Hi-res streaming v. hi-res download

[Jeff Lee]

A query prompted by Gramophone magazine's digital publication guide to hi-res audio, just published: all else in the playing system being equal, would we expect the sound quality of a hi-res download purchased from (say) Qobuz be identical to that of the same track streamed from the same source?
Sorry if this is a dimbo question, just interested in what if anything the difference might be and what would cause it. I have Qobuz Sublime+, by the way, but don't buy downloads from them.
Thanks.

 

[Neale]

Interesting yes the downloads are definitely better
But don't ask me to explain

 

[Ian]

If the streaming service allows you to stream at the same bit-rate as the downloads are encoded at, then it should sound the same. However, not everywhere allows you to stream at the high quality rates.

I use Deezer to stream music, which allows 320kbit/s streaming and I'm pretty happy with that quality .