I have witnessed this debate before, but I will admit that I read all 4 pages of this one, as this debate here was distinctively: honest, generally more respectful of differences, and instructive, for many of us who do not have the acoustical training or experience. Learned a lot from you all, colleagues of the same tribe, whether we want to call ourselves audiophiles, or music lovers, absolute sound fans, etc. In my humble experience with music, started as a school band player, then afrocuban amateur percussionist, then decades of listening to world music from a consumer-level system to now a mid-level hifi (mostly second hand to be able to afford it), I am both amazed and privileged to enjoy so much listening to amazing musical works in CD and vynil formats. Under the pandemic's global enclosure, those of us who had music and sound systems to play it, have been therapeutically served by our musical culture. Our therapist or psychologist have been always there, our music, and under this survival crisis, came out to save us. Tribe members, keep enjoying this privileged musical culture that in my experience, brings out the best of humanity. As an educator, please, share this wealth we all enjoy recreating every minute we listen, with our younger generations! I noticed in the 1980's, with the wave moving towards the digital format, what I PERCEIVED as an "electric sound" in CDs, in comparison to my LPs. That memory stayed with me, but I kept my old CDs, and now with DACS and better CD player, I keep "re-discovering" them. In the meantime (35 years), I returned to LPs, was able to get good, affordable turntables, MM and MC cartridges, tube and SS phono stages, tube and SS preamps and amps. My experience is to improve my CD gear to better enjoy my CD collection, which I keep buying. But mostly, I buy mostly used LP records, some few new ones, clean them up, care for them, read their literature, enjoy them greatly. I enjoyed reading today about everyone's experiences in this hobby, in this musical culture, this passion of ours, please keep it on, no matter which medium we prefer, "think", or "like" the most. Happy listening musical tribe comrades!
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.”
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.”
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- 203 posts total
- 203 posts total