Where does music come from that streams?

As stated above, Qobuz gets its files directly from the record companies that control the content. Qobuz never gets within a country mile of a master tape - they just take whatever digital files are given to them. There is good evidence that some of their files are actually MP3 quality that has been put in FLAC format (you can test the bit rate in Audirvana and other computer music programs). This is not Qobuz' fault. They came that way from the record company.

I have never seen information about how the record companies come up with the digital files they submit to Qobuz. As far as I know, this part of the process is a black box. I would think that they would generally use the WAV file from the latest version of each title but who knows?

FWIW, I have compared several CDs to their Qobuz counterparts, being careful to use the same version, and they have all sounded identical to me.

It doesn’t matter to me.   I can listen to almost anything and it all sounds just fine or better.  

It originates in Music Heaven.  

@pwerahera:  

Thanks for the suggestion.  I am going to purchase this Gene Ammons LP.  I haven't heard this one.

Also, I have a really nice Pioneer Elite BDP-09 unit that I use exclusively as a CD transport that sounds great.  I use my Aurender unit to stream via Quboz also and I also have a really nice Analog Turntable/Phono Stage. 

Using a CD on my transport directly to my Audio Research DAC 9 compared to the same music steamed from Quboz via my Aurender unit, the CD sounds slightly better.  Interesting.

But, when I play the LP it stills sound better than the CD and streamed music.

Don't get me wrong.  All sound wonderful.  Just saying.  Unfortunately, I'm starting to get lazy and stream more that using the CD transport and the turntable. 

Nope, as I'm writing this, I'm going to get in better shape and get up and play some LPs more. 

enjoy all. 

@tomcy6 -right on, but to expand on that, the record label may own the master but often doesn't not have rights in the musical composition. Those rights, a/k/a "publishing" side, also have to be cleared but there is a compulsory license for that in the US. 

Although folks aren't interested in the mechanical aspects (indeed, in publishing, the right to record a song was called a "mechanical right" for reasons having to do with the history of audio), it's important to recognize the distinction if you are at all interested in how the industry works.