I have a Small Green Computer server/CD ripper that stores 2 TB of my CD's and downloads. I play it back through a Sonore Optical Rendu, and into a Ayre QB-9 Twenty. Until recently, I also had an Oppo 105 disc player.
I love how the ripped CDs sound being played by the streamer. I think it might (mostly) be because the Ayre DAC suits my tastes more than the Oppo DAC does. But I certainly found I preferred listening that way than to the discs directly. And the Roon library capabilities makes it a joy to search and manage my library.
When it comes to the comparison between playing the ripped CD files, vs streaming the files found on Qobuz - that's a harder call. Sometimes, Qobuz has an album that has been remastered since the release of the original CD. If they did a good job, it can certainly be better. Sometimes much better. Most times, I think that the streamed album and my ripped CD are too close to call.
You didn't ask this, but I have upgraded my disc playback equipment. I now have a PS Audio Directstream Memory Player, which sends its data to a modest PS Audio Stellar DAC via I2S connection. I may now prefer listening to my 16/44 discs using that method vs playing the ripped discs through my server. And if it is an SACD, it is definitely preferable.
David
