If Steve Got You Last Week...

High-amp,

My digital source that I’m comparing is red book CDs.
Both CDs and streaming are run through a Benchmark DAC.

I find the Audiolab 6000 CDT is a very capable digital transport for around $600.  It definitely sounds better than same music streamed from Qobuz, IMO.  Of course I never use it, streaming is just too easy.

I don’t have Tidal or Qobuz to compare, I have been thinking about trialling one or the other to do a comparison.
Others on Audiophile style, using a similar setup to myself, report local files generally sounding better than streamed services - even after installing audiophile grade ethernet switch(es).

I am dumbfounded when anyone claims that streaming sounds better than the CD's from which the streams are made.

Well you would look dumb indeed when you found that to be the very case in my home. Because it's true.

Oz