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CD or Streaming... am I missing out?

I listen to CD in my headphone office system. Use a Theta Compli transport and a very nice and pricey tube 16/44 DAC. Have thought about a streaming capability and all its benefits but am both limited by SPDF and by 16/44 only. I also love the analog sound of my tube DAC. Does streaming sound far surpass CD? Am I missing out?
mglik
arafiq's avatar
arafiq
1,661 posts
 
If someone can purchase a Jay's Audio CD MK3 unit and ship it to me, I promise to compare it to my streaming setup and post my impressions asap.
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airmanmike54
14 posts
 
I enjoy streaming due to the simplicity. I have a Simaudio 680D Focal Kanta 3 floor speakers and Anthem Str Integrated amp. I use both Qobux and Tidal. A song I like might sound better on one service than the other. Vinyl sounds great CD can be really good too. Nothing wrong with using them all.
vanson1
126 posts
 
Time to step back. 

A CD is a digital file limited to 44khz.

A streamer is a digital file and is at least 44khz or greater 

Streamers have thousands of tracks and one month subscription is the price of one CD.

The most determining sound quality factor is the DAC just like in a CD player. 

No brainer!

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cleeds
5,943 posts
 
vanson1
A streamer is a digital file and is at least 44khz or greater ... The most determining sound quality factor is the DAC just like in a CD player
This is completely mistaken. There are many streams of lesser quality than 44.1.

When playing a digital track - regardless of whether it’s from CD, NAS or a stream - the biggest "determining sound quality factor" is the quality of the file itself, imo.
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