GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Didital Things
In the Thread: Tidal’s Music Streaming Service

Post Subject: Not a bad thing but still an obstacle coursePosted by steverino on: 3/1/2015

I think conceptually it would be great if everything were streamed even at CD levels. For 90% or more of listeners that would be an improvement. Given the wide scale manipulations in the remasterings being done by the iphone listening staff at the remaining labels, it is quite possible that a needledrop from an existing record might be a better listening experience though. At least the record has mastering constraints that are waved off in digital land.

At best CD level or higher streaming may make a difference if it is sent to a reasonable quality server but how typical is that? Most people listen most of the time on their mobile and that may include the people with the decent music servers. It seems like a valid niche market but that begs the question as to how all these streamers stay in business? Given the financial problems already evident in some of them I guess the question is being answered.

It does seem as if we are in a situation somewhat like the old quad sound where the equipment has capabilities that most users ignore. Almost all DACs , players and servers can play higher res files of some kind. Even DVD players can do that. Yet a tiny percentage use the feature or are even aware of it. It seems that folks in pop music at least who are interested in a non digital file sound are mainly gravitating back to the LP rather than rushing to the latest digital incarnation. If the streamers are dependent on classical and jazz then they might as well fold up now.

Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site