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Why are CDs the current hot topic?

KarinS said:
I don't care (see previous comments). I have a high end system (Yamaha B-2 & C-2x, Larsen 8 speakers), but I'm stickin' with CDs. And FYI, that does not apply to all records by any stretch. Their quality is all over the board.
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I've got CD's that are unlistenable due to poor recording. One in particular is Dave Mason's Like You Never Left. CD or LP the SQ just sucks which is made worse that the music is quite good. Bought a Japanese CD of it, nope just as bad.
 
I was at Walmart tonight and next to all of the LPs were CDs... I had a look but there was nothing that I really wanted. Although there was a Bob Marley CD. Most were about $10.
 
CDs are outstanding. And they sound Great matched to the right CD player in your system. System Synergy.

It's amazing that you can buy them at $1 to $2 each, even for double or triple albums in M- condition. It's a 'Cornacopia Bonanza' in CDs down here in S. Fla. Absolutely unreal. I pick up 7 or 8 every time I go CD hunting, 'top albums' too. It's AMAZING. And you end up buying all kinds of albums you would have never purchased before at full price. All types of genres from all over the world. Everything from North American real tribal music to all kinds of Brazilian albums to Everything.

For collectors, this is the 'Age of CDs' for sure. I mean, 7 CDs for 7 to 14 bucks. It's hard to control yourself. It's TOO OUTSTANDING.
 
The tangible aspect of the CD plus the fact that it's the easiest of the various physical media to play and it's just the right size IMO too - not too big and not too small. And of course the excellent sound, if recorded well. It's simply a great product. :)
 
I've seen some of the youtube videos talking about how great CDs are. Think about it for a moment. Who is telling you that? It's seems to be mostly the guys who sell vintage stereo gear. They've pumped up the prices of the receivers, amps, turntables, even cassettes (though few are buying that BS) and speakers, so what's left? CDs of course!

One of these days they'll get around to pumping the price of 78s. For now you can usually buy a shovel load of them for $1.
 
There has been a resurgence in hifi in recent years, with vinyl record playback being part of it.

10 years ago I sold a clean recapped Sansui AU-505 for $100aud, now down here they fetch between 400 and 600.
 
mrehorst said:
One of these days they'll get around to pumping the price of 78s. For now you can usually buy a shovel load of them for $1.
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Nah. Fat chance. Nobody wants someting that can only hold five minutes of music, and which sounds like utter **** no matter what you do.
Compact cassettes, on the other hand... who knows... might stand a chance. :biggrin:
 
rickb119 said:
I've tossed more than a few due to poor SQ. Of course, the vast majority of my CD purchases are from thrift stores, so it's not a big deal.
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I remember early on learning just how poor CD transfers could be when I picked up this album called Expansions by pianist McCoy Tyner. The kind of music on that album is right up my alley, but the sound quality of the CD I got, which is on some kind of obscure reissue label, isn't just bad, but terrible! I've never heard any other version of that album, but I would bet my life that the recording quality of the original of that sounds far better. I need to pick up another different version of that album, either on CD or LP. Still, I would say that this kind of thing is far more the exception than the rule and that most CDs I have, particularly jazz ones, sound great on that format. Some that are remastered, or even remixed, sound better than the original LPs...
 
Vlad Soare said:
Nah. Fat chance. Nobody wants someting that can only hold five minutes of music, and which sounds like utter **** no matter what you do.
Compact cassettes, on the other hand... who knows... might stand a chance. :biggrin:
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My buddy has an extensive collection of 78’s that was appraised at $50,000 For insurance purposes. There is something for everyone.
 
Well, sure, insurance will appraise anything, but the question is, will anyone really pay $50K for those if he tries to sell them? How many buyers would he get? That's the actual test. :biggrin:
 
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Most of my CDs are early issues, and in general sound very good, often better than later re-issues and remasters for the most part.

Country of origin plays a part too, so I often buy multiples and compare and keep the better one.
 
Regarding Classic Rock from the 60's and 70's, vinyl first pressings sound the best. By the same token, early 80's CDs that were created using the original master tapes, or early remastering from those tapes can sound great because the master tapes had not deteriorated yet, ie. many japanese CDs of Classic rock are outstanding. For example, the early 80's japanese CDs of Led Zeppelin were made from the original master tapes on the best equipment of the day. They sound better than many of the Led Zeppelin USA Vinyl records, but, I do not think they are sound better than the original Led Zeppelin Great Britain vinyl first pressings. Now, in 2025, remastering from these super old master tapes is a challenge because they are deteriorating. Of course, on a a site like Qobuz, you can buy almost any version of these digitally mastered songs, but, not all, and build your own library without the physical media. However, having the CD is pretty cool, especially if it a master that is not available digitally, -- and if you have a great transport and DAC, it can sound better than playing from a digital file.
 
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RunOutGroove said:
I remember early on learning just how poor CD transfers could be when I picked up this album called Expansions by pianist McCoy Tyner. The kind of music on that album is right up my alley, but the sound quality of the CD I got, which is on some kind of obscure reissue label, isn't just bad, but terrible! I've never heard any other version of that album, but I would bet my life that the recording quality of the original of that sounds far better. I need to pick up another different version of that album, either on CD or LP. Still, I would say that this kind of thing is far more the exception than the rule and that most CDs I have, particularly jazz ones, sound great on that format. Some that are remastered, or even remixed, sound better than the original LPs...
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Pretty sure that the majority of the one's I've tossed have been reissue labels.
 
Late Boomer said:
Compared to 50p or a quarter or even free CDs, two bucks per is too expensive. I'd rather spend this much on a BD :)
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I still don't get where all these CD bargains are. It's common stuff, and at least for an audio snob like me much of it would be cringe inducing.....

$2 can be a great price, but all the CD's I see for $2 aren't worth $2, or are beat to ****. I saw an early 80's black face CD Sampler yesterday I would have gladly paid $2 for. Beat to ****.

That is the difference. Are you buying them just to listen to them, or are you searching for collectability. Or both?

I was spinning Tomasz Stanko Leosia this morning. Can you find that for $2?

I was very happy to find Chick Corea Return To Forever on an ECM CD at the local thrift for $2 last year. Has some light hairlines but I could not turn that down. I mentioned it the next day to an older CD digger and he looked like he had no idea who, or what I was talking about.
 
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