CD vs Tidal SQ

kevhed72

I am actually considering selling a large lot of my CD collection due the SQ vs the versions on Tidal just dont hold up. Some of these CDs I have owned since the 90s and when I make an attempt to listen, I am almost immediately turned off. The genre I am considering selling is best described as "classic rock". Has anyone come across this realization....is it my CD related gear possibly, the era of CDs that were pass produced, or just my continuous process of selling stuff I no longer use?

treitz3

IMO, it depends on where your rig is at when you are making the determination. Everything is recording dependent and CD's from the 80's had many issues (generally).

Tom

VR3

Tidal definitely adds a flavor to their playback whether they advertise it or not.

I have no complaints with tidal quality, every recording is different as per usual but I can usually listen to just about anything

kevhed72

VR3 wrote: »

Tidal definitely adds a flavor to their playback whether they advertise it or not.

I have no complaints with tidal quality, every recording is different as per usual but I can usually listen to just about anything

I have come across that....good example is the remastered version of Sandinista on Tidal. Almost unlistenable imo.

pitdogg2

Ha! I'm buying physical media as fast as I can. MFSL and other gold CD's and of course SACD titles. Many many folks are asking outrageous prices on most of the MFSL and other gold CD'S but patience is your friend. In the last 6 months I've bought many at less than $35. So what if the case is broke pfft I've got hundreds of new cases waiting.
I see streaming for me sooo far down the line that I doubt the nursing home will allow my rig in there anyways 😆
AND if they do will come on by and have a sit down listen...

kevhed72

Just out of curiosity....how come you haven't bought into streaming yet? We have sub par ATT service which at times presents problems when everyone is online at once, but overall pretty happy since I switched to the Cambridge CNX streamer. Oh....when I say sub par ATT.....everything ATT related seems sub par to me.

Toolfan66

I have plans on going streaming hopefully in the next year, but I have no plans of doing away with my collection or taking my ModWright OPPO out of my system..

I have a PC connected to my system, and I have my CD's on an SSD but I let JRiver expire about a year ago and just haven't messed with it. I know once I get a Cambridge or Cary or something of the like I will enjoy it more..

treitz3

kevhed72 wrote: »

Just out of curiosity....how come you haven't bought into streaming yet?

I don't know who that was directed at (Most likely Ivan) but I do have a streamer setup. On my second one now. Started with the BlueSound Node2 paired with a Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista DAC. Put those in the closet when I got the Auralic Vega G2.

Streaming has, shall I say, "deficiencies" when it comes to musical playback. Every once in a while, you will get a golden gem but most that I have heard on NAP's that are north of 30K and on a plethora of different systems from mediocre to 500K systems? They still have limitations IMO/IME.

Streamers (to me) are not for critical listening.

With that said, they do have so many attributes going for them in terms of convenience? I think the Vega G2 will stay....at least for now. It makes certain music more bearable (tames it down a bit) and it does remind me of the sound of vinyl at times....and certain tracks from Nina Samone? Their recordings (Quobuz) are better than what I have found on any physical music (yet).

Plus, it is nice that my wife can sit in the LR and control the rig....playing whatever her heart desires without ever having to get up. She loves that aspect as much as she does with outstanding recordings sitting in the sweet spot. She, along with I, can appreciate both.

Tom

VR3

I think the biggest problem with folks going to streaming is how they approach it.

Guy has a 15k turntable set up... 15k dac and cdp...

Buys a 1k streamer to get an idea and hates it...

In my streaming journey, I have found quite literally everything matters...

I run a high end modem, with a linear power supply

This connects to a mesh wifi router system. The main hub beside the router and the hub for the system has a linear power supply

Nice ethernet cables between connections

External streamer with a linear power supply

A solid dac

Good cables in between...

It all makes small improvements that impact the end result.

jbreezy5

kevhed72 wrote: »

I am actually considering selling a large lot of my CD collection due the SQ vs the versions on Tidal just dont hold up. Some of these CDs I have owned since the 90s and when I make an attempt to listen, I am almost immediately turned off. The genre I am considering selling is best described as "classic rock". Has anyone come across this realization....is it my CD related gear possibly, the era of CDs that were pass produced, or just my continuous process of selling stuff I no longer use?

