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Sound quality issues streaming from Tidal vs CD

I am hoping someone familiar with streaming from Tidal might be able to help.

I have recently installed the Pro-Ject Streambox S2 Ultra, which is a small Raspberry Pi based network bridge. I connect this to my router via ethernet cable and to my Vitus DAC (which is part of the CD player) via USB. My CD player obviously outputs through the same DAC.

The sound quality from CD is so much better than the sound quality from Tidal (I am a Tidal Hifi subscriber).

So my questions are:

1. Is this just a feature of streaming via the internet, it simply is not as good as a good quality CD transport?
2. Or is it an issue with the Pro-Ject - would something like the Autralic Aries G2 (also a network bridge with no DAC) which costs 6 times the price of the Pro-Ject, improve the Tidal stream?
3. Or is it the fact that the USB cable I am using is an entry-level £10 cable?
4. Or is it Tidal? - would Qobuz sound better?

Any advice or knowledge would be welcome.
128x128duckworp

Showing 1 response by lalitk

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,055 posts
 
You can achieve cd quality sound or better through streaming, both Tidal and Qobuz are great choices. I would say Pro-Ject Streambox S2 Ultra and cheap USB cable is the weak link.

A component like Vitus deserves a high quality all purpose built audio streaming device, try something like Aurender N100C, Lumin U1 Mini or U1. Use a decent quality USB or SPDIF cable and you will hear definite improvements over S2 Ultra.
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