Tidal, Deezer

I found Tidal SQ to sound the same as the same local music file, but the SQ is highly dependent on the player software. They all sound different: Roon, Jriver, Audirvana, Twonky, Kazoo. The most live and accurate sound I have found is Linn Kinsky and Minimserver running on a Mac. All freeware. You need a DLNA/UPnP endpoint to take advantage of this. The Raspberry Pi with Digione is a cheap way to try it out, but that is a bit buggy IME. Kinsky does not allow for Tidal streaming though.  You need BubbleUPnP  server and Kazoo control software to do Tidal.  Both of these are also freeware.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

I don't see any benefit to building my own library of music, when I have a much bigger, growing library of music at my fingertips ready to be streamed???

that is fine as long as Tidal stays in business...

Steve N.

Can anyone tell me what the fascination is with "downloading files"?
I guess owning music? Is better than streaming music? I find that by exploring hundreds of artists on the fly and listening is very enjoyable.
I don't see any benefit to building my own library of music, when I have a much bigger, growing library of music at my fingertips ready to be streamed???

FLAC, that's why.  If I could stream native WAV files, then I would be willing to pay for such a service and use it every day.  The other reason is the player software that allows for streaming does not deliver the sound quality as what I'm using, Kinsky.  For me it is all about achieving the maximum sound quality possible.  This is when the music really moves you.

I know, those with lesser systems will attack now claiming that FLAC is the same as WAV.  It is, but only statically.  On-the-fly playback software somehow corrupts this, all of them.  I have yet to find one that does not.  I can plainly hear the difference.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio