The streaming revolution.

@bipestuff tell me how that makes sense? Why would you buy a CD only to rip it and create a library of local files when you could EASILY just purchase the digital file and store it and for less money?

@fire_water 

It has been said pretty consistently that ripped CDs sound better than their streamed counterpart. I strongly doubt that that’s always true, though; as always, the devil is in the details.

@devinplombier yes and no. When comparing a 16-bit/44.1kHz WAV/FLAC download from Qobuz to a physical CD from the exact same master, they will sound identical.

However, the real difference happens if you purchase the 24-bit studio master (e.g., 24-bit/96kHz or 192kHz) from Qobuz instead of the 16-bit version. In that scenario, the Qobuz file contains significantly more dynamic range and resolution than the CD format is physically capable of holding. So in this case a carefully curated library of local 24-bit studio master files outperforms the 16-bit CD version

Well, it didn’t take long to weight up Qobuz direct to the streamer and Asset UPnP against Roon. The sound quality of Asset and Qobuz absolutely trounces that of Roon in my system. For me, no amount of functionality and integration can make up for that. It’ll be UPnP for me from now on. 

The sound quality of Asset and Qobuz absolutely trounces that of Roon in my system.

Unsurprising. That's a low bar 😂😂🤣