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Is using streaming services worthy of an audiophile?

I read that a lot of people on this forum use Tidal etc. Is this ok from audiophile perspective? I mean, do people who use such services actually know what quality is streamed? Don’t you lose all control over your music when you surrender to streaming services?
defiantboomerang
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
1,105 posts
 
+1, shadorne. 


jond's avatar
jond
3,400 posts
 
My streamer, Auralic Aries Mini, displays the sampling rate of anything playing on the Lightning DS app so i always know. And direct comparisons to my own ripped files and Tidal have mostly been about even, where I start to see differences is when one version is a better master. i.e. I may have ripped a K2 version of a cd and Tidal doesn't have the K2 my version may sound better. Other than that it's a wash.
jond's avatar
jond
3,400 posts
 
Also not sure what "lose control of all your music" means? All of "my" music is at my fingertips on a NAS drive and I can play anything I want from Tidal as well.  I would call that much better "control" of my music and much more convenience.
james1969's avatar
james1969
345 posts
 
Tidal is fantastic.  Tidal is also a good tool to find new vinyl, listen before you buy.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,152 posts
 
I can get sensational sound quality from steaming Tidal's upper quality service
+1

Tidal is fantastic.  Tidal is also a good tool to find new vinyl
+1
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