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CD Quality Versus Streaming Quality

I realize this will be a contentious subject, and far be it from me to challenge any of the many expert opinions on this forum, but if I may offer my feedback vis-a-vis what I am hearing, and gain some knowledge in the process.

i will begin saying that my digital front end setup is not state of the art, but i have had the good fortune to listen to a number of really high-end systems. I guess the number one deficit in my digital front end is a streamer server, and no question about it that will improve the sound.

My CD player is a universal player; Pioneer BDP-09fd. It uses Wolfson DACs. It has been modified to a degree. I have bought and sold other players, but kept this one, because it has a beautiful sound that serves the music well.

Recently, i ventured over to my son’s place and we hooked up my player (he doesn’t have one and rely’s on streaming only) We compared tracks / albums of CD quality and master quality streamed on Tidal with ‘redbook’ CDs I have. For example, some Lee Ritenaur CDs and some Indian classical and the wonderful Mozart and Chopin.
His system is highly resolving.

we were both very surprised to find the CDs played on the player to be the better sound. And not just by a little. The sound was clearly superior, with higher resolution and definition, spatial ques, much better and clearer imaging. Very surprising indeed. Shouldn’t there be no difference? This would suggest the streaming service is throttling the bandwidth or compressing the signal?

i am most interested to hear others’ observations, and suggestions as to why this might be? I do love the convenience aspect of streaming, but it IS expensive for a chap like me of fairly modest means. The Tidal HiFi topline service is $30 per month I believe, something the good lady is not too thrilled about. God forbid I should suggest Roon on top of that I may likely get my walking papers. I jest, but only partially LoL. My point is, if I pay this sort of money, isn’t it fair to expect sound to equal the digital stream from the CD player and silver disc?
Thoughts?

AK





4afsanakhan

Showing 2 responses by arcticdeth

arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
CD player all day every day. 
 A nice CD player, descent cables, 
and the toughest is the recording, some CDs are horrible, some sound flawless, that is the factor.
it don’t matter the CD player, cables, amp, speakers, a bad recording will sound bad regardless of quality of components. 

arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
@georgehifi. 

   Worst ones I have heard are the scorpions releases from about  maybe 6 years ago....,...I think...?..
bought the Japan release ones, wow, even bought the standard releases of maybe they would be better.
if your familiar with those, they have so much treble, I mean, it’s extreme cymbals, the highs are so on top of everything , I managed through the first song, and have them stacked in a cabinet, to maybe sell some day. Even with my super warm Energy RC-70s’, the treble is so in my face, it’s painful. 
 Broke out my first or 2nd Mercury presses. So much better. 


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