How is online radio so transparent?

Probably the most major factor is that the computer speakers and associated amplification are being asked to produce far less volume than the speakers in your main system. If you were to put the computer system in your main listening space, set up its speakers on stands, and turn up the volume to produce realistic volume levels at your listening position, the sound card would undoubtedly be driven into extreme clipping, and the speakers would most likely be destroyed if your ears could tolerate the distorted sound for more than a few seconds or minutes.

Another factor that helps is that the internet radio may consist of the same heavily compressed audio that is typically sent out over the airwaves. The compressed dynamic range causes you to reduce the volume level, making life easier for the amp and speakers.

And of course the computer speakers don't have any deep bass, which is a major cost driver in a quality system.

Another factor is that the speakers, sound card, and heavily processed source material probably homogenize the sound, making mediocre source material sound more pleasant than it would on a high quality, more revealing system, but sacrificing the ability to make high quality material sound as good as it should.

Best regards,
-- Al

I think when you don't listen to a system critically (imaging, detail, soundstaging, timber, dynamics, inner detail, etc.), you have very low expectation. You just focus on the music itself. I enjoy my car stereo very much while sitting in traffic. I don't think about all the elements that an audiophile is looking for. I guess we all will be happier without listening critically.

I have a $50 Philips stereo clock radio with CD that does not sound bad and does its job just fine. You just have to scale down expectations somewhat to fit the scale of the device, as Al alluded to. Sounds very nice indeed with a pair of decent high efficiency stereo headphones!I saved a lot of money at the time by not splurging for the Bose Waveradio or other touted tabletop radios instead!

I also have an $80 Sangean table top mono radio that is the cats meow for what it is!

03-11-10: Almarg
And of course the computer speakers don't have any deep bass, which is a major cost driver in a quality system.

Another factor is that the speakers, sound card, and heavily processed source material probably homogenize the sound, making mediocre source material sound more pleasant than it would on a high quality, more revealing system, but sacrificing the ability to make high quality material sound as good as it should.

By the way Almarg the speakers aren't computer speakers. They are the Philips mini system speakers and produce some fairly prodigious bass which is what attracted me to this system in the first place. Of course these speakers can't do reference levels, but bass is one of their strong suits.

I listen to jazz on internet radio via PC into a USB DAC on my decent quality secondary rig, and most stations sound mediocre at best. Internet radio becomes unlistenable when listened to on my (very revealing) reference system. I find that I have to listen to stations with a bitrate of at least 192k in order to for the station to sound listenable.

On that note, anynoe listening to jazz stations of good sound quality? What are they?? I listen to KPLU Jazz online via their high speed link and Linas Jazz, a 192K Paris jazz station available via itunes pr winamp.