What you hear is correct. CD sounds better, as does watching a Blu-ray movie from Disc compared to streaming the movie in UHD or 4K, there is no comparison due to bandwidth limitations from the streaming companies and of course our internet service. Streaming is convenient and it ends there. CD, Vinyl is the way to go if you want the best sound possible, and I fully know how CD had been put down by the Magazines after 20 years saying their systems reviews using gear were SOTA and their sources were CDs. Streaming is #1 nowadays and that won't change, any physical format lags behind in sales be it music or Video but that does not make them the best source material.
Streamed music sounds awful in my system and I don't know why ....
cd's spun in a transport are so much more satisfying. Streamed content lacks body, bass, and correct timbre.
DAC is the Moon 780 driven by Moon's transport with Audience Front Row loom. Streamed source originates from Windows Media Player platform into the same DAC 780 via CAT 6 cable hardwired into a Spectrum router.
If I wanted to upgrade the streaming experience, where would I start ?
Rest of system -Shindo Giscours pre-amp, VAC Phi 300 amp, Purist speaker cables feeding Wilson Sophia 3's.
Thanks for any guidance.