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
In terms of music quality, of course CD is better....
In terms of nostalgia, perhaps vinyl will win.

For music, CD offers:

- Much less noise.

- Much wider dynamic range.

- No RIAA curve matching which in itself is an inadequacy of vinyl which needs to be corrected.

- The recording does not get destroyed every time you play it.

- All post 1990’ish vinyl actually gets recorded digitally first and then pressed onto vinyl.

If you do not believe the above, talk to sound/recording engineers.

Not having caught any previous iterations of this topic, this has an interesting and educational thread. Thank you for starting it mkgus. I’ve learned a lot about what comprises the differences between the two formats, and even a bit about streaming as well, which I’ve never done.

And by the way, whoever mentioned many of the Blue Note and Verve jazz remasters on CD are exceptional is right on the money. Having purchased many, mostly Blue Note, of late, I’ve been very pleased with how great they sound.

Happy New Year to you all too, and may you stay well and forever young in 2021.

Mike
Variety is the spice of life, so do it all, no right or wrong answers here. Besides, CD and Vinyl both contain good and poor recordings.
Chocolate and vanilla. Much of audio is personal preferences.

I transitioned from a good TT to CD years ago and haven't looked back. Early days I knew the TT was better, I just didn't care for the effort involved to maintain a TT system. Some digital is poorly done but then again, mastering counts. Digital also matured and then HD came along too.

How much of the material **I** want to listen to is on vinyl? How much was originally recorded in full analogue? Not much. Others have commented on the effort/space to operate/clean a TT system. Been there, done that. Being fundamentally lazy, no thanks.

I have my material on a server in lossless format. I can use this wherever I go. Lossless playback while walking, driving, or cleaning house. HD digital sounds great to me. Well mastered CDs too. Serious listening, imaging/dynamics, eyes misting over during an emotional track. Check. Check. Check. Not to mention playlists, Roon, and services such as Tidal. In my household LPs have no chance.

TT is not better than digital. Digital is not better than TT. Both have plus and minuses so choose your flavor and enjoy. I have.