Streaming Services

Qobuz.

+1 @ghdprentice Qobuz and a good streamer and DAC.  Using your MacBook is musical poison. 

I agree.  the computer isn't a streamer and worse at DACing.

+1

The streamer and DAC need to equal your other high end equipment.

You have the CJ DAC already. Check out the Arcam ST60 or the Mcintosh MS500.

If your DAC accepts usb, then you can use a computer and get decent results. It helps to use a program such as Audirvana. This basically tries to inactivate the parts of your computer that don’t involve sound reproduction and can introduce noise. It also provides a graphical interface so that you can more easily find your music. One disadvantage is that you shouldn’t use your computer for anything else while playing music. Qobuz works well with Audirvana, not sure about the other streaming services.

Having said all that, I would get a dedicated streamer. It’s much easier and probably will sound better. You will probably be able to use more options than usb.

I have tried a few different ones and have settled on the Cambridge Audio CXN 60. It comes with a decent DAC, which you won’t need, but can natively stream Qobuz and Tidal. If you want to use Amazon or Apple it offers both Chromecast and Apple AirPlay, which allows you stream from a mobile device (Chromecast is really excellent but you need an Android mobile device, AirPlay is at least close to CD resolution for Apple devices). The CA is also tremendous with Internet Radio and Podcasts. I listen to the BBC Radio Three offerings via Chromecast at full resolution, much preferable to their scrawny 64bps Internet stream.

. I had one streamer that cost three times the CA, but it had an absolutely awful software program. The slight improvement in sound quality wasn’t worth the agony of trying to actually use the thing.  The software program to control your streaming experience is extremely important and whatever direction you choose you should try to investigate each device’s program before you buy.

Which service? Qobuz is the best for Classical. Good sound, large catalog, decent search engine. Customer service non existent. My wife really preferred Apple Music, and Apple had recently purchased a smaller Classical service called Primephonic and has an extensive Classical catalog. If you have a problem you can actually get a human at Apple Support.  They now offer high resolution recordings. I use streaming primarily to audition unfamiliar or new recordings and if I really like something will purchase the CD or download. If streaming was to be my only source of Music I would probably opt for Qobuz