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Why stream?

OK, I've been around the low end of the high end for 40 years, but the learning curve for digital audio has been steep. Needing a better DAC, I acquired a Cambridge 851N and started streaming. Yeah, this device is now Tidal-friendly. But Tidal streams at 44.1kHz, while Cambridge plays everything from USB -- Tidal, Spotify, Pandora Radio, iTunes library -- at 96kHz. Last night I used Spotify to find and play obscure old stuff listed on cassette tapes I made from 1975-1989. The sound (better amplification and speakers now, of course) was revelatory. Rather than exposing a thousand flaws, in most cases the Cambridge DAC/USB found unsuspected delights in these old (NON-remastered) recordings.

So, my question is simply: why stream when you get better sound from USB? I know Qobuz does 96, but no way it can match my library, and it can't beat USB from Spotify, which found every selection except one obscurity from De Danann, which I probably mistyped anyhow. 
hickamore
hickamore OP
590 posts
 
Thanks, everyone! Very helpful on all fronts. Yes I am one who can hear (and dislike) compressed formats, yes I am of the over-60 generation, and yes I will compare Qobuz -- maybe today or tomorrow as time allows.

Now, as for discovering new music: that's why I use FM radio and Pandora algorithms. (Famous example:  Fountains of Wayne "station" leads to Keane to Guster to Shins to Boy & Bear/War on Drugs/Wiretree). The algorithms can deduce my tastes, whereas I find Tidal's and Spotify's suggestions rather random (and, for Tidal, highly hip-hop biased).
geof3
1,126 posts
 
If you use the premium service of the big boys, Pandora, Spotify, quality for simply listening while doing other things is fine. By far, Spotify will give you the most control and variation in your music with song stations, artist stations, playlists, etc. Pandora is decent in this category. Qobuz is definitely tops in quality for critical listening, but even that can be limited depending on how you stream (iPhone, direct, streamer etc.) and I agree Tidal is definitely Hip-Hop oriented, but that would be expected given it is Jay-Z's baby (mostly). As competition increases so will services/quality. Streaming is here to stay though, and is a great way to easily access gobs of music that wouldn't necessarily be available otherwise.
hickamore OP
590 posts
 
Very helpful. Thanks to above explanations I'm getting my bearings in this new (to me) world of streaming. All digital sources are played through the streamer/DAC with balanced XLR output to preamp, and all streaming is for critical listening except when streaming FM radio because analog signal is down. Like this morning.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,104 posts
 
One more thing, also compare the streaming over WiFi vs wired connection to your Cambridge Streamer / DAC. Many here, including myself found hard wired connection sounded more dynamic and cleaner.  
mike_in_nc
1,125 posts
 
Most DACs sound a bit different through their difference inputs, and streaming DACs are no exception. Which input will sound better depends not only on the DAC design, but also on the component feeding the DAC and, some say, the cables. So it would not be wise to decide what system structure is superior in general, based on one DAC in one system.
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