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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
clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

@whart 

Agree with all you say.  But

"At the same time, we are still enjoying a hi-fi renaissance in our little corner of the universe- more vinyl, turntables, tonearms, cartridges, etc. than ever."

No.  Not more than ever.  in the 50s 60s 70s everyone had a vinyl player and vinyl.  But certainly the most since CDs got embedded in the late 80s.

It is strange the biggest growth in vinyl sales is in the 20-30 age bracket, who spend their lives glued to their handphones, yet many want to listen via a near 100 year old technology.

dinov's avatar
dinov
845 posts
 

I’m happily acquiring cds either buying or “mining” at record store thrift shops etc.  I rip them to my nas and they sound great, better than playing the cd itself. I’m not sold on the sound quality or reliability of streaming yet. To me, as long as your paying monthly you have the music. When you quit, your done left with nothing. Renting music. I can’t get past this yet. Maybe I will at some point. Until then my library of cds, XRCDs, sacds, and vinyl expands.

dynacohum
652 posts
 

To me, it’s the recording, not the format.  Dynamic, well rendered recordings can be  heard in their glory in 16/44 Redbook CDA, whether streaming or from CD.  Using more data may squeeze a bit more realism out, but mediocre recordings are far more common in general, no matter what the bit rate. One thing I like about Tidal is the opportunity to compare releases of the same album.  Some are far better than others.  Not all Master files are the best ones…

barts's avatar
barts
727 posts
 

I still like CDs and have ~1k.  But the funnest thing about them is looking at the titles and picking one I had forgotten about and the memories, good or bad, of that time.  Nostalgia!

Regards,

barts

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,429 posts
 

@designsfx 

It took me a little over 3k. 

Wifi extender

Ethernet cable

Optical isolation to cleanup ethernet

Linear power supply for streamer

Streamer

USB cale to dac

Dac

Power cords for dac, isolator and linear power supply.

All described in my house of stereo system.

You do not have to spend the high amounts mentioned by many to achieve great sound. My system proves it. But for people who are willing to spend over 20k for a streamer, good for them.

 

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