When CDs first came onto the market in 1982 .......

The Jurassic era introduction of music presented on silver spinner discs had its appeal in ease of use and portability that was a welcome step-up to cassette tapes. Six disc CD changers flooded the markets and car audio. Vinyl strengths and warts continues even today.

I would not characterize the early cd audio presentation as anything close to “mind blowing” . Many recordings were comparably a step-down to early 9o’s DDD offerings discussed below and a further step-down from today’’s digital mastering.

So, because they were originally analog remastered digitally, there was a new creation that was “bright”. This “brightness” was perceived as a welcome positive result unleashed in the flood of low-fi and mid-fi audio, …. Not a positive for that era of hi-fi. Ergo, not “mind blowing” IMO.

IGNORING the impact of cheap 80’s cd player warts…. When you listen to music on CDs from the 80s, you have to realize that there are three stages to the production process: the recording, the mixing, and the final production master.

Take a look at the SPARS code on the disc in question. There are three letters - how is it recorded, how is it mixed, and how is it mastered? A or D? This is analog recorded and mixed, and digitally mastered. The first were AAD.

Most music CDs from the 80s are just like this, sliding to being ADD (analog recorded, digitally mixed and digitally mastered). It’s only in the very late 80s and 90s that we have finally have full digital that can expose every detail arguably better than vinyl, and without the surface noise in vinyl or cassette..

( The evolution of DACs is another issue excluded herein )

So, the quality of the music that you’re hearing on CD from the 80s is very highly dependent on how it was recorded, and produced.

- If it’s fully digitally recorded, chances are it’s gonna arguably be welcomed and can “impress” .

- If it’s an analog recording, but digitally mastered, then it depends on if you’re listening to 1980s grade analog to digital, or something that’s been re-mastered using modern DSP technology.

TAKEAWAY IMO

- Not “mind blowing” in any sense over quality vinyl played on high-end hi-fi of that era .

- revolutionary in utility for sure , especially in low-fi or mid-fi systems

- it progressed over time from a more forward / brighter audio presentation starting with the AAD mastering until it was fully smoothed out progressively in late 80’s or early 90’s with full digital DDD recordings.

You're mistaken. 

CDs were mastered with an audio stream turned up to 1.2v (?) whereas all analog recordings (vinyl, tape etc.) had been mastered using an analog audio stream of 0.8v

Is this on the money or am I mistaken ... ??

I remember when they came out. I had strong beginnings of a high end system. I was also in search of detail and slam. I had a AR turntable… considered good at the time, but nothing like a real audiphile table. Serface noise was always notable.

I bought a Nakamichi CD player… somewhere in here. I was really delighted. I got dead quiet background, slam and more details. But there was something missing. I still played a lot of vinyl. But I traveled a lot, so that this replaced my 2 briefcases of cassette tapes I traveled with.

Your impressions at that time depends on your associted equipment and what you were searching for. Most people then did not have $10K in their system like I did. But I was pretty clueless on “natural sound” at that time. I wanted volume and slam.  I got it… but I pursued vinyl and better analog as my primary listening medium… well until my digital end equaled it in sound quality… a couple years ago.

I found that Nakamichi CD player in my storage room last year. I hooked it up for fun… that was a very high end CD player for it’s time. I cringed… unplugged it… took it upstairs and threw it in the garbage. I would never want any music reproduced so badly… tinny, hard, unmusical.

For me it was no clicks, pops or overall record noise from worn records. Sold 90% of my records. Still sad about that.

@ghdprentice - I loved my Nak tape deck and when they came out with a CD player I grabbed whatever cash I had and drove to the nearest dealer. The sales guy said don’t buy it, I was not going to listen to him until he actually compared it to a Rotel. Night and day. I brought the Rotel and had it till it died about 3 years ago. I totally agree with you, the Nak CD player was horrible.

Also had an AR table. But lusted for an Empire.