Why Do ~You~ Still Play CDs?

Because a lot of the CD’s I have are not on any streaming services is one reason. I can say the same about a bunch of records I have.

@Lalitk

@soix

+1

The sound quality coming from a CD player is the sum of all its internal component... physical transport, streamer, and DAC (as well as its power supply, internal design, case... etc). The quality of streaming is the quality of the streamer and your DAC. Assuming we are talking about a very good streamer, it will isolate you from network noise (if not then this can be an additional variable). So, to make a valid comparison you have to have all the components the same level of sound quality. Difficult for most.

I have had a number of CD players, DACs, and streamers over time. Currently I have a great CD Player / DAC (functioning as both... great for comparisons) and streamer (which has internal memory for ripped CDs). I have compared a number of albums which were the same recording and mastering. The short story is the CD, internally stored files, and streaming sounds the same. So, just as in comparing vinyl, the sound quality is dependent on the equipment you are using, not on the media. There is an additional variable thrown in to vinyl, the pressing number as unlike digital where each recording is the same analog is not. But typically this is not a huge difference. 

Only the Dead man

Classical music is a dreadful fit on most streaming services. Classical does not comprise songs and albums, nor is it driven by artists. Most classical stuff comprises works written by composers. Works usually have several movements. Before Presto started streaming classical, we had Primephonic (I think) which was bought by Apple and promptly shut down.

CDs were outclassed by SACD about 25 years ago. I don’t know any streaming service which even matches 5.1 channel DSD.

I still buy lots of SACDs and CDs where there is no SACD version. If there is a high-res download (not stream!) I will consider this.

I buy 4k Blu-ray disks because streaming simply cannot match the bandwidth.

My disks are always available!

I play CDs all the time, in a way. It just so happens I rip and then I stream my CDs.

I was introduced to streaming three years ago and took up Roon about two years ago. I have no interest whatsoever in playing a CD physically if can help it. The nearest equivalent is my Ayre DX-5 DSD player and I find it a huge pain to look through my alphabetized collection to find the one or two that I have decided to play.

I have a large vinyl collection and I had my B&O Beogram 4004 turntable completely restored last year and yet I rarely play it because I find it a chore to go through the ritual so many seem to enjoy. . Streaming has spoiled me, there’s no doubt of that! I play my vinyl just enough to keep everything moving. And that is even though I enjoy listening to vinyl for a change. I wish a record cleaner wasn’t so darn expensive. I don’t have a Degritter or a Kirmuss and it pains me greatly to play a record that hasn’t been cleaned properly.

For those who like rituals, there is a ritual associated with streaming, but it’s 100% a comfortable armchair or sofa process. I interact with a Roon app and I enjoy the ritual of ripping my CDs and tweaking the metadata just the way I like it. I thoroughly enjoy the ritual of strolling through my albums either deliberately to find something in particular or just browsing, as you might in the old days in a Tower records store (and I do so miss Tower Records and their counterparts.). It’s so easy and so enjoyable to browse because the album art is presented so nicely and I often wind up playing something I wouldn’t otherwise have thought of. I enjoy everything about streaming. Try it! You might like it as much as I do.

One more thing to mention… I still buy a lot of CDs but I buy used 99% of the time because they only have to work just once to be ripped.  That saves lots of money.  I do typically look for used labeled excellent or very good just because I want a decent used copy in case I ever decide to liquidate.