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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 1 response by pindac

pindac's avatar
pindac
2,500 posts
 
I don't Stream music, I do have FLAC Stored Files and a CDT > DAC.
In relation to Digital Sources used in my HiFi System, I only started to seriously consider the media in recent years.

With that as a History I am keen to pick up on experiences and suggestions for the uses of ancillaries and the media source.

With the questions raised over the provenance of the media and the DR.
It does seem there may be a opportunity to have this addressed with a Similar Marketing Model as used by the Vinyl and CD Markets.

Vinyl media has a small selection of Specialised Companies that are producing Pressings that are in general recognised as much improved over the mass produced copies.
 
CD media has the same type of Specialised Companies offering a similar service for the CD as the one that is on offer to Vinyl.

Streamed Media 'could end up' with the same type of offering.
There is no reason why a Streaming Service 'could not invite' a recognised Brand to produce a Steaming Package,  or create their own
Off Shoot Package.
Where the content to be streamed is meeting a criteria that is wanted by the audiophile communities across the globe.
There must be a viable Marketing Model that makes such an option on a service worthy of incorporating into a existing structure of packages of offered services.      
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