2. misc-audio
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FM broadcast vs. streaming

What are advantages/disadvantages of FM over-the-air with a good receiver vs. the same content picked up via streaming audio? I know FM broadcast cuts off at 15kHZ and I figure streaming has compression. What's the bottom line on the sound of the one vs. the other?
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Showing 2 responses by nonoise

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,088 posts
 
FM is free.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,088 posts
 
I've listened to both versions of the same broadcast but they're on two different systems: my main rig and my iMac. The FM version has that air and all that I've been used to hearing all my life and it's quite satisfying.

The streaming version sounds a bit more intimate and yet homogenized at the same time. Maybe antiseptic is a better word for it. I know it's apples to oranges due to completely different set ups but when it comes to listening, I always go for the FM. For the short time I had the iMac hooked up to my stereo, it was the same result.

All the best,
Nonoise
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