Anyone still buying CDs and Tapes?
Discussion
I've started buying CD's and Blurays again after many years of not - as has been mentioned elsewhere I like having a physical copy that no-one (short of a burglar) can decide to prevent me listening. There is the further issue in as much as I don't like paying every single time I want to listen to some tracks/on a monthly basis or watching an advert longer than the song/interrupting the song
Panamax said:
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I rip to an Innuos Zenith that cost a big wedge of cash but, frustratingly, doesn't sound as good as the CD player! Yes, I'm ripping to FLAC (which is what a CD is) and then playing through exactly the same DAC in either case.
A CD ripped to flac should sound exactly the same as playback on a CD player.I rip to an Innuos Zenith that cost a big wedge of cash but, frustratingly, doesn't sound as good as the CD player! Yes, I'm ripping to FLAC (which is what a CD is) and then playing through exactly the same DAC in either case.
In some rare cases, the rip may possibly sound better if the original CD was badly scratched, as the ripping process will typically try multiple rereads if it's unable to reliably recover the data.
Additionally - there's no need to spend 4 figure sums on a streamer. Software like MPD, Squeezeplay etc. is bit perfect and has been for a long time.
When ripped, a CD is usually initially ripped in the wav format and then transcoded to flac. They don't actually contain flac or wav data.
If you're hearing differences between the streamed version of a track and the actual CD, I'd suggest a double blind test because there shouldn't be any difference at all.
nuyorican said:
Why do people still bother with flac? I got it when storage space was an issue/expensive. What’s wrong with a wav?
Flac supports tagging, so metadata can be stored within the file.It is possible to store metadata in Wav files, however it's not as flexible as storing metadata in flac or mp3 files.
Additionally, flac is completely lossless, so there's nothing to be gained from using wav instead of flac.
AC43 said:
I've got subs on everything; my sound system, my 5.1 AV system, two additional sound bars, the audio system in my room and the system in my car.
They don't dominate proceedings but they do make sure that the bottom 20% of frequencies are well represented.
That sounds similar to my systems! When I upgraded the sub in my main system, I even decided to re-use the old one in my kitchen system. It's a 12" SVS, so definitely overkill for that situation, but it is hidden and works really well.They don't dominate proceedings but they do make sure that the bottom 20% of frequencies are well represented.
As you say, it's not a case of having massive bass to dominate everything, just to give the extension that smaller drivers can't deliver by themselves.
kingston12 said:
That sounds similar to my systems! When I upgraded the sub in my main system, I even decided to re-use the old one in my kitchen system. It's a 12" SVS, so definitely overkill for that situation, but it is hidden and works really well.
As you say, it's not a case of having massive bass to dominate everything, just to give the extension that smaller drivers can't deliver by themselves.
I think a sub can also free up the mid range on the main speakers a bit. I have KEF LS60 speakers which already have 4 bass drivers per speaker - but adding a sub has definitely improved the sound.As you say, it's not a case of having massive bass to dominate everything, just to give the extension that smaller drivers can't deliver by themselves.
I’ve dug out my old Samsung Blu Ray player and hooked it up to the TV which means I can play CDs through my SONOS. So now I’ve got my turntable, iPod and CDs through the SONOS as well as Spotify. Will see how much I use the CD before spending any money on a dedicated player. I suspect I won’t use it much, but until I decide, the quality is decent enough for now.
AC43 said:
Yup, very few artists (for me anyway) nail an entire album-worth of songs. There are exceptions but, generally, I like to pick and choose.
Playlists are great for weaning out the best stuff. And Artist Radio - that's how I find loads of new stuff.
This is me as well. Like the idea of a vinyl set up, but think I’d only get greatest hits albums or a select few with a lot of hits on them, like Rumours.Playlists are great for weaning out the best stuff. And Artist Radio - that's how I find loads of new stuff.
TonyRPH said:
A CD ripped to flac should sound exactly the same as playback on a CD player.
The catch is that tricky word "should". Many CD users will be familiar with the curious concept that not all CD transports sound the same. I guess this same thing can carry over into the world of servers.The cable between my Innuos and DAC is a 0.5m Chord USB (£50) and I'm wondering whether to embark on the slippery slope of trying different cables. I realise this sounds absurd with a digital signal but, hey, you never know and at least I can start with a cheap printer cable out of the drawer!
Panamax said:
The catch is that tricky word "should". Many CD users will be familiar with the curious concept that not all CD transports sound the same. I guess this same thing can carry over into the world of servers.
The cable between my Innuos and DAC is a 0.5m Chord USB (£50) and I'm wondering whether to embark on the slippery slope of trying different cables. I realise this sounds absurd with a digital signal but, hey, you never know and at least I can start with a cheap printer cable out of the drawer!
I've tested many different cables with a spectrum analyser and there are no differences to be found.The cable between my Innuos and DAC is a 0.5m Chord USB (£50) and I'm wondering whether to embark on the slippery slope of trying different cables. I realise this sounds absurd with a digital signal but, hey, you never know and at least I can start with a cheap printer cable out of the drawer!
