Downloads Versus Streaming


Hi Again,

I’ve been streaming Qobuz through my Bryston Pi to my Ayre QB9 Twenty. Despite being told that streaming quality is every bit as good sounding as my local library on an external SSD, my ears tell me otherwise. Even at higher bit rates and resolutions. Yes, a better streamer and/or tweaks and upgrades would have effective results, at this stage I believe I’m better off with downloads. I’m just wondering what you folks out there have experienced regarding this matter and what you’ve done to make improvements.

128x128goofyfoot

I do not believe there is any compression at all from Qubuz or Tidal for that matter. By todays standards the bitstream for music is minuscule. My streamer worked seamlessly while I can’t refresh my   News page on my iPad. Since high Rez from my streamer matches or exceeds CD and vinyl on my system it makes me pretty confident in believing this.

Local tracks usually sound slightly better than streaming. Not a big deal. I have acquired < 40K curated without downloading except for a few freebies.

I agree with @ghdprentice on zero compression from Qobuz or Tidal. The differences one hears between recordings stored on hard drive and the one being streamed is possibly from having a different analog master. There are plenty of recordings that sounds stupendously sublime on Qobuz. Just like Vinyl, there is some care involved in setting up a digital streaming system. Once you do, you’re in for a treat! 

Is it worth it though to spend say, $3,600 on a streamer rather than buying CD’s and downloads? The thing about digital components is that we are in a digital renaissance and the streamer of today, will be half the cost ten years from now while newer technologies become the new standard. I bought my first DAC in 2011 when DAC’s were hardly heard of, now it seems like every company makes a DAC or streamer. And, Qobuz doesn’t offer DSD or boutique remasters like Analogue Productions, MOFI, etc... A lot of approaches going in different directions, if that makes sense.

@goofyfoot , I think you can get a very good streamer for less than $2K. Some vendors sell streamers that you can upgrade with cards you can swap out like PC board if you are worried about future proofing:

https://nadelectronics.com/product/c-658-bluos-streaming-dac/