Why spend so much on a CD system? Just a thought...

Why do people spend so much on CD playback.

I've yet to hear a CD player that is as involving as my vinyl rig, for its relatively modest cost, music just sounds alive.
I suspect its the format thats flawed. It just lacks the immediacy and musical involvement that vinyl has. Digital just strives for the sound good vinyl has. I think the productions awful on some current CD releases.
My current rig prior to my financial collapse when I had to downsize cost me a few hundred and it still kicks ass. Hadcock cryo, LP12, Clearaudio accurate off a friend.

Have we all made a terrible mistake throwing huge wads at digital media?

I think I might have just hit a wasps nest with a big stick!

very interesting thread here...
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=375592

 

In my opinion, no. I've always found them to sound as good as each other, and although I have a reasonable collection of vinyl (I precede the arrival of CD by a long way), I have bought one LP since I got my first CD player in 1985 (and that only because it never became available on CD). I'm the reverse of most people - I seek to acquire CD copies of favourite vinyl albums, because I simply can't be bothered with vinyl any more (except for occasional nostalgic evenings).

Personally, I think the alleged superior sound arises from vinyl feeling, well, much more hi-fi - the whole ritual of record playing - the big sleeves, the removing of the record, the loving placing thereof on the platter, the cleaning, the lowering of the stylus - as opposed to simply shoving a silver disc in a drawer. I suspect the whole aura surrounding the thing engenders a perception that it somehow sounds better. As a dedicated silver disc drawer-shover, I have never heard this superior sound. However, if it sounds better to you, it sounds better to you, so who cares why?

 

I must admit when I sold my reference TT, and got my humble rig I was amazed how little the sound was compromised. However, If I'd done the same with a CD player...

"In listening to sound, I guess what I'm after is the closest thing that I can get to reality. Now, I know it's not going to be reality, cause the thing gotta go through wires and gotta go through filters and this and that. But what I really like is to get as close to the natural sound of the instruments as possible. That's why I like analog as opposed to digital. Because I don't give a *** what anybody tells you man, I know what you guys are going to tell me...'Oh yeah, but it's clean Ray!' Well it's clean but it don't got no balls!!!" - Ray Charles

just remembered the Athens thread, that said vinyl won the listening test!

 

I find cd and vinyl to be very similar in sound quality, cd is a bit quieter and has perhaps greater extension at both ends ,vinyl has that palpability, which is probably only 2nd level harmonic distortion but I like it!
Hi res files can be extremely fine, better than either vinyl or cd?

 

I have heard some nice vinyl set-ups at hifi shows, but at the last Heathrow show my wife and I went into a room with HUGE horns in it (only a small room) tt setup and listened to some pops and crackles for a minute or two before Dire Straits started - and it was DIRE!
When we left a moment later and were in the corridor we agreed that we thought at first it was a tribute band, or cover versions. It did not sound like Mark Knopfler.

I am sure there are properly set up systems which are better than cd, but I can't be bothered with all the faffing about to play some music. I get a pretty good sound from my cd system.

 

Telegraph Road on Vinyl through my Tannoys - suit you sir.

 

Probably would indeed, SMEagol!

 

... I think the faffing about is part of the art, anything beautiful without a little bit of struggle in life to me is somehow less enjoyable. I'm a natural-born tinkerer. Maybe the "drive thru" ease of CD, somehow robs me of my nerdy powers! With vinyl its all part of the journey, like tones said, maybe the ritual becomes as much a part of the listening experience!

I'd like to hear Joanna Newsom on vinyl, that would save me a scrape and polish at the dentist! Its one of those back to back things I'd like to try as the CD of Ys is superb!

 

For me SMEagol it is always going to be vinyl. I find that CD is everything negative that is thrown at it. It's very much like digital photography. One could draw the same similarities. These days as I very rapidly approach fifty I am now a photographer specialising in monochrome fine art pieces for offices and dwellings. Digital imaging is good but it just cannot compete where fine art is concerned and I find similar is true of CD. It is a blend of subtleties that together, make up a very warm and somehow more acceptible end product. I have no idea what it is that does this but it is very clear for those that know how to listen just as it is for those who know how to look.

 

If I could buy all the music I wanted to listen to on vinyl then I most certainly would. Unfortunately, a CD player is a necessary evil.

My CD player gives me what I consider a reasonable sound, not as good as my TT but adequate. I have taken the view now though that continuing to chase improvements in CD replay is throwing good money after bad - better off spending it on fast cars and hot women... Or that nice leather armchair with the retractable footrest.

I am interested in hi res streamed audio though - maybe that will provide the best of both worlds??? It's still too much in its infancy, however, for me to do more than dip my digits (see what I've done there ) in the water.

 

Mmmm... This has made me think. My mission statement where photography is concerned has always been "Digital imaging is all about convenience, photography to me is NEVER about convenience". I think that this is again a similarity with CD and vinyl. Vinyl really is a faff and that is what is so pleasurable about it along with the old fashioned sound.

 

I've heard good and bad in both and favour neither so I'll abstain from getting too deep into this discussion but that's an amazing quote, never heard that one before

 

I think i seriously stopped comparing Vinyl to Cd when i tried changing the laser for a cartridge then tried playing the CD disc on my TT , that didn't work either

Guess they must be *different*

 

As I have never had the opportunity to hear anything played on a TT which would be considered by the cognoscenti to be 'a good one' and / or set up properly, I would have to say that for me CD does it and does it better.

And without the pops and clicks and getting up every 20 minutes to boot.

 

I want to be able to buy all my music as studio original files, to be played back through my netbook music server. 'Click for the licks' as it were.:MILD:

I also want to be able to buy an LP sleeve to go with my hi-res download, so I've got something to read while my computer gently weeps. See, too many choices addles the brain.

 

There's also the laser turntable - analogue sound (maybe...) and CD convenience!

ELP Laser Turntable

When I was last in the market, this was on my pre-audition short list, but didn't make it through sadly so I've no idea what it sounds like. Interesting idea though.

 

Indeed - zero wear on the vinyl, never heard one but would like to at some point!

 

...isn't that like using the Hadron Collider to make a cup of tea?

 

If Carling made kettles...

 

It's not the format at all, its the mastering. I've put a very good vinyl system through a A/D and D/A process and done a direct comparison to a straight bit of wire. It's practically impossible to tell any difference.

The fact is, vinyl is usually mastered better, and even if it isn't, a bit of distortion can help it sound better.

Personally I use CD because buying on vinyl simply isn't practical if you like a wide range of music made after the 80s.