So long as the cable has sufficient bandwidth and is not ridiculously long, the signal will be preserved.
Add to this that any DAC designed in the past 10 - 12 years or so can reconstruct the digital signal perfectly, cables are simply not an issue.
I've yet to hear any differences between CD transports / players used as transports, and streamers into the same DAC.
Obviously if the CD player is unable to recover the data off the CD for whatever reason, then audible differences are possible, however this is rare, as the error correction can do a marvellous job except in the very worst of cases, by which time the music is usually stuttering.
kingston12 said:
AC43 said:
I've got subs on everything; my sound system, my 5.1 AV system, two additional sound bars, the audio system in my room and the system in my car.
They don't dominate proceedings but they do make sure that the bottom 20% of frequencies are well represented.
That sounds similar to my systems! When I upgraded the sub in my main system, I even decided to re-use the old one in my kitchen system. It's a 12" SVS, so definitely overkill for that situation, but it is hidden and works really well.They don't dominate proceedings but they do make sure that the bottom 20% of frequencies are well represented.
As you say, it's not a case of having massive bass to dominate everything, just to give the extension that smaller drivers can't deliver by themselves.
Meanwhile I've just been for a short drive and am much happier with Spotify set to Loud. What a difference. Finally I have the same volume from Spotify as I do from CD's. Sounds great through the Morels I had put in alongside the Android head unit and, oddly enough, the hidden 10 inch 100 wat sub.
miniman said:
I still buy CDs all the time. As above, I like the structure of playing the whole album as it was intended with the remote out of reach. And I maintain my trusty CD63 KI sounds a load better than even Tidal.
A lot depends on what DAC you are using , try eg tidal through a QUTEST - plus the 63Ki is not the most neutral player so it will have a sound which you may just like I still enjoy hunting through the CD sections in charity shops (though these are getting few and far between these days). Always on the lookout for classic albums from the 70s and 80s that I never got round to buying first time round…
When I am listening in the house I usually strream from the regular (cheap ass) suspects but it is nice to break out a few CDs as they just sound nicer. Also my Cayman only has a CD player with no bluetooth so its always good to have a few CDs to hand when going out for a drive. I was listening to my latest acquisition earlier when out in the sunshine - Grace Jones’ Island Life. Nostalgia hey?
When I am listening in the house I usually strream from the regular (cheap ass) suspects but it is nice to break out a few CDs as they just sound nicer. Also my Cayman only has a CD player with no bluetooth so its always good to have a few CDs to hand when going out for a drive. I was listening to my latest acquisition earlier when out in the sunshine - Grace Jones’ Island Life. Nostalgia hey?
kingston12 said:
AC43 said:
I've got subs on everything; my sound system, my 5.1 AV system, two additional sound bars, the audio system in my room and the system in my car.
They don't dominate proceedings but they do make sure that the bottom 20% of frequencies are well represented.
That sounds similar to my systems! When I upgraded the sub in my main system, I even decided to re-use the old one in my kitchen system. It's a 12" SVS, so definitely overkill for that situation, but it is hidden and works really well.They don't dominate proceedings but they do make sure that the bottom 20% of frequencies are well represented.
As you say, it's not a case of having massive bass to dominate everything, just to give the extension that smaller drivers can't deliver by themselves.
But now I've discovered something else; there's also a Custom Media Volume Limit on my Samsung; by default it's throttled back. So that's now sorted. Full power enabled.
So, hopefully, the music I stream in the car will be that much louder again; it's been irritating having to revert to CDs and pre-loaded MP3s to get the full punchy experience.
I left all my DVDs in the house when I got divorced in 2013 and have never bought another one. I hadn't actually purchased any for years before this, and lots of them were still sealed. I got a free Samsung blu ray player when I purchased my last TV and ended up selling it sealed on eBay.
The last CD I purchased was Rock Dust Light Star by Jamiroquai in 2010. Since then I have given all my CDs to charity shops.
I have everything ripped to a hard drive as MP3s and a 32GB USB drive in the car with all the albums I like on it.
The last CD I purchased was Rock Dust Light Star by Jamiroquai in 2010. Since then I have given all my CDs to charity shops.
I have everything ripped to a hard drive as MP3s and a 32GB USB drive in the car with all the albums I like on it.
Om said:
I was listening to my latest acquisition earlier when out in the sunshine - Grace Jones’ Island Life. Nostalgia hey?
One of my fave albums of all time. So many brilliant songs on there. Her versions of La Vie En Rose & Libertango, which forms the backdrop for I've Seen That Face Before, are just staggeringly good. TwigtheWonderkid said:
Om said:
I was listening to my latest acquisition earlier when out in the sunshine - Grace Jones’ Island Life. Nostalgia hey?
One of my fave albums of all time. So many brilliant songs on there. Her versions of La Vie En Rose & Libertango, which forms the backdrop for I've Seen That Face Before, are just staggeringly good. In his book about Island Records, Chris Blackwell talked about how great it was to have Sly & Robbie playing live in the studio and having Grace singing over the top in one take.
Still sounds amazing today.
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