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.
What I am talking about is two music files that are identical. I am assuming Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon, etc. uses the same files (Ie. Moving Pictures from Rush). How could one sound different when using the same electronics? Let's say they are going through @ghdprentice 17k DAC/ 22k Streamer. Each of these files are bit by bit exactly alike and are going through the same streamer/DAC/Preamp/Amp/Speakers. They will sound identical--If they don't then somethings amiss. |
@grunge1000 Two music files that are identical can sound different coming from Tidal, Qobuz and all other streaming services simply due to factors like different audio compression methods (codecs), bit rates, digital signal processing (DSP), and volume normalization, all of which can alter the original sound. Different services use different formats and processing techniques to balance sound quality with bandwidth and storage efficiency. Other factors include; Device and app settings, Network and buffering and Mastering and loudness. So, it doesn’t matter if it’s two music files that are identical, or a 1000 music files that are identical. As previously stated, it’s how the original, identical music files are implemented that makes them sound different. I understand that you’re perhaps attempting to convey some kind of profound concept. However, the answer to your question is really quite elementary. Whether you accept the facts is entirely up to you. Happy listening. |
thanks @jeffbij with a analogy, if it was an image, the output image to the DAC would have bad pixels? |
