Downloads Versus Streaming

@goofyfoot I'd spend the $3600 you mentioned on streaming setup, amazing sound quality possible and library of music available nearly limitless. The most difficult thing is choosing which components to purchase within your budget.

Funny thing about streaming, budget constraints create more complications, marginal gains can be had with a myriad of add on components, things get simpler  at higher end.  Assuming one has nice dac, the server/streamer is absolutely critical to quality streaming. For off the shelf get something like Antipodes K series, Aurender, or other top of line and be done with it, none of these add on devices needed.

I've played with a number of these add on devices over the years, and while many have positive effects, none will come close to what top line streamer offers. While I've long considered dac most important component in streaming chain, I now consider streamer/server at least equal if not more important than dac.

Even if top line streamer out of budget, entirely satisfying streaming available right now, why wait years to experience quality streaming. Streams equaled my downloads some years ago, this with streaming setups in vicinity of $3600 budget you mentioned.

I decided to listen very closely to two downloaded CDs in WAV files on my Innuos Zenith 3 drive vs the same two streamed from Qobuz. In both cases the streamed version on Qobuz was an HD 192 stream. In both cases the streamed version sounded slightly better. Van Morrison and Nora Jones. The Qobuz streams seemed to have less noise being more relaxed and pure sounding. A tad more enjoyable.

This scenario goes in the other direction slightly favoring my downloads depending on the quality of the particular Qobuz recording.

Investing in a high quality Aphile switch, ENO Muon ethernet filter, and ENO Muon ethernet cables helped make this level of streaming quality possible.

I have a Tron Atlantic Signature dac and Tchernov Ultimate USB cable. I owned the same Wireworld USB the OP uses and it is certainly very good! I did find both the ENO and Tchernov USB cables more to my liking. Both being more meaty and full bodied sounding while maintaining great realism and purity.

I did a test not long ago comparing local FLAC 16/44.1, 24/192, streamed FLAC 16/44.1 and 24/192 and the actual CD and SACD version.  Tested all using an Antipodes K50 with Samsung SSD into a Playback MPS-6 and then played the CD on the MPS-6s tray.

My focus was on detail.  I used Miles Davis So What as the test track and found that CD vs. Local 44.1 was so close it was tough to distinguish but at same resolution I found both CD and local were clearer and more detailed than streamed at same resolution.  

Ultimately, I found resolution trumped format.  192 streamed was superior to 44.1 local or on CD.  DSD on the SACD seemed like the best but it was only a small difference between it and local 192 but both were noticeably better than streamed 192 off Qobuz.  

This is not about which is most enjoyable.  Just focus on detail and clarity.  

I also have Qobuz-->Bryston Pi. I also think spinning a CD on a BOT-1or playing files sound a tiny bit better and I mean tiny. Upgrading to a mesh network and having the Pi connected directly to a node and upgrading my cable reduced the margin even more. But not enough to dump a wad of cash on an upgraded streamer. The last move I made was putting a ROON core on an SGC ST and switching the Pi to an endpoint. Proly sit at this level for a while as it sounds really close to files and my Rega P6/Ania Pro. Nothing matches ROON for library management that I have seen. The Radio Paradise app for sure sounds better on the Pi than Roon and I switch back to Pi/MPD when critically listening to that source but otherwise I am all ROON now.

If my dealer ever gets a MOON Mind 2 in I might consider doing a head to head with the Pi. Or picking up a Used Bryston BDP-3. But the BDP-3 is totally over kill for just tapping a service or Roon Endpoint.

@grannyring & @verdantaudio Thanks for sharing your comparisons. What about a DSD comparison with high resolution files? For me, DSD sounds better than any other format. Good remasters also produce favorable results.

@jbuhl I appreciate hearing from someone else using the Pi. I do admit that Roon has the best cataloguing software I've ever used. But I initially dropped Roon because I was not able to play DSD files through Roon. After which, I realized that MPD sounded exponentially better anyway so I found a work around using playlists and Rigelian. Bryston told me they're planning on releasing an MPD update that will be far better than anything they've ever had. I apologize for not being all that tech savvy, could you please clarify what your referring to when you said;  

'Upgrading to a mesh network and having the Pi connected directly to a node'