Why Streaming Service Sounds ‘Flat’ vs Tune In /Local FM /Radio Paradise
I use a Bluesound Node, first or second gen I believe.
I use the S/PDIF output feeding my Esoteric K-07X CD/DAC using it as a DAC.
I find that CD’s, most things using Tune In, and local FM listening sound better than streaming either Tidal or Qobuz.
For the life of me, I can’t figure why that might be, since all are using the K-07X internal DAC. I can understand the CD, as it’s internal, with no S/PDIF cable to possibly muck things up. FWIW, I’m using the Illuminati/Kimber D-60 as my digital cable.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Streaming of FM stations to me sounds awful, every station I have heard. I listen to KCRW.com on the FM airways and the DJ’s are into sound quality. They will bring in LPs because they say it sounds better. This station on my 3 tuners blows away the same stream on internet and also the HD radio stream over the air (the worst of the 3). My streamers are excellent fibre optic based. |
@jacobsdad2000 You have a streamer in your truck? |
Look at a used Grimm MU1 streamer. I moved up from a dCS Vivaldi Upsampler to a Grimm MU1 streamer and have had it about 2 years and still love it. There are used ones showing up now that they are building the MU1 streamer with a DAC-in-the-box. As it is software based, new releases of the firmware keep us up to date. |
It’s because you don’t have it setup right for starters your modem- router combo should have a good Linear power supply and quality power cord linear tube audio $750 fantastic LPS and you can hear the difference the sw8 Ethernet hub I bought for $600 has a over controlled clock,telema linear power supply and other things 2 high quality Ethernet cables mine are $1k each all these things add up |
Wait a minute. The OP says some streams do sound good. I can personally attest that the Jazz Groove is one of the better online stations, and if you subscribe you can get a FLAC stream from them. I agree that the Node is not the finest streamer and should be replaced, but it does not explain why Tidal and Qobuz sound flat. Any chance that the higher resolution streams from Tidal/Qobuz are being modified by the DAC? Might be worth double-checking the Esoteric manual and configuration. |
