Why Purchase A CD Player or Transport ?

Why purchase a CD/SACD player? Because it can sound so damn good.

All the best,
Nonoise

My streaming now sounds better than playing CDs.  The only reason I keep my transport around is to play stuff that isn’t available to stream. 

Weird question. Why would any "subset" sound better through a CD player ?

Perhaps that was poorly worded.

Are there a substantial number of well recorded performances recorded on CD which can’t be found via streaming services, or where the streaming version is sonically inferior to the CD?

I'm considering the purchase of the PS Audio SACD I2s transport which is on sale for $3999.00.  I'm thinking that I can rip my CDs, never listen to my SACD and save the $3999.00 + $1k I2s cable and additional Timber Nation Tiger Maple shelving/stand.  That said, saving has not been part of the equation where the saved money negatively impacts the listening experience.

I can't say one way or the other as I don't stream but there are plenty of reviewers out there who've expressed a preference for CDs over streaming. One reviewer finally found one streamer that bested his CD and stored files but it cost north of $15K just to be incrementally better. I could live without that, quite easily.

One thing overlooked is all the time, money, blood, sweat and tears it can take to assemble a fine streaming set up. Mastering that, how could anyone say it's not as good as playing a CD?

It's like some backyard garage mechanic who can keep his car in proper working order thinking he's a master mechanic. You always see their cars ending up on jack stands in their driveways.

All the best,
Nonoise

Are there a substantial number of well recorded performances recorded on CD which can’t be found via streaming services, or where the streaming version is sonically inferior to the CD?

Unless you have a large number of rare CDs the answer to this is probably no, but there will be albums that you won’t find on your streaming service.

Technology continues to improve rapidly in both the CD and streaming formats. Which one will eventually sound best is hard to know. Streaming has the advantage of hi-res formats (96/24, 192/24 at present). CD is always going to be 44.1/16.

The great advantage of streaming is that you have access to millions of albums. I love being able to find great music I’ve never heard of. Most of the apps you use to control your streamer suggest new artists based on what you’ve already listened to. I use roon (subscription required) for this and I love it.

Streaming is the future. It already provides about 85% of revenues to the music labels. CD could make a comeback but there’s no guarantee of that.