Downloads Versus Streaming

The SGC/ST like most of this stuff was an incremental bump and got things close enough to MPD that I stayed with Roon.   Roon also opens things up for sprinkling other low cost endpoints around the house like old Sonos zp90s that can be picked up for dirt cheap.   Got those endpoints in the garage and work station.   I do not stream DSD.  I no longer buy downloads due to unpredictable/unknown quality of the source.   I am at a point where I am good with red book,24/96 and  vinyl.

@jbuhl So you've found a way for the Pi to work for you, which was something I was really interested in hearing about, thanks!

@lalitk 

Correct! It is not so much about the resolution but the provenance of that recording's original master. I have heard files in 16bit/44.1lHz that sounds simply amazing. For example, Shirley Horn's "Beautiful Love" or "If You Go" in 16bit/441kHz on Qobuz sounds stunning in my system.

Finally this was mentioned.  Not sure why this doesn't get brought up more in these discussions.  Provenance / mastering is everything, NOT the format or resolution (although there are merits for sure) generally speaking.  Really, its what version is one referencing (the catalog number).

There are 20 versions of say a Beatles, Zep album, whatever.  One, two or three of those versions sound excellent, the rest sound either OK, meh or absolute crap (compressed to hell). 

So when comparing a local file vs. a streamed file, it has to be apples to apples with regard to the version of said song/album.  However this can get tricky, because the streaming services don't usually provide the meta-data.  To make matters even worse, you have no control or are ever aware when the streaming file/album changes e.g. today the album might be "catalog #1 from Capitol" next month they may replace that version with a remaster (different catalog # / label) and could be worse or better.

I have streamed a song/album that sounds better than my local file version and vice versa.

Although I am streaming more (qobuz), my local library is pretty large and that won't be going away anytime soon, if ever.  I still purchase the stuff I like since the artists are getting so royally screwed by the current streaming model.

All that being said, streaming isn't going away and to get the most out of it, requires  planning and good component matching (much of which has been already stated)

You never know what any individual will determine sounds better but the good news is either way should sound very good if done right. 

@lalitk which is the very reason why I look at labels Qobuz and Tidal don’t have the rights to. For example Analogue Productions is releasing their remix/remaster of the Steely Dan catalogue. However, Walter and Donald already did remasters of their releases with David Geffen getting a hand in either their current or future projects and they’re already of the highest quality as you can imagine coming from those two. So the question will come down to which label is preferred. Steely Dan is available via streaming but these Analogue Production remasters will not be. Now should I get caught up in whether the rereleases are 24/96 or if they’re 16/44.1? I’ve been buying PCM and SACD hybrid CD’s for some time and I can say that many of those 16/44.1 have merit based on the quality of the remix alone not to mention the cleaning up process that’s done on them. What I’m suggesting is that younger folks might be inclined to believe that higher bit rate and resolution rules the day and I personally don’t believe that to be the case.