[Closed] will the CD die out or will it always be king for sound quality

They would already be dead if the music industry wasn't so eager to rip off the consumer for downloads. Buying a CD from play or amazon is still the cheapest legal way to get music, and its no big deal to rip it into whatever format you want.

As technology advances, internet connections get quicker and memory gets cheaper, higher quality digital formats will become more common which will make CD's sound like tapes.
In the long run they're toast.

kings of sound quality? ahahaha, HAHAHAHAHA! it seems to me with each subsequent music technology,, there's more clipping of quality, from vinyl to cd, and cd to MP3. of course, someone will be along to tell me that that's all rubbish. but i stand by it! 😉

agree with mrK

if you had the right gear to put it on vinyl was king.

Who knows? They said vinyl would die out, but it hasn't.
Cassettes are the only thing that no longer have new music released on them, but even then I did get a new ltd edition release on cassette a few months back..
I've got music on cassettes, vinyl, CD, mp3 and Minidisc and I'm keeping them all!

Like a £500 stylus? 🙂

CD is wasted with current [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war ]mastering practises[/url]. Check out something decently mastered from the 80s or 90s and compare it to a modern 'remastered' release.

Comparing it unfavourably to vinyl as a format is ludicrous (vinyl being [url= http://wiki.audacityteam.org/index.php?title=Bit_Depth#Vinyl_etc ]roughly equivalent to a CD with 50% of the available bit-depth[/url]). However, vinyl can't be mastered as badly as CDs (the needle wouldn't stay in the groove properly) hence why they sometimes sound a lot better than their CD counterparts.

to be fair dd yes 😀

People actually own CDs?

..Why?

I like them and they have my music on.
+ I cannot play MP3s on my hi-fi.

[i]People actually own CDs?

..Why? [/i]

because I can be reasonably certain of having a means of playing them in 20 years time (just like my vinyl).

There's too many 'dead' formats (storage as well as encryption) for me to be confident in a download.

fourbanger - Member
As technology advances, internet connections get quicker and memory gets cheaper, higher quality digital formats will become more common which will make CD's sound like tapes.

Not sure I agree with this - tapes had inherent properties that made them practical & convenient, but they were never that high quality in general terms (Nakamichi Dragon, aside)....
CD is equally practical but is higher quality in most cases, even on modest equipment. Would most people be bothered by higher quality CD? I doubt they would be, so in the majority of cases they fit the requirements pretty well.

Perhaps I am a luddite, but I much prefer to buy a CD and then stick it on my computer, rather than buy a download. It doesn't really seem any cheaper to get a download, so I'll stick with a physical item for the moment.
I worry about having all this 'virtual' music and then one day having a computer based disaster. I know that you should back stuff up etc. and that CDs supposedly aren't infallible either, but I have yet to have a CD stop working and some of mine must be getting on for20 years old now.

What I do find surprising is that MP3 on CD isn't really available. So I can't go to a terminal in HMV, select the entire back catalogue of an artist, choose high, medium or low quality and walk out with a CD or two with all that music on that is produced for me there & then.

RM some of us even own LPS and a record deck

CD will be obsolete ,I dont own any

Higher quality CD (SACD) has been available for about 10 years but hasn't taken off at all other then in certain specialist genres. As mentioned above the mastering process and desire for ever increasing loudness rather negates even CD quality in most "pop" releases.

[i]Who knows?[/i]

Answer: Junkyard!

😉

As mentioned above the mastering process and desire for ever increasing loudness rather negates even CD quality in most "pop" releases.

Yeah. I have noticed that quite a few albums I have bought just don't sound any good. I am guessing it doesn't matter how 'high quality' the CD is, if you are starting off with something that sounds cak, you have nowhere to go with it.

