Is using streaming services worthy of an audiophile?

Here is my take:  If you like more modern music selections, Tidal will be great and there is no reason to prevent you from having a audiophile quality experience, assuming your system is up to snuff.  Most modern recordings in PCM use the full dynamic range of the CD format and have great frequency extension.

On the other hand, if you grew up in the 70's, most of the music you love may be from that era.  I did.   In this case, I have found that hi-res versions of these tracks that are remastered make all the difference.  I usually download them from HDTracks.  Joni Mitchell is a prime example of music that deserves to be hi-res.  Most of it is available 24/192.

I use my network DAC, the Overdrive SX, with Jriver to play all resolutions of PCM files over the network.  I can use any computer with Jriver on it, Mac or PC.  I can do this using wired Ethernet or WIFI with identical quality.  I have made comparisons to my best XMOS USB interface and the network interface yields much better SQ, even though they both use identical circuitry for clocking.

I have made comparisons to DSD and find that my PCM files are just as good, and with classical music, usually better.  There are not enough tracks I like available in DSD anyway.  I also leave everything in .wav format because I have found that AIFF, ALAC, FLAC and other formats compromise the SQ.

Steve N.

Empirical Auido

danvignau - Tidal is essentially CD quality, so it has the typical digital challenges to beating vinyl.  Even redbook can beat vinyl, but it requires the right low-jitter interface and a really good DAC.  A CD transport will usually not cut-it, unless its uber-expensive.

The best digital IME now is over Ethernet/WIFI and coming from a Roon interface or DLNA interface and driven by a computer. This will deliver the lowest jitter and have the least effects from the playback software and computer used.

The thing to understand about all digital playback is that Jitter is the #1 obstacle, followed by the digital filter in the DAC, and then the analog stages, I/V conversion and power delivery system in the DAC.  And this is assuming that you use .wav files, not compressed.

Unfortunately, Tidal uses FLAC and ALAC rather then uncompressed .wav files.  I predict that for most DAC's, the playback sound quality will be slightly lower than for a .wav file played directly from a computer.  They are close however, and in most systems you will not hear the difference.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

I would say that you're in the right forest, but barking up the wrong tree.   I believe that Audiogon members enjoy EQUIPMENT on a much deeper level.

It's true that there are a lot of equipment junkies on all the forums.  I like to get people off that train and into the psychological benefits of music.  Once you achieve sound quality that exceeds vinyl, you forget about the equipment.  It is possible.  I've had several customers sell their vinyl systems, not because they were inconvenient, but because their digital sounded better.

Defiant - If you are after the highest sound quality, the format of your rips should be .wav.  Even uncompressed FLAC has SQ issues.  Tags are an issue, but I put up with that for the better SQ.

The important thing to remember with all digital is that jitter is the #1 thing that will reduce the SQ.  The interface between the computer and the D/A is the critical part, whether its USB, Ethernet or S/PDIF, as well as the master clock in that interface.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

Untreated CDs in untweaked systems are kind of the worst case scenario, inasmuch as they almost ALWAYS sound thin, wiry, bass shy, rolled off, tinny, electronic, lumpy, two dimensional, boring, synthetic, fake, congealed, and a lot like paper mache.

This is why I don't listen to CD's.  I listen to .wav rips of CD's.  The operative word is "almost".  There are very good digital systems now that beat even the best vinyl and sound very much analog.  I'm lucky enough to enjoy one of these.  It's much more difficult to make digital sound like analog than making analog sound like analog.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio