If you had to start all over again in this day and age

jssmith

There's no difference between streaming and a CD ... except convenience and having a massive library at hand. Bits is bits.

That is a silly claim even for those who believe digital is as simple as "bits is bits." There's no way CD can equal the very best hi-res files available from services such as Qobuz.

Enlighten me here please. Based on Douger's and js's response, can you burn cd's from a streaming service?

I have had well over 100 components through the years. Mostly I am circling back to the 1980s.  So, if I had to do it all over again, I would probably stuck with what I had in the 1980s and left it alone. Except I would have added some digital source components such as CD player and streamer. 

If I had to do it all over again. SInce 1976 I have bought at least 140 separate audio components.  And since I am finding I am buying a lot of components that I used to have in the mid 1980s, I would have left things alone for the last 35-40 years with the exception of CD players and streamers.  I would have saved a fortune.  I have yet to experience any amp/preamp better than the Thresholds I had and now have again. The only component I never replaced and still have is my ENTEC SW-1 subwoofer. 

Have two systems that have been continuously evolving over many years. They are “lower to middle third” of high end in price. So upgrading any single component/cable, etc would have almost no impact on SQ.  Vinly is better than streaming on both systems. CD and streaming are both excellent - can’t tell them apart.
System 1 has tube preamp, tube phono pre, tube dac, and ss amps, and it is in a larger room.
System 2 has tube integrated and tube phono pre in a smaller room.
Frustrated that there are no obvious upgrades in the offing, but listening to music is sublime.
No desire to start over.