Re: Streaming
My entire music collection runs to about 70Gb+ (iTunes Plus format) - in an uncompressed format it would be many, many times larger - I could do that at home but it's just not realistic on a mobile device.
I'm not denying your uncompressed, digital version at home on high end gear could sound better than a MP3 - but iTunes remaster a lot of their stuff for digital device playback and from originals that would usually be even higher quality than standard CDs. So perhaps the actual difference is not all that great - especially on lower / mid range kit.
Music is different for everyone - I value quality of course but also convenience and like having access to my entire library wherever I am (streamed) and can store (download) the music I listen to often. Storing it all uncompressed is just not realistic as I'd actually need to rip / convert / store it twice.
What would be a decent test would be a blind test of some tracks specifically remastered for iTunes versus CDs.
Anyway if quality is your key why CDs and not SACD or Bluray Audio?
Biting the hand that feeds IT
