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Why is Streaming so much better than anything else?

Streaming does not necessarily mean that those who use it dislike books, records, etc.

And the OP did not state that convenience was a factor in his declaration. Speaking of which, it's my guess that he was/is yanking a bit on the chain of those who launch the daily "vinyl sounds best" threads.
 
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Kodaline said:
I was referring to an original CD made of an existing album. The majority of the original CDs were reissues of existing analog albums and they put them, with very little or no changes, straight from the existing tape masters onto the CD. It was later when they started packing bonus content and remastering onto them. The point is not the limitations of the vinyl, but, rather, the problem with digital is not the medium, it's the maddening urge to tinker with something that is already good by remastering when you don't have to do so.
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That's why I also said in my post that I am wary of remasters, which is a different issue than masters (of more recent albums) which have been pretty much digital for quite some time now. In fact, I have a more negative opinion of remasters than a positive one, although I do allow for the fact that certain remasters could offer a certain amount of benefit to at least some people if done by someone who knows what they're doing and who doesn't ruin the integrity of the original music. This issue seems to largely involve the most popular past artists where the music industry keeps trying to milk certain past albums by selling them over and over again, but in new "improved" remastered versions.
 
intro6 said:
That's why I also said in my post that I am wary of remasters, which is a different issue than masters (of more recent albums) which have been pretty much digital for quite some time now. In fact, I have a more negative opinion of remasters than a positive one, although I do allow for the fact that certain remasters could offer a certain amount of benefit to at least some people if done by someone who knows what they're doing and who doesn't ruin the integrity of the original music. This issue seems to largely involve the most popular past artists where the music industry keeps trying to milk certain past albums by selling them over and over again, but in new "improved" remastered versions.
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I didn't like a lot of the "remaster/remixed" digital files 15 or so years ago. In the last couple of years I have found many to be an "improvement" IMO. That said I have zero problems with the originals warts, but if it can be "improved" all is good.

The Aqualung Steve Wilson remaster comes to mind. And I am finding more and more.
 
GChief said:
I didn't like a lot of the "remaster/remixed" digital files 15 or so years ago. In the last couple of years I have found many to be an "improvement" IMO. That said I have zero problems with the originals warts, but if it can be "improved" all is good.

The Aqualung Steve Wilson remaster comes to mind. And I am finding more and more.
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The best Aqualung issuance was the quadraphonic reel.
 
Kodaline said:
The best Aqualung issuance was the quadraphonic reel.
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That is probably still on a shelf at my pops, I need to check next time I am at home.

I listened to rtr a lot growing up, I seem to remember listening to my vinyls copy more than the rtr on that one. But that was probably more a "in my bdrm" and not the listening room thing then a preference.
 
spark1 said:
Streaming does not necessarily mean that those who use it dislike books, records, etc.

And the OP did not state that convenience was a factor in his declaration. Speaking of which, it's my guess that he was/is yanking a bit on the chain of those who launch the daily "vinyl sounds best" threads.
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LoL…I really wasn’t trying to yanking those guys chain. I did do another listening with streaming vs CD and I came to the conclusion that I still think streaming sounded better but it was close enough to be a personal preference. Now the vinyl side I’m standing by that streaming sounds much better. Although I will say I don’t have one of those crazy TT’s that needs a crane to lift into one’s house but maybe if I did my opinion would be different. I still wonder though if the streaming services somehow have the best version of every album available to them and that’s why it sounds superior to a lot of albums that I have.
 
dcgibby said:
I stream because it allows me access to music that would cost me tens of thousands of dollars to acquire. Much of that music would go unheard by almost everybody if streaming weren't so ubiquitous today.
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Same. I own physical copies of most everything I "must" own. Then there are the 10k+ albums in my AMHD library that I have no desire to own, copies of all my physical media is also saved there, sounds fantastic in my set-up and I have plenty of room for it on my phone screen :rockon:
 
 Ol
Bob in WI said:
My system is fairly revealing & streaming thru my phone to a BT receiver is good but certainly not special.
Good enough for dancing or background music but not good enough for a few hrs alone w a drink & some music.
I'm not getting the clarity & crispness I expect. A good (many are not good) LP or CD sound better to me.
I get Amazon HD via android to a BT receiver. Phone & BT receiver handle the latest codecs.

I'm told if I got a dedicated streamer w a good built in dac I'll hear significant improvement.
Makes sense that a device built to do one thing well would be better than a phone the does many things OK.
Another audio improvement opportunity to add to the list.
So many opportunities, so little $$. :)
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A good streamer, with wifi/ethernet connectivity, and a lossless streaming service. This will get you that "alone with a drink" sound quality.
 
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dcgibby said:
I stream because it allows me access to music that would cost me tens of thousands of dollars to acquire. Much of that music would go unheard by almost everybody if streaming weren't so ubiquitous today.
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Same. I "own" around 2500 albums, but I still really appreciate not being limited to them. And honestly, probably half of my personal library consists of older albums that I listen to only rarely any more, if at all. My musical tastes/interests have changed over the years.
 
