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Does Anyone Think CD is Better Than Vinyl/Analog?

I am curious to know if anyone thinks the CD format (and I suppose that could include digital altogether) sounds better than vinyl and other analog formats. Who here has gone really far down both paths and can make a valid comparison? So far, I have only gone very far down the CD path and I just keep getting blown away by what the medium is capable of! I haven’t hit a wall yet. It is extremely dependent on proper setup, synergy and source material. Once you start getting those things right, the equipment gets out of the way and it can sound more fantastic than you can imagine! It’s led me to start developing a philosophy that goes something like this: Digital IS “perfect sound forever”; it’s what we do to the signal between the surface of the CD and the speaker cone that compromises it.” 
So I suppose what I’m asking for is stories from people who have explored both mediums in depth and came to the conclusion that CD has the most potential (or vice versa - that’s helpful too). And I don’t simply mean you’ve spent a lot of money on a CD player. I mean you’ve tinkered and tweaked and done actual “research in the lab,” and came back with a deep understanding of the medium and can share those experiences with others.

In my experience, the three most important things to get right are to find a good CD player (and good rarely means most expensive in my experience) and then give it clean power. In my case, I have modified my CD player to run off battery power with DC-DC regulators. The last thing that must be done right is the preamp. It’s the difference between “sounds pretty good” and “sounds dynamic and realistic.”
128x128mkgus
mkgus's avatar
mkgus OP
324 posts
 
I’m really appreciating all the feedback! 
Teo - does multibit solve the problem you are talking about?

Skypunk - you are right. Who cares what other people think as long as you enjoy what you hear? I definitely enjoy what I hear! I suppose I’m curious for feedback to determine if I should keep sharpening my sword on digital or if at some point I should branch out and go deep into vinyl. I know it will be a significant expenditure of time and money if I do. I don’t go half-ass with my audio system. And I’m sure most people here don’t either. 
audition__audio
1,494 posts
 
I have never heard digital that caused the emotional response that I get from analog. 
mkgus's avatar
mkgus OP
324 posts
 
Audition - that’s important feedback that I like to hear. Everyone talks about pace and rhythm, clarity, noise, dynamics, etc., but I think at the end of the day emotional involvement is probably near the top of everyone’s list whether we are consciously aware of it or not.
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millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
My first few years were devoted to CD. Took a good solid 3 years working on every aspect and at last my dream system was done. Until that damn Robert Harley went and said the turntable is the heart of a high end audio system. WTF?

Well my 1976 Technics SL1700 was still in its box in the garage so I dug it out hooked it up and spent the rest of the day flabbergasted how easily this ancient relic clobbered CD. Wife came home and agreed.

First rig was a Basis 2001/Graham/Glider/PH3SE. Had quite a few CDs, tried and tried for years to get them to where I wanted to listen to them as much as records. You want stories of people who dug into it? Got a player so modded you can hardly get the lid back on. Pretty darn good for what it is. Sounds like crap compared to my current Miller Carbon/OL Conqueror/Koetsu/Herron rig.

Couple weeks ago I was over at Mike Lavigne’s place. Talk about digital taken to where you can’t imagine, he actually has done it. Sounds like you said, better than you can imagine. Best background music I ever heard. Because once he fires up his vinyl all bets are off. Any one of them. Doesn’t matter. Records rule.

Many times over the years I’ve had people want to compare. Always use one of my MoFi recordings because those are consistent in terms of source, sound quality, and mastering between the two formats. Never ever have anyone be less than stunned how much better the record sounds.

All except, that is, for audiophiles. Some of them are capable it seems of talking themselves into anything. That at least is the only explanation I can come up with. Not all audiophiles, mind you, but some.

Okay not the story you wanted. But it is true. And it even comes with a happy ending: you just might decide to try a turntable. This is how Harley got me. You can thank us later.
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