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
The thing about digital is you have to look at source issues for converting to digital formats.

once turned to digital the information is brick walled, nothing more can be retrieved from it.

The next point is that there is a fundamental flaw in all Analog to Digital converters. You’ll have to dig around to really get into it, but the flaw is a real problem and no one has been able to deal with..or correct it, so far. When I say all, I really mean all A/D in existence.

Words are cheap, as in "First...we’ll convert the signal to digital".

And then, more sentences connected to the first are uttered.

But..but..the following sentences are meaningless if the fundamental flaw in the original simplistic pronouncement is unknown and unrealized by most. The technical challenges of fixing the mostly unknown fundamental flaw that remains deep inside the equation... is not swayed or altered by a bunch of grouped letters.

But it is glossed over fairly efficiently.
I am using Esoteric 03XD cd player which is top line my turntable TW ACUSTIC AC3 withTW 10.5 arm and Transfiguration Proteus with TW ACUSTIC Phono stage RPS100 is better.LPs have always been better if you have a high resolution system.
I have owned and listened to a heck of a lot of music since 1960, age 12. Inherited quality equipment and began focused listening 1973, 47 years.ago.

My system: same music, all 3 formats: everybody picks LP over CD, and everybody picks R2R over LP. Also, everybody picks tubes over SS.

How can two systems, both progressively more ’noise’ beat CDs with ’ZERO NOISE’?

People yap about even/odd distortion, ... My KISS explanation is this: Analog captures and reproduces the timing of the fundamentals and overtones better, a more involving way. No listening fatigue occurs.

...........................................

Want More Music: Quit Something!

I quit smoking in 1988 (32 years ago) coincidentally when quality CD players became more affordable. Perfect, stopped listening to LP’s for years. I decided to spend all my tobacco money on music or music equipment as an encouraging treat. Carton a week was $700 a year in 1998. As tobacco cost went up, I gave myself a rise in pay every year, carton a week now costs $4,400. in NJ; $5,700. in NYC.

I stopped doing this when I semi-retired 10 years ago, carton a week then $3,500. so it was 22 years.

I was just thinking about a treat, it’s crazy how 22 years accumulates.
Around 5,000 CDs, 2,500 LPs, and 500 Reel to Reel Tapes. I’m cleaning old LP’s, weeding, selling, buying new LPs. It never occurs to me to buy a new CD, but recently, to get a certain pianist (Paul Shrofel) I bought a few.

That got me listening to some favorite CD’s. Musicians, and Content can be terrific, but, in any format, it’s the recording/engineering that makes the huge difference, degree of involvement we have come to be aware of and appreciate.

A TT system must be properly setup, successfully aligned to beat CD, so very many have never had or heard one properly set up, and never thought an LP could sound as good as or better than a CD.

R2R was a rich man’s game, got more affordable, especially for servicemen stationed in Asia (cameras too). Again, I inherited both tapes and player, amazing, instantly amazing. Out of the box, no special alignment needed when new and for many years.

R2R is my best source material, but, content is limited by time: newer performer’s music does not exist on pre-recorded tape.




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"Analog captures and reproduces the timing of the fundamentals and overtones better, a more involving way. No listening fatigue occurs. "
Nailed it.