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Which Has Best Sound Quality -- CD vs. Tidal vs. FLAC Uploaded From Burned CD

I will start the discussion noting my experience using Roon and Tidal, which enabled a direct A/B comparison between my FLAC library which I transferred from my CDs and Tidal.  It was easy to A/B compare because in many instances I uploaded the same album in FLAC that Tidal had in their general mainframe for our listening pleasure.

As an example, I listened to both versions of the Ratatat album LP3.  I found my FLAC version superior to the Tidal version based on being crisper, more refined and less bloated in the bass.  The Roon software clearly identified that I was playing the same album from the two different sources.

I have not compared the CD, as this would require adding a CD player.  What has been your experiences in this area?





 
hayw
hayw OP
13 posts
 
Cary Audio 200ts -- quite nice with a tube option. 

Since I was using the same DAC for both my uploaded FLAC versions of various albums and the same albums that loaded directly from the Tidal server, I think this eliminates the DAC as the variable which might explain the difference in sound quality.  It is interesting that with the Tidal 19.99 a month expense, one is supposedly getting the same CD quality as one of my CDs transferred to uncompressed, lossless FLAC.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,438 posts
 
Gear dependent so the question is really not answerable.  System by system variance is a reality here. 
hayw OP
13 posts
 
Just because there is system by system variance, does not mean that taking a poll on this issue would not have any validity.  It is very simple, using all your components exactly the same way, a/b compare Tidal CD quality versus your own uploaded CD of the same album.  You may say Tidal sounds better or you may say your own uploaded CD sounds better.  It would be interesting to know the results.  
djones51
4,947 posts
 
To me CD and Tidal are very close don't  know  if I  could  tell in a blind test. My ripped CD's  to WAV don't  sound quite  as  good.  All go through the same DAC. 
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,438 posts
 
Sure , you can take a poll, but how will this help you specifically? If streaming Tidal is most important to you, then get gear known for and built to assure streaming sounds best. If you will do more ripping and listening from stored cd files, then buy to maximize this option. I am suggesting this may be the better question and route.

In my reference rig I have had front ends that make the burned CD sound better. I have also had front end gear that makes Tidal sound just as goods and even a tad better. Depends on the front end gear.
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