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bits is bits

Being a retired IT tech, Iʻm a "bits is bits" guy. I keep seeing people rank different  streaming services against each other and I have to say, Iʻm mystified. Modern recordings are all digital masters and remastered. If two different hi-res streaming services, say Qobuz and Tidal, have the same track available, why would one sound different from the other, let alone better?

 

The stream is being fed over TCP/IP from the source, and I see no reason that it you were to do a cksum on the same file/track being delivered by either streaming service, that they would exactly match.  So why do people claim better sound from one streaming source over the other.  Iʻm assuming they are both full resolution sources, not mp3.

russbutton
earthbound
295 posts
 

How does one know when it’s the exact same file when comparing?

jssmith
342 posts
 

Retired IT here too. Started working with network packets from banks and retail back in the 80's. Totally agree with your conclusion. And the amount of jitter in today's DACs is consistently shown to be far below the level of human audibility.

foggyus91's avatar
foggyus91
612 posts
 

Bit's are bits and some sound like chit, so I guess bit's are bits. no

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,466 posts
 

It's important to have a sufficiently resolving system before the difference in streaming sources becomes obvious. 

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,466 posts
 

@nogaps 

+ 1

I’m an old guy with lots of recorded music. And streaming has increased the enjoyment of music tenfold. The ability,  on the fly explorer all sorts of new music, or old music, is just incredible. iI’s much easier to use a streamer and have access to millions of albums.

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