Is Streaming Doomed?

[Discopants]

I beg to differ but i can hear a difference as well as all the issues i encountered.

Maybe you are one of the super sensitive hearers.


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[Made in 1968]

Well i do headphone listening mostly but i just can hear, i am very sensitive to tone & High frequency..

[Discopants]

Actually that your 12dB statement is not true, and you are ignoring some important facts have a read of these https://www.audioholics.com/audio-te...-part-4-page-2

https://www.analogplanet.com/content...eres-some-math

They explain much better than I.


Another point is that 320kbps digital files are lossy so you are definitely not hearing as it was originally. I have done several AXB comparisons of lossy to lossless files of the same material from the same master and can identify the lossy in the majority of cases. It is harder to hear the difference when the original already has high frequency noise present.


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Checked out the links , thanks, not sure where i got 12dB from but a bit more research looks like the dynamic range of an LP is about 60dB. You can definitely improve that with digital, even 320kbps max is about 90dB of dynamic range. Much of which will be dependant on the mastering in the first place.




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[bronzeage]

In answer to the original question - of course streaming is not doomed. Sound quality is not a factor for the vast majority, as long as it is good enough, those who want vinyl or anything else will continue to use, just as some people still buy laserdiscs. Maybe at some point in the future some new model will appear, who can predict the future?

[AJSki2fly]

Checked out the links , thanks, not sure where i got 12dB from but a bit more research looks like the dynamic range of an LP is about 60dB. You can definitely improve that with digital, even 320kbps max is about 90dB of dynamic range. Much of which will be dependant on the mastering in the first place.




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No read again everyone assumes it’s 60db bit actually you have to take low level noise floor into account of turntable and stylus on record if you take that out it is actually much better, and as it says you get a much better noise floor with a high end turntable,arm and stylus.

[Macca]

No read again everyone assumes it’s 60db bit actually you have to take low level noise floor into account of turntable and stylus on record if you take that out it is actually much better, and as it says you get a much better noise floor with a high end turntable,arm and stylus.

Except you don't, his comparison is badly flawed. It doesn't take mastering differences into account, he's just picking one (analogue) recording and claiming it is representative. The noise floor on the cd recording will be tape hiss from the recording process, this will swamp any inherent noise in the CD medium itself and will swamp at least some of the noise from the vinyl system, especially at higher frequencies.

He doesn't seem to appreciate the problems involved in measuring the true dynamic range of a vinyl record. (It will always show as artificially high). We already know that comparing the very best of both you will get a maximum of 70dB out of a vinyl, 90dB out of a CD. 70dB is plenty which is why no-one complains about the limited dynamic range of vinyl. 90dB is massively more range than will ever be required for home replay.


Added to which he says 'I much prefer listening to the LP over the CD on my system. The CD sounds dull, congested, muddy, and lacking in dynamics. If I push up the volume, the sound becomes noticeably harsh and artificial. '

That's a problem with his amplification, not the CD.

[Gazjam]

Happily enjoying streaming from Tidal, Qobuz and even Spotify 320kbs.
as good, just “different” from vinyl in my experience.

Can enjoy both.

[AJSki2fly]

Except you don't, his comparison is badly flawed. It doesn't take mastering differences into account, he's just picking one (analogue) recording and claiming it is representative. The noise floor on the cd recording will be tape hiss from the recording process, this will swamp any inherent noise in the CD medium itself and will swamp at least some of the noise from the vinyl system, especially at higher frequencies.

He doesn't seem to appreciate the problems involved in measuring the true dynamic range of a vinyl record. (It will always show as artificially high). We already know that comparing the very best of both you will get a maximum of 70dB out of a vinyl, 90dB out of a CD. 70dB is plenty which is why no-one complains about the limited dynamic range of vinyl. 90dB is massively more range than will ever be required for home replay.


Added to which he says 'I much prefer listening to the LP over the CD on my system. The CD sounds dull, congested, muddy, and lacking in dynamics. If I push up the volume, the sound becomes noticeably harsh and artificial. '

That's a problem with his amplification, not the CD.

Thanks for the clarity Martin, could not have put is better myself.

[Landloper]

To me corporations are already intruding and having too much control in our lives, and I want autonomy.

Agreed. Streaming vs. CD or vinyl is not just as issue over convenience and quality. Whie it is undoubtedly very convenient to be able to use streaming sites to find new composers and check out various versions of a piece, I am uncomfortable with the privacy that these companies walk away with. I can 'go private' and use track blockers &c, but these technicques are vrtually useless against fingerprinting tech. If i pay cash for a CD or an LP the seller can't access my details and online habits and sell them on to third parties. Fingerprinting is becoming more of a problem for me.