Downloads Versus Streaming

"I had made the assumption that 24/ 96 files would sound much better than 24/44.1 files but this was not the case."

@goofyfoot 

Correct! It is not so much about the resolution but the provenance of that recording's original master. I have heard files in 16bit/44.1lHz that sounds simply amazing. For example, Shirley Horn's "Beautiful Love" or "If You Go" in 16bit/441kHz on Qobuz sounds stunning in my system. 

You can take look at my "Digital" system (under my username) to see the steps I've taken to ensure optimal streaming quality vs downloads. The devils is in the details :-) 

@lalitk I come to find out also that many titles, even on major labels, are being hyper compressed. That would certainly negate any benefit from higher resolutions.

I had read the same

“I come to find out also that many titles, even on major labels, are being hyper compressed. ”

@goofyfoot

Why do I get the feeling that you have already conceded to the notion that downloads will always sound superior to streaming :-)

I feel like we are on two different islands! 

@lalitk I don't know why you think that, the same level of compression happens on CD's and I'm guessing can occur with downloads, so my comment wouldn't indicate siding with one format or another. Compression is very real and often abused. So I'm just pointing out another possibility as to why one recording may be difficult to listen to and why another sounds great, even if it's from the same tape master.