Do I need an expensive digital cable?

@audio-b-dog wrote

I agree with you about tweakers, and I think you can add your 2 cents. But it could be in a nicely put question. Like where did you hear that. Or, do you really hear a difference in the quality of your music. Or I have tried that and it didn’t work for me.

You are right, of course; and in an ideal world, that approach would work every time.

In reality, when folks start asking diplomatic but pointed questions, more often than not they get the brush-off or are roundly ignored. That’s understandable, in a way; when people are heavily invested in a certain paradigm, the last thing they want to hear is that that paradigm might be flawed.

@devinplombier 

No doubt, critical listening is subjective. If I just spent thosands of dollars on cables, I'm sure I'd hear a difference too. 

If I just spent thosands of dollars on cables, I’m sure I’d hear a difference too.

I would too! No doubt 😂

That’s why I don’t touch that stuff with a ten-foot pole, 90-day free return or not. It’s a slippery slope.

@devinplombier 

I've never seen a 90 day free trial. Even the used cable I bought could only be returned for credit. When I bought my Sonus Faber speakers, I didn't even listen to the models above it in price. I didn't want to be disappointed with my new purchase. Although, I have now heard the model above with the more "romantic" sound. Kind of a tilted down tweeter. No harshness. At first I thought the tweeters on my SF speakers were a bit harsh, but I have tamed those tweeters by putting the right pieces in front of them. Especially by replacing my ARC PH-7 with a Pass Labs XP-25. Solid state in this case is less harsh than tubes. So many surprises for us audiophiles.

@richardbrand I find remastered albums to be inferior to original, for the most part. I have more than just this example but…I have a Porgy and Bess CD that I bought in the mid 90s. It’s the Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald recording.

This album had been remastered since. I have a rip of that original CD on ssd that sounds vastly superior to any version on Qobuz or Tidal, including their 16/44 which most likely is a remaster as well. 

I use Roon now feeding the network card in my Meitner DAC via Audience Hidden Treasure ethernet cable. And prior to this I was using Aurender N200 streamer that did not sound better than Roon/Meitner so I sold the N200. I dabbled into Qobuz Connect and Tidal Connect that sounded different than Roon but not necessarily better. I just installed Jplay and had very little time with it but I am really digging the listening experience. It’s promising.
Time will tell what’s what so I don’t want to jump to conclusions yet.

Bottom line though - streaming, in general, eliminated the need to spin CDs. Provided the master is on the level that meets expectations. That’s the key.
Other factors are EMI and RFI that doesn’t take tremendous effort and expense to mitigate. Yes it requires a bit of tuning when it comes to network setup, but nothing extraordinary. So far so good. 
I still enjoy the vinyl setup for its own unique sound signature. Not comparing it to digital…at least trying to avoid going down that path.