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

@ktarver "CDs are digital music without compression or expansion"

good summary for CD format problem! 

vinyl sounds better at low level tones, piano, guitar voice etc..

I still use and love CDs.  Unlike streaming, CDs are digital music that Has not been compressed and expanded.  Every time a program is compressed and expanded there are losses.  I’ve experienced this several times and it’s really disturbing. 

Recently I've returned to playing and buying CDs after a 15 year hiatus.  The reason, I think CDs sound a little better than streaming.  I have 2 systems and an excellent streamer in both, Aurender W20SE sourcing a Holo May KTE DAC and Grimm MU1 feeding a Bricast M1S2 DAC.  In the last 2 years I've purchased 2 transports, PS Audio SACD transport and the Jay's Audio CDT3 Mk3.  Most of the time but not always, I prefer the CD to the same album streamed on Qobuz.  Streaming sounds great but when directly compared to the CD, the CD usually wins (not always, some early 80s CDs sound terrible).

Imaging with CDs just sounds just a little bit more focused and real to life.  I can afford to have both but if I had to choose only one, I would probably choose to stream because it sounds great and having access to millions of albums can't be beat.  I also play vinyl and sometimes that beats digital and sometimes not.  I like having my options.

"Why Do ~You~ Still Play CDs?"

..cause I like to listen to my CD collection! CDs on my Esoteric K-03XD sound awesome! 

"Why Do ~You~ Still Play CDs? " They come in handy when the internet goes down.  Also for a whee dab of nostalgia.