Does Anyone Think CD is Better Than Vinyl/Analog?


I am curious to know if anyone thinks the CD format (and I suppose that could include digital altogether) sounds better than vinyl and other analog formats. Who here has gone really far down both paths and can make a valid comparison? So far, I have only gone very far down the CD path and I just keep getting blown away by what the medium is capable of! I haven’t hit a wall yet. It is extremely dependent on proper setup, synergy and source material. Once you start getting those things right, the equipment gets out of the way and it can sound more fantastic than you can imagine! It’s led me to start developing a philosophy that goes something like this: Digital IS “perfect sound forever”; it’s what we do to the signal between the surface of the CD and the speaker cone that compromises it.” 
So I suppose what I’m asking for is stories from people who have explored both mediums in depth and came to the conclusion that CD has the most potential (or vice versa - that’s helpful too). And I don’t simply mean you’ve spent a lot of money on a CD player. I mean you’ve tinkered and tweaked and done actual “research in the lab,” and came back with a deep understanding of the medium and can share those experiences with others.

In my experience, the three most important things to get right are to find a good CD player (and good rarely means most expensive in my experience) and then give it clean power. In my case, I have modified my CD player to run off battery power with DC-DC regulators. The last thing that must be done right is the preamp. It’s the difference between “sounds pretty good” and “sounds dynamic and realistic.”
mkgus

Showing 3 responses by justmetoo

Tonight I'm thinking so - maybe since most Pop CDs I just don't have, can't get on vinyl. 
Good CDs (pop) pack more punch, dynamic range, very few LP if any can match. 
And I'm talking strictly Red Book here! 

Listening to e.g. Joan Osborne 'relish' now, I have a hard time to imagine this tour de force of stomping bass performance on any LP - really. 

Also earlier on, having compared Abbey Road, by the Beatles, to my LP reissue. My CD is simply better - as well.
 
Most 'newer' CDs, 90s plus productions, pack a load more dynamics, easily 6+ db, compared to early 80s stuff.
And the often sorry mastering is no pretty stuff for comparison either. 😔
Michélle 🇿🇦 
 
Just to add yet another item; Eric Clapton’s ’461 Ocean Boulevard’ from 1974.

The CD, Remastered, 20 BIT ADC, Apogee Electronics... REFERENCE STANDARD and on...
No match at all to the original issued LP, Polydor/Rino, and a 'local' RSA pressing to boot!
The CD sounding sort of ’over-refined’, kind of boness / gutless, when compared to the LP.

So where on earth does that leave one comparing the different systems?

The bass, ’lacking’ with this *Remastered* Clapton CD is in extremely stark contrast to e.g. the CD of Morphine ’cure for pain’ RYKODISC 10262.
So, like most everything: it bloodywell DEPENDS, or as some suggested here: ’ask a different question’.
Michélle 🇿🇦
To me it's what will be able to give you goose-bumps when listening. 
Digital as a matter of memory doesn't / hasn't, analogue did, but really only with MM cartridges - and older / analogue recordings.

I have a suspicion there's more reason behind it than just good/bad mastering. 

Any suggestions? 
Michélle 🇿🇦