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What am I missing?

When discussing streaming we often hear the quality achieved by streaming compared to "cd quality". "Cd quality" seems often to be the standard by which streaming is favorably compared while cds have at the same widely fallen into disfavor as a medium. If "cd quality" continues to be a quality standard by which we judge streaming services -which it appears to be- why exactly do we hold cds in such disfavor? More sophisticated dacs can always be employed with cd transports as they are with streaming. I understand the convenience and storage issues with cds but I also understand that with streaming you will never own the music which you do with cds. This becomes even more unclear to me when considering the resurgence of vinyl and the storage and convenience issues involved with this medium. I don't believe the music industry ever wanted us to own the music we listen to but rather preferred we only rent and pay for that music each time.

128x128pmiller115
henry53's avatar
henry53
280 posts
 

In my system I still believe CD's sound best, but by an increasingly small margin. However paying $20 a month for essentially unlimited access to music close to, at or above CD quality is a bargain. Access is great, do everything from your tablet, if I didn't own a CD player I now wouldn't buy one. The record companies In my opinion are a necessary evil, we would not have high quality recordings without them and probably very little access to good music. 

styleman
132 posts
 

I’m just about to get into streaming (late bloomer).  I own lots of CD’s and have pretty good equipment and they sound pretty good (except for poorly produced ones).  The advantages I expect from streaming will be (i) increased access to a whole world of music for a small monthly fee with the option to buy what I like, in CD form or otherwise, and (ii) claimed higher resolution that what I experience already.    

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,177 posts
 

Cd quality has not been the standard for several years now ,a disc rotating with wobble is very hard to accurately read .

a quality recording on a SS drive is far more accurate , the dac a is far better implementation.  The key is that it takes quality throughout ,Ethernet cables , Hub usb cables most important the quality of the dac ,and the computer-streamer 

imo around $10-$12k minimum to achieve a pretty respectable digital setup 

which I am nearing that goal , but much more $$ can achieve much better results still, the Denafrips Terminator anniversary  dacs, and Holo spring May KTE dacs are without question best of in class $4600-$7k range  the Bricasti M1SE streamer-Dac has lots of filters and is very good at $12k and a very good buy .that may be on my short list for next year.

 

curtdr
348 posts
 

CDs are still great, as far as I'm concerned. 

I really don't understand the resurgence of vinyl, as I lived w vinyl for many years and was so relieved when CDs came out for many reasons from space issues to easy care to sound quality... I do understand some people claim greater "warmth" from vinyl, and yes it's charming and nostalgic to spin discs and/or a novelty for younger folks who didn't grow up w vinyl-only options.  I still have a Sansui turntable and still spin an LP from time to time, but when I do I'm always reminded why I prefer the simpler, easier compact disc.

curtdr
348 posts
 

and 10-12k for a "respectable" digital system is beyond ridiculous, imo.  

 

 

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