Hard to say. I’ve heard selections from Tidal (not subscribed currently), and mostly thought they sound similar to CD. I tend to favor CD playback slightly to streaming for sonics.

There ARE some dreadful sounding disc spinners based on the past year in my search for a satisfying transport. I’ve used several different CD and DVD players, and two different dedicated CD transports (sonics were great on both of these). All of these only read the 1s and 0s, connected to a separate DAC; either a Cambridge Audio DacMagic with Pangea Power Supply, Jolida TubeDac III.

I can definitely say that what is used as transport makes a significant difference, even if an outboard DAC is being utilized.

So it could be your spinner or the disc, if you’re hearing that big of a difference, compared to streaming.

I would say go with what sounds best and works best with your priorities (i.e. downsizing, convenience, etc.)

pitdogg2

kevhed72 wrote: »

Just out of curiosity....how come you haven't bought into streaming yet?

Simple it requires internet, something I cannot afford. I have other reasons, that is the main one.
I do have a rather large media collection (CD, SACD, DVD-A and Blu-ray audio) I get satisfaction out of dropping a disc into a drawer and hitting play.

rooftop59

pitdogg2 wrote: »

kevhed72 wrote: »

Just out of curiosity....how come you haven't bought into streaming yet?

Simple it requires internet, something I cannot afford. I have other reasons, that is the main one.
I do have a rather large media collection (CD, SACD, DVD-A and Blu-ray audio) I get satisfaction out of dropping a disc into a drawer and hitting play.

Do you live in the sticks Ivan? Obviously you have data on your phone at least…

audioluvr

I prefer streaming, not because of better quality sound but because of the convenience of creating a playlist based on my mood that day and being able to easily discover new music I've never experienced yet. But I have no intention of selling any of my CD/DVD collection. I made that mistake with vinyl.

I look at it like I do with cable/satellite TV. It all starts out cheap and trouble free but then eventually become an expensive nuisance. I use an antenna for TV now same as I did decades ago. I may have to go back to CD's.

Also Ivan @pitdogg2 has an excellent point. Buy all you can now while it's super cheap. I've been hoarding DVD movies, music and concerts because eventually streaming services won't carry older stuff (Netflix is a perfect example).

heiney9

I am going to be upping my streaming game very soon. I have a large collection of music (already ripped to FLAC) but I only buy what I *really like*. The option of paying for a high quality (lossless) streaming service for songs or genre's I merely just want to listen to on occasion makes sense. Plus, then my girlfriend to can listen to her music streaming as well.

I will be paying huge attention to proper power to all devices as well as cabling, etc. Probably going to build a Raspberry Pi and I have been reading about Qobuz or Deezer, but don't know much about how they actually perform in the real world.

I have the Welbourne Labs linear power supply for the Raspberry PI, the same one I used with my SQB Touch. I'll probably pick up one of these to run the router and modem Keces P3. The make 2 versions of a dual supply. 5-7-9V & 12-15-16V or 12-15-16V & 12-15-16V. Keces stuff is superbly built and excellent performance.





Lots of things to think about if it is to be done with high fidelity in mind.

H9

heiney9

Keces also makes a more expensive more elaborately built dual zone linear power supply that could be used on the modem and wireless router. But I am not sure the (almost) double the price is really worth it.

Keces P8 Dual



Decisions, decisions.....

H9

VR3

Good looking power supply!

kevhed72

So the rabbit hole opens once again....as I thought this may lead to researching a new transport lol.

treitz3

So it always goes, brother! One thing always seems to lead to another because everything effects everything. Well, that and the guys here are relentless about SQ.

Tom

heiney9

I have softened a bit on being relentless about SQ, but I have experienced too many positive improvements when replacing a cheap power component with a better one. Those walwart switching power supplies are terrible. I know this went a bit off the target topic.

I would even go as far to say in my experiences, a good power source does more than a good power cable. However, both are necessary for the best sound reproduction. But if you had to buy in "stages", get a better power source for components that use walwart type power before a better power cable.

H9

pitdogg2

rooftop59 wrote: »

pitdogg2 wrote: »

kevhed72 wrote: »

Just out of curiosity....how come you haven't bought into streaming yet?

Simple it requires internet, something I cannot afford. I have other reasons, that is the main one.
I do have a rather large media collection (CD, SACD, DVD-A and Blu-ray audio) I get satisfaction out of dropping a disc into a drawer and hitting play.

