Sound Quality of red book CDs vs.streaming


I’ve found that the SQ of my red book CDs exceeds that of streaming using the identical recordings for comparison. (I’m not including hi res technology here.)
I would like to stop buying CDs, save money, and just stream, but I really find I enjoy the CDs more because of the better overall sonic performance.
 I stream with Chromecast Audio using  the same DAC (Schiit Gumby) as I play CDs through.
I’m wondering if others have had the same experience
128x128rvpiano
WAV should sound better... this is the file format that recording studios master to. And the format they deliver. Sometimes AIFF.

In the analogue world, record pressing plants can request any format they want.

Did you try to burn a cd from the stream? And compare original CD and burned CD from streaming source.? 
Does this sound more the same? 


My digital stream is pretty good (red book) tidal. My CD playback is very good for me.  Sony 7ESD. 

Two different digital chains so I do not aspect them to sound the same. The both can sound very good. I use my CD player as reference of the sound I like and tuned my digital stream to come close. 

Stream from internet , (tidal -Roon) 
Stream from local source, (Roon) 
Play a CD 

All different - non bad











Another reclocker is the iFi SPDIF iPurifier which I own. I think there is a USB unit as well.

@ astewart8944334 BTW I believe @audioengr Steve N. has noted elsewhere that WAV files sound better than FLAC files.
I'll have to re-rip a couple of my CDs to WAV and give it listen.  I hope I can't hear a difference because I dread the thought of re-ripping my entire CD library :-).

+1  @richer31 All different - non bad 

When comparing vinyl against different streaming sources and different playing sources with the volume set at -25 db, I've found that Tidal Masters play much louder some more than others. The same goes for Tidal High Res, MQA converted to PCM, FLAC, and ripped CDs.  I have to decrease volume to about -35 db or more, and I already have the DAC input gain set -9 db lower.

DSD generally plays lower, so I have to increase the volume to around -10 db.  As I increase volume, the sound is smooth and gets richer as I go higher; and I hear everything!  I've also found the change in sound to be more controlled with DSD.  I'm guessing that's a function of my pre-amp, since changes are in .5 db increments, and the SQ of the DSD file.

Regardless, all of it sounds good to me.