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Why Do ~You~ Still Play CDs?

I'm curious why you still play CDs in the age of streaming. I recently got back into CD listening and I'm curious if your reasons align with mine, which are:

  • Enjoying the physical medium—the tactile nature of the case, the disc, the booklet, etc.
  • Forcing myself to actually listen to an album, versus being easily distracted by an algorithm, or "what's next" in my playlist.
  • Actually owning the music I purchase, versus being stuck with yet another monthly subscription.

Others? 

itanibro
soix
9,566 posts
 

@brianlucey  Thank you for sharing your thoughts/experience here.  Are you saying the original master, if it’s in 16/44.1, sounds better than an upsampled version?  Just wanted to clarify as that’s interesting.  Also, on Qobuz I have no problem hearing the difference between 16/44.1 and hi res versions of the same songs and the differences are not subtle (at least in audiophile terms), and I suspect many others here would say the same.  Would you then say we are the 1%.  Thanks again for your thoughts. 

jimf421
46 posts
 

CDs are much better if you want to play an album... The artists decided on the songs and their particular order; and sometimes that is what I want to hear.  I also find the quality better than streaming much of the time; particularly on blu-ray audio discs.

murphy1244
5 posts
 

I don't. I am still playing records.

rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano
2,666 posts
 

Since I obtained a magnificent sounding streamer (Aurender N200) I rarely listen to CDs anymore.

jimmyblues1959
150 posts
 

+1@upstateaudiophile

 

Not sure why, but IME there's a sense of realism to physical media that appears to be lacking when streaming music.  Perhaps I am used to hearing more distortion in the music,  which is why I prefer analogue sources such as vinyl on a good turtable and  tape via reel to reel tape deck.  

I have also found that live studio broadcasts through a first rate FM tuner can sound superb. 

 

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