The problem with streaming


As I sit here listening to America Includes: "A Horse With No Name", I realized the problem with streaming. Who knows what source material you're getting with streaming? The album I'm listening to is a Warners Brothers green label. Sonics are absolutely incredible! The band sounds like they're in the room! 

Navigating the pressings to find the best one can be challenging but that's part of the fun of the hobby. I doubt the same care is taken when generating streaming recordings. You're stuck with what they use, thus missing the incredible texture of the best recordings.

Of course, great care must be taken to set up the turntable and match all components downstream. I find the effort to be well worth it! There's just no substitute for great analog!

128x128vuch

Showing 1 response by duckworp

Streaming includes streaming your ripped CDs.  CDs vary by mastering in a similar way to vinyl.  The pressing is less important with CD but the mastering is massively significant.  Just like the OP hunts out the best vinyl master and pressing, the CD buyer/streamer hunts out the best master.  Hence the crazy prices for many Japanese and early CD mastering, before compression ruled the roost.  On Roon I will have upto 7 versions of an album to stream, all sounding different as all taken from different masters.