Streaming vs Physical Media

It simply depends.

I have a fairly modest digital front end, but actually it sounds pretty good. iFi Zen Stream > Denafrips Aries II via USB. An exterior 4TB hard drive connected directly to the iFi Stream via USB as a streaming server & an Audiolab 6000CDT CD transport > Denafrips Aries II via COAX digital for CD play.

Before I bought the Audiolab 6000CDT, I would say my streaming set-up was better than CD’s with my old Yamaha BluRay/CD player as my transport. Once I installed the Audiolab, my CD’s, once more, have bettered the streaming rig overall, but not by a tremendous amount. But it is better SQ overall.

@deadhead1000

Personally, I just can’t do that. Perhaps my age, and the ‘need’ to have physical media. Dunno.

As example, I have the Jerry Garcia Band live recording from 1990, recorded at Club Front.

I have it on my original double cassette I bought back then (still have it, and a Nakamichi tape deck), have it on CD, and also a rip of the CD on my server, also on Tidal if I want it there….and just bought the 4 1/2 LP box set that was recently released.

If I want to listen to it, I grab the vinyl first, no doubt about it. Then, maybe the CD, Or even the cassette which sounds great still. The only time I stream it is if I’m feeling extremely lazy, or listening on my bedroom system without a TT.. The vinyl is bar none the best choice SQ-wise.

That said, yea, I listen to all formats, and all are important to sound good to me regardless.

@larsman

Yep, as I said, I have it on cassette, CD, ripped files, and now vinyl. The vinyl is incredible. IMO, it is the best overall Jerry recording….ever.

Check Discogs, or perhaps PopMarket

Here is the cover for the box set, the CD and cassette has the same artwork, by John Kahn actually

@ghdprentice 

Nice system.

If you love handling the physical media that is certainly a reason to stick with it. When I want to I have my vinyl… but long since have given up on CDs and files.

Thank you, as is yours. 

I get it. It was only about 3-4 years ago I dragged up my boxed LP’s from the basement, and old Kenwood TT, and rediscovered vinyl for the first time in over 30+ years. I was also heading towards a purely digital domaine prior, but that changed everything for me.

Now, as I get even older, that may flip back again, and I do not close my mind to it. It will always there there as an end solution. But for right now, I fell in love again with my physical media. 

@larsman

Yes, you are correct. It was the Warfield. It is very confusing in the credits on all my media, but is correct on the vinyl box set. Fantastic recording and performance by Jerry. I have a feeling his daughter was responsible for getting it released on vinyl last year.

 You can also find this on video via YouTube. A fun watch/listen.

@yoyoyaya

I picked up my Audiolab 6000CDT transport for under $500 refurbished with a warranty. That is hard to beat for a CD transport that sounds this good.

Heck, I usually spend at least twice that on my cartridges.

And, as I said, the Audiolab made my CD's a tad better SQ-wise than streaming. Right now 😉