Theoretical question about how CD's work

Nurse! Thorazine! Man down! Costco hasn’t been paying attention. In the case of CDs the 1s and 0s are represented by transitions not by the ON or OFF. As I already explained it’s more complicated than you apparently think. The link I provided yesterday includes the allowable sets of data determined by both transitions AND the length of pits and lands.

Also, you are incorrect that - in the Case of CDs - the digital process is reliable. It is only *partially* reliable 🤭 within limits that are set by failure of the CD playback system to deal properly with scattered laser light and vibration, internal and external. Not to mention the obvious failure of Reed Solomon error codes and the laser servo feedback system to correct all errors. Wake up and smell the coffee! ☕️

Even CD players that are *isolated* have difficulty with laser reading the data on the disc because the *CD itself* is wobbling and fluttering. The CDs are often not perfectly round and the disc is often not absolutely level during play, which exacerbates this CD vibration problem. Yes, CD Compact Disc “works” well enough for those who don’t mind generic, thin, bass shy, brittle, honky, synthetic, congealed sound.

Ah snake oil accusations took their time to get into this thread ... amazing! Next ... 0 and 1 sound the same in any cable no matter what ... stand by ... oh dear

About CDs did you know they binary code is pressed onto the polycarbonate disc and yes a fine powered lubricant is used which does go into the surface layer , a product the cable company sells  called Art de sone. You sprayon not messy and wipe off removes the residue and alllows the laser to read better 
and music sounds for sure cleaner, and I do thisalso before ripping a disc .
you can hear the difference .
one thing for sure I experimented with a properly burned  in copy sounds better 
then the original copy especially when using top blanks like a maxel blue color 
cd. ,why forburning the code in ismuch more defined and easier for the laser to read and theblue make up allows less light scatter. It isnoticably better sounding 
but a pain in the butt considering I have everything on a Solid State drive.
i have proventhisto others Many timesin the past .today I just look for quality 
remasters and apply the Art de son to everydisc before I rip it 
and use either Wav, or the highest uncompressed #8 on db power amp 
for ripping which is a great program and great for converting any disc format 
even from DSD  to high quality standard if your player don’t read DSD recordings.

Actually they don’t use mold release compound MRC during the manufacture of CDs. That’s what they call an old wives tale.

I would emphasize at this point that the intent of the OP's question is that he is "just trying to understand how CD’s work."

Discussions of why a given CD can sound different when played on different players, or why different physical CDs containing the same 1's and 0's may sound different when played on the same player, or why CDs, ripped files, and CDs burned from those ripped files and containing the same 1's and 0's can sound different, are separate (and complex) subjects that are unrelated to the stated intent of his question.

Regards,
-- Al