Did you notice....


That even great quality streamer streaming great hi-rez digital format cannot outperform cheap CD-player playing red-book CD or it's only my 'illusion'?

czarivey

So CDs are limited to a certain sound quality whereas streaming is not so limited. Pretty easy to hear which is better dollar for dollar, bit per bit.

My streamer sounds much better than my Audiolab 6000 CDT

And while that's not a great transport, it's many steps better than a cheap CD player

Easy SQ choice for me, add on the convenience of streaming and the music catalogs on Tidal and Qobuz, I'm only too happy to pay the monthly subscription

Are you comparing the exact same cd ripped properly to cd resolution with the original CD? With same DAC? That’s the apples/apples test. If you are comparing music on a streaming service to actual CDs there are many reasons it may sound different. For one thing, Streaming services tend to lean towards newer remastered releases that may not be the same as older CDs. Lots of other processing can come into play that results in a different sound. There is nothing inherently wrong with streaming technology if that is what is being inferred. Rather, streaming sound quality can vary widely for many reasons. Whereas CDs are CDs. Either done right/well should sound top notch.

A good dedicated ac destroys a wobbling disc 

thsts why I got away from discs ,streaming at its best starts with a verygood dac

likethe Denafrips terminator2 or ter+  night and day better in every respect from several dedicated linear power supplies, over-controlled clocks , R2R dacs great buffers and regulators , many times better  on many levels ,yes itwill cost you$7-8 k

by the time you buy goodethernet cables and usb cables , and a pretty. Good 

Ethernet isolation hub like the uptone audio ether regen . Once you use Roon to organize your library ,and use QObuz for your library ,building and running through a tablet ,no turning back ,a ton less hassle,well worth the added cost.

@anotherbob 

To my knowledge, the 'certain sound quality' of an original CD is red book conform. Red book covers 'everything' a human being can hear.

I notice that a well mastered/recorded CD sounds very, very good to my ears using my Myryad MXC 6000, analog into the Vincent SV500 amp.

So, from my side: Yes to the OP's question

I am 61 and my hearing is 'standard quality' for this age. Younger chaps might hear better.

Best regards, eagledriver