Do you live in the sticks Ivan? Obviously you have data on your phone at least…

Nope not in the sticks, my phone is a TracFone. No contact, no monthly payments. I can pay $80 and get almost a year of service. 1000 texts cost me $5. One gig of data is $10.
Cheapest internet package around me is $150 a month.
Best buy here in town barely carries any movies anymore. Yes I go often and buy whatever 4k movies that interest me, but you got to go about twice a week as they get a drop and that's it, no more. I've been replacing titles I lost in my flood and I lost many.
Hers is a few. Many of these had the cardboard jacket, they others became cloudy and unplayable after weeks of drying. 16-18" of sewage wrecked havoc on DVD and superbit DVD's

schwarcw

Ivan, I am sorry to hear about your flood loss. This is terrible!

F1nut

I see absolutely no point in streaming, etc. when I already have more physical copies than I can probably listen to in the rest of my lifetime. I also don't have the attention span of a gnat.

Clipdat

I love streaming because I am incredibly lazy, and it also sounds really good. I'm using an Auralic Vega G1.

gudnoyez

I also have literally thousands of CDs some aren't even open yet eventually I will get around to listening to them lots of SACDs, DVD and Blu Ray Audio discs, LPs, Cassettes, Digital files enough tunes to last me forever.

I stream Tidal through a Blu sound Node through a Musical Fidelity Dac or Laptop through a Audioquest Dac or the Oppo or Marantz sounds good to me save a lot of money plus no longer have space to add any more physical Media streaming has some use for me and I enjoy it, however if streaming was to go away, still got plenty of music to listen to.

rooftop59

Clipdat wrote: »

I love streaming because I am incredibly lazy, and it also sounds really good. I'm using an Auralic Vega G1.

Hahaha…well I don’t think I’m a gnat 😂. However, I do pretty technical and demanding work for a living (as I’m pretty sure drew does as well), and I have a full time job, a spouse with an unrelenting full time job, four kids, animals, friends, etc. streaming can sound really damn good, and the convenience really helps since I have so many other demands on my time…

Damn @pitdogg2, $150 a month! I pay $60 for 600 mbps download. I will say that I find a lot of good deals on physical media on Amazon and eBay, you just can want the latest titles and of course must buy used…

VR3

I listen to whole albums if the artist or a song really captures my interest.

I don't miss physical media what so ever. I bet you I add atleast 30 to 50 new songs to my favorite track list every month. From there I discover new artist and albums... Not feasible with physical media or a realistic budget.

20 bucks a month and I have basically unlimited song selections with great sound quality.

If I had this 10 years ago I may have never sold everything.

Today I have been listening for 2 hours, tidal discovery only listened to but a hand full I have ever heard before.

rooftop59

VR3 wrote: »

I listen to whole albums if the artist or a song really captures my interest.

I don't miss physical media what so ever. I bet you I add atleast 30 to 50 new songs to my favorite track list every month. From there I discover new artist and albums... Not feasible with physical media or a realistic budget.

20 bucks a month and I have basically unlimited song selections with great sound quality.

If I had this 10 years ago I may have never sold everything.

Today I have been listening for 2 hours, tidal discovery only listened to but a hand full I have ever heard before.

Exactly. Let’s assume 2 cds from Amazon for $20 a month for the next 40 years. I would only have 960 more albums. I have basically limitless music from tidal, and on my rig with really fast, hard-wired internet through a good dac, it sounds darn good. I do still buy some albums that I really like, but not many…

jbreezy5

I don’t pay full price for discs. Can buy a lot for $1.00/ea. at Goodwill. Even resellers offer much that can be had for $5/ea or less.

Streaming for new artist discovery still makes more sense to me. Can use that to narrow down the physical media I definitely want to own, so don’t waste money.

skrol

F1nut wrote: »

I see absolutely no point in streaming, etc. when I already have more physical copies than I can probably listen to in the rest of my lifetime. I also don't have the attention span of a gnat.

I get to lazy to pick out a CD and load it in a player so I go to stream music. Then there is so much music to choose from on Tidal or Spotify that I just can't decide what to listen to. Screw it. I just flip on the FM.

F1nut

You're funny, Stan.

tophatjohnny

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