Bill S said:
Honest question. So is the DAC in the Wiim Pro so sub standard that an additional piece of equipment is necessary to pass signal through? Can you hear the difference? I have a Bur Brown DAC in my streamer and my phone has a good DAC in it and honestly, I can't hear the difference. Are we splitting hairs or is there really an audible difference to 65+ year old ears? Do I need to upgrade??
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I have a 30+ year old, unserviced VRDS-20 CD player (Philips TDA1547), 20+ YO Squeezebox Touch streamer with built in DAC (AKM4420), and new SMSL SU-1 DAC (AK4493S). I tried listening to a CD played through the unbalanced analog output of the CD player and connected to the SMSL DAC via coax and optical inputs. I was able to switch instantly between the three inputs instantaneously (using Krell KAV-300i amp). I listened with speakers (B&W 703 s3 + SVS 3000 Micro sub) and Koss ESP/950 electrostatic headphones. I could hear no differences with my 66 YO ears.

I also listened to CDs via analog out and same CD flac files streamed to the SB Touch, and could hear no differences. I also compared the CD analog out and SB Touch analog out to the DAC built into the A12 amp (PCM1796 DAC) using both coaxial and optical inputs. Again, I could hear no differences (speakers only for this test).

ASR recently measured both the VRDS-20 and SMSL SU-1, and Stereophile measured the SB Touch about 20 years ago. The SMSL measures best, the SB Touch second, and the VRDS-20 worst. I found one measurement test of the A12 DAC and it didn't look particularly good. They all sound great.

For my ears, changing the DAC has about as much effect on the sound as changing the brand of the batteries in the remote control.
 
mrehorst said:
I have a 30+ year old, unserviced VRDS-20 CD player (Philips TDA1547), 20+ YO Squeezebox Touch streamer with built in DAC (AKM4420), and new SMSL SU-1 DAC (AK4493S). I tried listening to a CD played through the unbalanced analog output of the CD player and connected to the SMSL DAC via coax and optical inputs. I was able to switch instantly between the three inputs instantaneously (using Krell KAV-300i amp). I listened with speakers (B&W 703 s3 + SVS 3000 Micro sub) and Koss ESP/950 electrostatic headphones. I could hear no differences with my 66 YO ears.

I also listened to CDs via analog out and same CD flac files streamed to the SB Touch, and could hear no differences. I also compared the CD analog out and SB Touch analog out to the DAC built into the A12 amp (PCM1796 DAC) using both coaxial and optical inputs. Again, I could hear no differences (speakers only for this test).

ASR recently measured both the VRDS-20 and SMSL SU-1, and Stereophile measured the SB Touch about 20 years ago. The SMSL measures best, the SB Touch second, and the VRDS-20 worst. I found one measurement test of the A12 DAC and it didn't look particularly good. They all sound great.

For my ears, changing the DAC has about as much effect on the sound as changing the brand of the batteries in the remote control.
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What we hear or do not hear is dependent on many factors including your rig & room.
Some folks claim they can hear the electron flow in their power cord - while I find it unlikely,
maybe with a suitably revealing system in a professionally treated room they can.

I would like the opportunity to see for myself for some day.
There are lots of things I'd like to see for myself.
 
spark1 said:
 Ol


A good streamer, with wifi/ethernet connectivity, and a lossless streaming service. This will get you that "alone with a drink" sound quality.
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Wiim Pro Plus delivered today. I stream via A..zon HD.
I have 60 days to return it if I don't hear an improvement.

I wanted to try one while the price of admission is still reasonable.
May jump on some Fosi V3 mono chip amps soon for the same reason.
 
Danathepill said:
I still wonder though if the streaming services somehow have the best version of every album
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In my limited experience, that is not the case. Streamed Grateful Dead "Friend of the Devil" last night.
What dumbass remastered a dead album to highlight bass & drums & suppress J Garcia?
What fkn band did he think was being remastered?

My suspicion is the music is run thru a computer that applies the same "logic" to everything.
Sure sounded like the smiley face treatment to me.
I could be completely mistaken............ but, I do wonder.

Regardless, glad I own the vinyl of that one.
 
Bob in WI said:
In my limited experience, that is not the case. Streamed Grateful Dead "Friend of the Devil" last night.
What dumbass remastered a dead album to highlight bass & drums & suppress J Garcia?
What fkn band did he think was being remastered?

My suspicion is the music is run thru a computer that applies the same "logic" to everything.
Sure sounded like the smiley face treatment to me.
I could be completely mistaken............ but, I do wonder.

Regardless, glad I own the vinyl of that one.
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Are you talking freind off of American Beauty, or a live version?

if American Beauty, it was remastered by none other then David Lemiuex OR it's remastered by David Glasser, depending on which remaster, 2013 or the 50th anniversery 2020 remaster. I'll pull my remaster copy out and listen to it vs my original master cd.

It's also possible it's one of the outtake versions from the 50th.

Stereophiles take


(edit to add)
apparently there is the 2001 remaster by mickey hart, the 2013 remaster by david lemieux, and the 2020 remaster by David Glasser.

It sounds like possibly you were listening to the 2001 remaster? (speculation)

dogdam rabbit hole of remasters!
 
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