Compression refers to dynamic range. This is the difference in amplitude (loudness) from the most quiet sound to the loudest in the program material. Compression is used to reduce the difference, it is used to make recordings sound better on equipment that cannot reproduce large dynamic swings or spikes. In other words, compressed music sounds better on cheap systems or jam boxes.
Much of the recorded material commercially available is compressed to cater to the mass market (cheap stereo and jam box) consumers. This is a sad state of affairs for those who aspire to high end playback systems. There was a lot of buzz about this a few years ago when Santana put out 'Supernatural', an otherwise great CD marred by compression.
Not sure how your CD player control works. If your system can handle it, you should notice greater dynamic range (wider difference between quiet and loud) when the signal is not compressed.
Much of the recorded material commercially available is compressed to cater to the mass market (cheap stereo and jam box) consumers. This is a sad state of affairs for those who aspire to high end playback systems. There was a lot of buzz about this a few years ago when Santana put out 'Supernatural', an otherwise great CD marred by compression.
Not sure how your CD player control works. If your system can handle it, you should notice greater dynamic range (wider difference between quiet and loud) when the signal is not compressed.