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Can Redbook CD Be Saved

This type of thread has been discussed in various OPs elsewhere in one form or another. Some have said that the future belongs to one type of hi rez format or another, or maybe even various types of formats. Well, redbook CD has been around for three decades and many of us "old heads" have made significant investments in our CDPs and redbook CD collections based on 16 bit/44.1 kHz technology.

So I ask those knowledgeable in digital formats whether it is possible that redbook CD technology can be improved to the point that it could be substantially comparable to the various so called "cutting edge" hi rez formats coming down the pike? Maybe the improvements would have to start at the recording studio. Dunno?? But I would appreciate learning whether redbook CD equipment and CDs are headed the way of the 8-track?

Thanks
bifwynne
paulfolbrecht
603 posts
 
Who agrees with me about the EMM Labs player?

What's curious is half the pro reviews say it makes RBCD sound like SACD and the other half say about the opposite - SACD is miles ahead.

I am firmly in the former camp. I have never heard RBCD so good. I'm talking about the same recordings I have played on many other RB devices. Offhand, Night in Tunesia and Time Out are two. Previously, no RBCD player got these recordings close to their vinyl versions. The Meitner player does.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"Hi RES files solve this dilema"

Not in your dreams. There is just as many Hi-res tracks out there that are crap as CD tracks. This is no guarantee. I have everything from 44.1- 192kHz and the trtacks at hig-res that are really good are few and far between. Lots more good 44.1 tracks out there.

You just need gear that makes all tracks sound good, even 44.1.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
If your analog rig leaves your CD 's behind in a puff of smoke you definitely have the wrong player . What CD player do you have ?
timlub
2,042 posts
 
My experience is 100% the same as Steve's. Not all high res recordings are great... The recording is the recording regardless of the resolution factor, but when you get a great recording in hi res.... The results are outstanding.. I find it rewarding to be able to burn my best cd's onto my hard drive with zero loss in quality. A great recording is still great at 16/44.1 all the way to 24/192... Changing DACs is just like changing players, they all sound different.
bifwynne OP
2,206 posts
 
Tmsorosk, my CDP is an ARC Ref CD-7. My vinyl rig is a VPI Classic (w/Classic 3 arm upgrade), VPI Zephyr cartridge, custom low capacitance phono cables, and ARC PH-7 phono pre. Let me clarify my comment a little. I do have a few CDs that sound really good, e.g., Jean Yve Thibadeux (sp?) selection of piano cuts (London/Decca). Norah Jones latest CD is pretty good too. The bass shakes the sh*t out of the house. I can only play the CD when no one is home or else I get the sh*t shaken out of me.

I guess my comment goes more to the generic case where one picks up a CD, drops it in the CDP, sits back and relaxes. I just bought a CD at Starbucks. I could remove the tweeters from my speakers, it wouldn't make a difference. Whoever or whatever mixed it just left off sound information north of 500 Hz (exagerating a little). Yes, some vinyl sh*ts too. I picked up an old record, turned out it was mono and it sucked.

My point is that I wish the music industry would standardize the QC recording and mixing quality of CDs. It sounds like many of the comments take the view that redbook CD could be, and many times is, pretty good, if it's recorded and mixed well, with minimal loss of information.

So, in short, I'm not against redbook CD. To the contrary, I'm for it. As I said, I've sunk some serious bucks into my CD rig and would like to keep it around. I just hope the music industry doesn't snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.

Cheers
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