any of these. I don't know the provenance of any of it. But all of us have been coping with the DR compression or mixing tricks back in the day for years. You could hear it way back in Dinah Washington compilation LPs or whatever. Our choice was the same then as now. I want the convenience of all those Dinah numbers on a double LP set, or I want to find the 45 or original 33.3 and listen to that. Same with streaming now. I want the convenience of hearing Pretzel Logic and I either let the tunes play on or close it down because the SQ is not as clean or vibrant as some other mix/manufacture of the same. It is not about the gear. It is about the manufacturing/mixing at all these turns. LP CD 8-track, cassette, stream etc. Yes, we might be able to have our cake and eat it too if we could easily choose versions from Streamers. Then you can pick a Charlie Parker digital remaster. Or a good A-D capture from a 78. Or one of a dozen various mixes. What suits your ears. The info would make it easy. As it is now, all you have is your ears to discern it. Which maybe is how it should be. I can barely listen to All Things Must Pass because I have some lousy CD issue, one of many failed remixes. But I do sometimes, because it is not always about the Sonics. If only I had the time to and energy to seek out the better version. I would pay for a streamer who does that for me.
