I think I know what you're getting at. I'm a Qobuz subscriber at the highest level (I think they call it "Sublime") which allows me to purchase hi-res recordings at a really low price. I have bought 15 or 20 just because there are some recordings that I consider to be staples and I like the idea of owning them. Plus, the cost is pretty minimal, certainly cheaper than a cd. I also was curious if there would be a SQ difference. In my experience, if a difference exists it's pretty subtle. I would not make plans to purchase a whole lot of music just for SQ reasons. However, there are some hi-res recordings that Qobuz makes available ONLY for purchase, not for streaming. I have noticed that sometimes when a track or an album says "not available" in my streaming setup that it is available to purchase. And sometimes there may only be a standard-res recording available to stream, but the same title my be available to purchase in high-res. This isn't a common scenario but it does exist. Qobuz streaming is honestly a pretty terrific way to enjoy music.
The difference between Qoboz stream vs purchased songs
I am a admittedly noob, so please forgive my ignorance. Recently, have had the pleasure of getting a Innuos pulse mini, what a game changer! I knew that with the mini you cant buy music, only stream. Using Qoboz, is there’s a difference in sq between the two? I live on a fixed income so I have to be frugal and am trying to figure out where it’s best spent. Thanks so much for any info on this subject.