The problem with streaming


As I sit here listening to America Includes: "A Horse With No Name", I realized the problem with streaming. Who knows what source material you're getting with streaming? The album I'm listening to is a Warners Brothers green label. Sonics are absolutely incredible! The band sounds like they're in the room! 

Navigating the pressings to find the best one can be challenging but that's part of the fun of the hobby. I doubt the same care is taken when generating streaming recordings. You're stuck with what they use, thus missing the incredible texture of the best recordings.

Of course, great care must be taken to set up the turntable and match all components downstream. I find the effort to be well worth it! There's just no substitute for great analog!

128x128vuch

@big_greg, I didn’t say that it is easy. Obviously, you know quite the contrary! But as @jerryg123 said, good vinyl, given everything else set up well, "sounds way better through my system as do CDs."

@dadork said he’s getting great hi res. I don’t doubt that. However, you’re still at the mercy of whatever source they used to record it to digital. You just can’t be sure and that’s the point I was making.

@vuch I understand the point you were trying to make and offered a counterpoint. I have over 2,000 records and vinyl is my main source. You can flip your next to last sentence around and say the same thing about vinyl. Especially newer pressings, which are often made from digital masters on inferior vinyl that’s very noisy, warped, etc.

And then there’s trying to find that "perfect" copy. You could buy an old scratched "super nuclear stamper" from someone for hundreds of dollars. You could buy multiple copies of the same record and do your own shootout (which I’ve done a couple of times - very frustrating). You could search the Steve Hoffman forums to find out which is the "grail" version of a certain recording and then pay hundreds of dollars for it on Discogs. Or tap a couple of buttons on your phone or tablet and hear a very good sounding copy of that same recording for a fraction of the cost and get instant gratification.

I have a pretty nice vinyl setup and a lot of times it’s magic but there are just as many times when the streaming (which is also "set up well") is equally amazing.

It’s not a binary equation, both analog and digital have their strengths and weaknesses. Those weaknesses include poor sound quality from either format if they are not well made.

@big_greg I agree Vinyl and CD are my first choice and as I listen streaming Myslivecek Violin Concerto in C. I smile thinking my streamer and DAC are wonderful too.

Cheers.

I have a pretty nice vinyl setup and a lot of times it’s magic but there are just as many times when the streaming (which is also "set up well") is equally amazing

As stated by the OP, version/mastering is still an issue with streaming just as it always has been with analog.

Many people who's opinion I respect (Herb Reichert for one) swear by 78s... of all things!

I say To Each His Own...