Streaming in the here and now (2023 and beyond)

In 2023 and beyond, who knows where streaming technology will take us? In the here and now, once you get past the interested parties’ manicured PR, there are some interesting and quite exciting facts to consider as you make your informed choices for services and gear.

Streaming comes in two flavours, entry-level consumer streaming and high-end audio. There’s not much in between. This post is for folks wanting to know more about quality streaming and the choices an educated consumer can make.

At the basic level, streaming is as simple as owning a smartphone and a set of earphones or wireless earbuds. Students can (and do in the millions) sign up for a free Spotify account, download the free app, and be streaming their favourite songs in 160 kbps sound within minutes. Want higher resolution (most younguns don’t care about the MP3 and earbud quality)? You have to go to a paid service. More on those below.

Try telling a student you’re taking away their free Spotify and see the revolution happen in front of your eyes. They could give a fig about ads, audio quality, high-end audio, resolution, etc. They want Taylor on repeat and they want her now!

And if that’s good enough for you folks who are older, lucky you. And lucky wallet.

For others, read on.

Services

Photo credit: smartprix.com/

Let’s begin with streaming services. Once chosen, customers are very loyal to their brand. As a press user, I can choose from several, but I stick with Qobuz for its enormous classical and jazz repertoire (I’m assuming the Qobuz pop library is as good as anyone’s) and the number of remastered HiRes files available (sample rates up to 192 kHz—a data rate of 9216 kbps). Remember entry-level Spotify at 160 kbps?

In a quintessentially arcane Apple policy, they kept their streaming in low res for many years, flying in the face of everybody—even Spotify and Amazon offered premium HD streams—switching to lossless a couple of years ago. Now you can listen in CD quality at Apple Music for about 11 bucks a month. Other than the fine lossless sound, (1) the repertoire is by far the best—Apple has everything—and (2) the Apple ecosystem. You can stream your music to all your devices including the Apple TV 4K and the new HomePod. It’s very convenient. Not forgetting Apple’s surround sound trickery, Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.

In 2021, Apple purchased Primephonic, a streaming service in HiRes primarily for classical fans. Apple has been threatening to use it as a base for its own classical streaming specialty service. Crickets so far.

Other popular services, especially for HiRes classical choices, are Deezer, Idagio and the ubiquitous Tidal. Like several services, Idagio offers a free stream, then ups the price as the resolution improves. Same for Spotify and Deezer. No free trial for Tidal; they have two paid streams, ”Tidal HiFi” and “Tidal HiFi Plus”. “HiFi” gets you CD-quality sound and “Plus” adds Tidal’s unique version of HiRes, MQA. I have difficulty differentiating between Qobuz’s HiRes files and Tidal’s MQA regarding sound quality, both are exceptional. However, Qobuz and Tidal have their idiosyncrasies. Be aware, France’s Qobuz rollout is fraught with typical French bureaucracy. Even the Qobuz USA folks don’t know when the rollout to all countries will be complete. Canadians, you’re still out of luck.

Other services may suit your budget and musical tastes, such as YouTube Music, Soundcloud, and iHeart Radio.

An example of a high end Network Music Player, AKA a Streamer. The Aavik Acoustics S-280 Network Music Player (€10,000).

Equipment

Once we get past entry-level consumer devices like smartphones and earbuds, there has been a steady improvement over the past decade with Network Music Players (streamers), DACs and headphones. The (quiet) revolution has taken place with the huge increase in the quality of peripherals, including Ethernet Cables and Network Switches (AKA a port switch, Ethernet switch, switcher, power switch, etc). Both of these have led to legacy Stereophile magazine noticing the differences with the new streaming gear: the Stereophile correspondent at the October 2022 Toronto Audio Show commented “with the advent of (audiophile) network switches and better Ethernet cables, digital has reached a new tier of performance”.

Yes, the upper tier is available in the here and now.

A streamer—they come in all shapes and sizes (and prices)—is a digital device that allows music to be played wirelessly from an app on your phone, tablet, or computer. Streamers have graduated to fancy names like “Network Music Player” among others. These (well-designed) magical boxes drop the noise floor considerably and offer far better sound than streaming from a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Sometimes, streamers come with a DAC onboard, but many high-end models require the user to purchase an additional DAC.

An example of a popular sub $1500 streamer is the Cambridge Audio CXN V2 Network Audio Streamer.

The streamer above comes complete with a quality DAC, its own app, has Spotify Connect, TIDAL and Qobuz built in and is Roon Ready. More and more digital companies are providing their own navigation system apps so you can use your service without subscribing to Roon. I enjoy using Roon but now use an app (MConnect) to connect to my Aavik Acoustics’ S-280 Network Music Player. Others on the Audiophilia team won’t stream without Roon. YMMV.

Streaming’s secret, expensive weapons.

Depending on all the other circumstances (room, quality components and ancillaries, etc), you can get into high-end streaming for the price of the Cambridge above. Even less if you shop around. However, two relatively new star components have been made available to audiophiles, Ethernet Cables and Network Switches. The audiophile variety.

Below is the Nordost Valhalla 2 Ethernet Cable. You can read my review here, with lots of shootout and tech talk.

Beware, many consider them “snake oil”; expensive add-ons from the marketing departments of high-end manufacturers. Without a shadow of a doubt, I’m here to tell you the ones I’ve reviewed work. And work beautifully, elevating the sound to unheard levels of quality. Of course, purchasing them needs a hefty budget and some facetime in your system (try every cable and peripheral at home in your system before final purchase).

While every quality Ethernet Cable has made a significant difference, I was more than surprised at the efficacy of the Ansuz Acoustic network switch, the PowerSwitch D2. Expensive but highly effective in giving you far more of your curated sound. These expensive boxes are becoming more popular and are now made by companies such as Synergistic Research, Melco and Nordost.

Nordost QNET Network Switch.

Audiophilia has reviewed many headphones, ranging in price from $250 up to $5000, closed back, earbuds, open back, and all sorts of designs. Have a search for one that suits your style and budget. Just ensure your headphone amplifier (several of those reviewed, too) is powerful enough to drive your shiny new headphones.

So lots of ways and prices to stream, but if you want a CD quality experience, you going to have to invest some serious cash. Matching vinyl quality sound? Streaming’s not there yet. Maybe beyond 2023?

Happy streaming.

You can search Audiophilia for our series ‘Streaming the Classics”. We do all the heavy lifting, you simply enjoy the ten best recordings/performances according to our team of reviewers.