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CDs Vs LPs

Just wondering how many prefer CDs over LPs  or LPs over CDs for the best sound quality. Assuming that both turntable and CDP are same high end quality. 
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tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,544 posts
 
It’s nice to see this topic being discussed without devolving into a shouting match. I’m a digital guy myself. I have a turntable and three or four hundred Lps as well as a couple hundred cassettes but don’t listen to them much. I have a large collection of cds and I also enjoy the wide variety of music available on streaming services. It’s nice to be able to try before you buy and listen to stuff you won’t buy but would like to hear once or twice.

Nobody is wrong in their choice of format. It’s a matter of hearing, system and taste. All of which are different for each one of us. Some people love vinyl and digital hurts their ears. That’s just the way they are and there’s nothing wrong with that. Other people prefer the sound of digital. There’s no right or wrong in general, it’s a matter of preference.
jdave's avatar
jdave
26 posts
 
As amazed as I am at how good CDs can sound, I think that vinyl sounds better the majority of the time with a good cart and a good phono stage.
Regarding the pops and clicks; with my collection, which has always been well cared for and played on good equipment, it's not that they're there all the time. But when I'm playing something loud, there are some uncleanable pops in quiet places that almost hurt your ears. Those are really the only annoying ones.
 
aalenik
67 posts
 

To my delight, this has not become another 'war'.

My call is that it depends on the individual LP or CD, as well as the gear it's being played on.  Some recordings are simply better than others; Some discs (LP or CD) are produced better than others.

One common fallacy I've seen is the 'vinyl junkie' who's spent tens of thousands on his analog rig and is comparing it to his $900 CDP.  There's some self-fulfilling prophecy for you.

For whoever asked, TTs, tone-arms, carts and the media itself have all improved, so new LPs on a nice rig can be quieter.  That being said, digital media still DO have better dynamic range AND frequency range. (And if you're not listening to pop, you can mostly avoid the 'loudness war' compression.)

BTW, if you think you like 33-1/3 rpm LPs, try listening to a 45 rpm re-issue of some favorite recording.  After that, it's hard not to see 33-1/3 as anything but a huge sonic compromise.

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned SACD (DSD), or maybe I missed it.  In my experience, DSD is the best of both worlds.  IMHO, SACD is to CD what 45 rpm LP is to 33-1/3.

But once again, it is the individual recording & production of the media that always makes the biggest difference, so there's lots of overlap.

g_nakamoto's avatar
g_nakamoto
348 posts
 
i've heard lp's, casettes and cd's. i like them all. one thing i can say about an lp is that they seem to have a 'unique' sound which a casette and cd don't have. it's too hard to explain what i mean. also, cd's don't have that 'click and pop'!!!
nkonor
635 posts
 
tattooedtrackman,

Thanks for this thread and All that have kept it civilized while expressing your opinions. Wish the rest on this forum would pickup on this.

 I am 66 years and that means vinyl was my start in music. 3000 LPs, 83 CDs. 

When CD came out; it did not sound good to most of us. But it did start to get better. Now we’re finding that CDs do sound pretty good. Lazy and no tics and pops really sold it before SQ happened.

 I bought my LP12 in 1988. My friends thought I was crazy to keep going the vinyl route and not switch to CDs.

 I moved to Juneau, AK. There was a Record Shop that specialized in audiophile vinyl. Still, people were dumping their vinyl collections and Seattle, WA was a clearing house for audiophile and Japanese vinyl. For 5 years, I made it a point to cleanup all the best that I could find and afford. $5-8 for mint audiophile and Jap. vinyl in those days. MoFi UHQRs $25 mint - $35 sealed.

 I have had my modded Technics 1200G with Triplanar arm for 9-10 weeks now. This will be my Final rig.

Yes, Vinyl is a lot more effort. Can’t play in a car. Can’t get the recordings you want, on and on.

So far, The recording that is on CD and not vinyl. Frank Zappa  “The Yellow Shark”;  MoFi, press a UD1S copy of this please.

Happy with my system and records. Have the time to enjoy. Been doing this for so long; I don’t really mind the extra effort. The Technics TT almost brings the ease of CD to vinyl.

Just my rambling thoughts. Enjoy the music. Best to All on this Journey.
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