Why Streaming Service Sounds ‘Flat’ vs Tune In /Local FM /Radio Paradise

Use my 'droid to stream in the car, the SUV, even the dually.....local FM is 'meh.  Since time behind wheel varies 5 min. > 5 hr., don't need distracts....

I know for a fact that for every $1000 you spend over what you previously spent on a particular component, the sound quality increases 10K based on the unquantifiable fact that your system must assuredly sound better if you keep spending more and more money on it. In fact, I change out my cables every six months as once the newness factor wears out on the cables, the "clarity and accuracy" isn’t there anymore. I am 1000% convinced of this because otherwise, I would have to admit I’m wasting money.

As for my DAC and Streamer, I update those once a year because I can’t trust the hardware to accurately reproduce the song that is being sent over 1000s of miles via various hardware and network switches. Plus, Quboz, Tidal, and Spotify wouldn’t tell us something different than what they can actually deliver.

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Joking aside...

I have a Cambridge Audio CXN V2 and streaming Radio Paradise, local radio stations, and use the onboard DAC when playing CDs, I find the quality is better (cleaner and a tad brighter) than what I get through my Marantz stereo receiver which has a decent DAC for the $. But the cost difference between the two is not 1000s of dollars. And yet...Spotify sounds better through the Marantz than the CA...go figure.

My local stations SQ varies depending on the music being played. Rare vinyl cuts of cajun swamp pop will sound very different than the Classical station using DDD CD sources. No streamer can fix the source. 

SiriusXM signals have very limited frequency response - at best, 7.5 kHz. If you want to try a station with practically no processing, try discoverclassical.org. They only limit the loudest output so it doesn't go into digital distortion. Another good stream is that of AllClassical.org from Portland, OR. KCSM.org has a good sounding Jazz signal.

Short answer:  #1 Get a better streamer   #2 Buy tweaks that clean up streaming signal  #3 Further enhanced power conditioning in your room.    

I listen while cooking in my kitchen to both analog FM broadcasts and Qobuz with bluetooth from my Ipad through a Marantz N1200 and streaming always sounds substantially better.