The problem with streaming

@sns, we definitely can all get along. When I said "The problem with streaming" it wasn’t meant as a putdown.

I’m sure you’re aware that there can be a huge difference in sound quality between pressings of albums since you have a very nice collection. The better your system, the more dramatic the difference in sonics between those pressings. You can probably tell the difference between vinyl and CD of the same release. If you have the best vinyl pressing of a particular release, I’m sure you know that it kills your CD version if your analog rig is set up perfectly. We spend a good deal of money on our systems, room set-ups, treatments, etc.

Because of all these factors, it is very important to me to listen to the best available source material regarding vinyl. A great pressing maximizes the potential of our components. The couple of hours I spend listening each time, hearing great sonics of releases that I love make for an amazing listening session.

All I was saying about streaming, is there’s really no way that you can be sure you’re hearing the best version because in most cases you don’t know the source material that was converted to digital.

We all have different details that matter to us when listening to music and that’s cool. It’s nice to live in the first world where there are multiple source options that best fit our preferences.

@sns, lighten up! We are only talking about audio here. There is absolutely nothing serious about it. The Russians are marching into Ukraine and threatening the rest of us with nuclear arms. They are killing people including their own. 

I said nothing about streaming sounding worse, I just hate the drop outs and I really do not mind flipping records or zooming through my computer's library. Another problem is that 90% of new popular music is, to my ears crap. Streaming is for lazy people. It is a godsend to people who have lost their vision, just ask Siri. Last I checked, the democrats have not labeled streaming a threat to the environment or inherently racist. You are free to do whatever you like, for the time being.

@vuch With Roon you do get the provenance of recordings, and then you have multiple versions of many many recordings to choose from. And finally, we always have our ears in order to determine quality of each version. While my vinyl setup no longer resolves at same high level as my streaming, there was a time when they were essentially on level playing field. There were times when my vinyl beat digital versions and vice versa. Advantage for streaming in long run is constant releasing of new remasters, while not always preferable to original mastering, they are often enough to make new version preferable. I often see these remasters on vinyl with ever increasing cost, how many times do I have to buy Beatles Abbey Road or whatever recording? I may have to end up spending thousands to get the best release with vinyl.

I lived in the golden age of vinyl, days when you could go to record shows and find all kinds of obscure releases for less than $20, many times far less. Nowadays, it seems everyone knows the value of vinyl, very expensive pursuit these days, the common guy can no longer play this game.

@mijostyn Now I see streaming is political issue for you. How that became so I can't fathom, really takes a conspiracy minded person to come up with that.

As for dropouts there should be absolutely no issues here with optimized wired network. Nearly all complaints about streaming sound quality related to poor network utilization. Get network in order with high quality dac and server and you have the beginnings of good streaming sq.

And actually, optimizing a streaming setup has far exceeded the complexity of setting up quality vinyl setup. It has reinvigorated my interest in the equipment side of audio, haven't felt this enthused in many years. Based on what I'm hearing I may be to end of pursuing streaming setup, now planning my vinyl side improvements.

@sns , I think you missed the point. Streaming is a total non-issue for me. My opinion is, for a healthy person it is the lazy way out. Just turn it on and forget about it. You do not have to create playlists of songs you actually like, or flip records not to mention clean them. Just turn it on and forget about it. It is what I do in my office for background music. But, for serious listening? I think you need to go out and get yourself a juke box, a Wurlitzer with all the colored lights. You can get stoned and watch the lights flash while you listen to scratchy old 45s. 

Where is millercarbon,  interested in his take on this subject.