Is there a difference in sound quality when streaming TIDAL Vs CD player


I hard wired my modem located in my family room using Cad6 cable to my Apple TV and direct wired my Apple TV to my ARCAM AVR550.  I have an OPPO 203 connected by both an RCA cable and by HDMI to my ARCAM.  

The dealer I purchased my ARCAM from told me to play my CD’s through my RCA connection and to watch DVD’s through HDMI.  If I listen to CD’s through the RCA, aren’t I using the DAC on the OPPO player rather than the DAC on my ARCAM and wouldn’t the DAC on my ARCAM be a better DAC.  My friend told me I should use a digital cable rather than an RCA to improve sound quality to utilize the DAC on my ARCAM?  If this is the case, wouldn’t the HDMI be the same as by using a specific digital cable?  I listened to my CD’s through the RCA Vs the RCA cable and I thought it sounded better through my HDMI cable.

i will be looking forward to your responses.

Thank you,
128x128larry5729

Showing 5 responses by junzhang10

Since I have Tidal. I rarely touch my CD. Sound quality are the same. Now all CD are ripped to digital files and play with my Oppo 205. MQA definitely sounds better then 44.1k/16bit. Now I use Qobuz, HiRes music 96k/24bit sounds better than MQA. I also have over 2000 album of SACD. DSD64 sounds equal or better than 96k/24bit. Don't get me wrong, the music on CD sounds are very good indeed. But with Tidal and Qobuz, you own the music library which will cost you millions to collect. I still buy and collect CDs I like. 
When you stream Tidal, you have to choose setting to fixed or variable signal and computer decode or DAC direct. I would do fixed and external DAC decode (assume you have a good DAC and pre-amp). I like Oppo 105D Tidal app. It allows me to browse Tidal using iPad. skip cable. Also I like direct link of internet and no Wifi. Oppo 205 delete the Tidal app so i have to add a PC to stream Tidal. Less is always better to improve SQ.
Of course you can tell the difference. I used Tidal MQA and compare it to CD as well as Tidal lossless 44.1k/16bit. 
Tidal MQA (192k, 96k, 88.2k/24bit)>Tidal 44.1k/16=CD
Now I am listening to Qobuz studio 192k/24bit, 96k/24bit. I can tell you

Qobuz 192k/24 >> 44k/16bit.

Qubuz is not cheap (25USD/month) though.


Don't rule out Qobuz if you talk about stream. You should try Qobuz studio 192khz/24 bit. Compare to CD, it is day and night. Try it yourself.
I can hardly tell difference between CD and Tidal. I am now subscribe Qobuz Studio (a lot 192kHz/24bit and 96kHz/24bit), I am quite satisfied.