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General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

RE: Bi-wiring and Cambridge Audio CXN network streamer

O.K. I'll try to amswer as folows:

Premium grade music on Spotify still means a lossy code is used ( I think Vorbis Ogg). Spotify offers a data rate of 320kb/s. I was wrong in my earlier posting when I said that the free option looked as if it was the same. Although the descriptions for both mention " high quality audio" it is greyed out on the free option. That means that if you pay 10 pounds a month you will get better quality. However the difference between that 320kb/s and CD quality should be clear on listening. My own view is that Spotify Premium offers a fairly good sound but having had two Spotify subscribing friends listen to Qobuz in comparison, both are now Qobuz subscribers. Perhaps you could subscribe to Premium and try the free offers from Qobuz and Tidal and see what you prefer. Don't make an instant decision just get into them over the 15 days allowed. You can always cancel any of the free offers before they take any subscription from your account ( BTW you do this via the My Account option you will see on the player).

MQA is a method of streaming high resolution files via a standard resolution carrier. MQA also claim to improve the original sound by "deblurring" it. With Tidal CD quality option this means that they have a selection of MQA encoded files (currently all from Warners). You can choose to play these but only with the desktop player to carry out the processing you need to hear basic MQA. Otherwise you need an MQA equipped DAC to get the full effect or to hear MQA. So unfortunately your exisiting tablet/Bluetooth based system cannot take advantage of this.

A minumum standard for audiophile replay? I would generally say that any lossy or compressed audio carrier is insufficient for true high fidelity use. However all carriers have their own limitations. It is just that the losses occur ( hopefully :-)) in areas not important for normal music listening. So I would go with standard redbook CD as the minimum common standard. There is not much point in paying for audio hardware which has a performance capabilty significantly better than the signal fed to it. That is cerainly the case with the audio standard offered as a free option with Spotify.

I hope that helps. Please remember to let us know what you end up deciding upon.




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