AlI formats have there place. I'd challenge most people to tell the difference between CD and an mp3 encoded using LAME. But CD vs vinyl with the right turntable running through a decent system, no competition... vinyl will win everytime, especially in a club scenario, the only thing that will top that is [url= http://www.beatportal.com/tags/tag/reel-to-reel/ ]reel to reel[/url]. I can't see DJ Harvey or David Mancuso ever using mp3 or CD's.

Yeah. I have noticed that quite a few albums I have bought just don't sound any good. I am guessing it doesn't matter how 'high quality' the CD is, if you are starting off with something that sounds cak, you have nowhere to go with it.

I noticed on the BBC this morning that "steps" top the album chart, when music is so crap, what does the format matter.

Music for me has always come before sound quality (within reason). I am quite happy with a 256 mp3 on my ipod hooked up to my hifi, no need for overpriced audiophile gubbins, spending more money would not improve the quality of the song writing.

So for a format I am looking for convenience and value, at the moment downloads are not good value, so the CD will stay as my main means of buying music for now.

There's a very good YouTube vid on the loudness war.

The difference in Metallica's "Master of Puppets" (1986) vs. "Death Magnetic" (2008) is very noticeable!!

There are plenty of formats that offer better sound quality than CD. HDCD, SACD and some lossless digital formats. If you buy a concert Blu Ray the sound quality is much better than CD too.

But CD's are cheap and convenient as well as offering decent quality in a pretty durable format so they will be with us for a while yet I suspect.

[i]I noticed on the BBC this morning that "steps" top the album chart, when music is so crap, what does the format matter.[/i]

I'm glad I'm not the only person disturbed by this news. 2 sold out nights at the O2 arena... there really are a F** of a lot of morons in this country aren't there.

because I can be reasonably certain of having a means of playing them in 20 years time (just like my vinyl).

whether the disc will last that long is another matter. Apparently the lifespan of a CD is vastly reduced as soon as they print the top layer.

At C_G Towers they won't!

One of life's pleasures is being sprawled out on the sofa, glass in hand, perusing CD case notes in the other, enjoying the sounds emitting from my cheapo B & W speakers.

Luddite, yes I am, and not ashamed to admit it either. 🙂

Comparing it unfavourably to vinyl as a format is ludicrous (vinyl being roughly equivalent to a CD with 50% of the available bit-depth).

Regardless of lab measurements, I know that vinyl sounds far better to me than CD. Always.

I've discovered that £200 gets you an OK needle for a record deck definately not as good as £500 though.

xiphon - Member

There's a very good YouTube vid on the loudness war.

The difference in Metallica's "Master of Puppets" (1986) vs. "Death Magnetic" (2008) is very noticeable!!

I've got an unmastered copy of death magnetic , it sounds amazing compared to the real release.

The day (which will never happen!) when you can buy a platform free drm licenced download would I would have thought spell the end of CDs for most folks. If I could buy from itunes and know that in 2 or 3 decades time I could use the file on whatever device is prevalent at the time without having the faff of stripping out drm by doing a "virtual rip" and whatever I'd be happy to the leave the plastic behind for good.

I noticed on the BBC this morning that "steps" top the album chart, when music is so crap, what does the format matter.

But you have to realise this is entertainment and not really music. OK it does not float our boat, but for some its fun.

The figure that gets quoted in my industry (Information Management) is about 10 years life span for a CD before the data starts degrading, unless stored at the correct temperature.

I still buy CDs, you can convert them for other uses, and you get the packaging. What would life be like without cover art ??

Regardless of lab measurements, I know that vinyl sounds far better to me than CD. Always.

I can't tell the difference, but too many years in front of 30W of AC30 valve goodness will do that to your ears 🙂

OK I will bite on this!!
There is nothing wrong with current mastering HOWEVER there is a problem with cheap software making anyone think they can master their material also with recording studios struggling for business they are trying their hand at mastering which is a completely different skill.
And re the Death magnetic thing it is not badly mastered BUT badly mixed!
I believe that when it turned up at the mastering studio it was so loud the engineer rang up the producer and apparently asked WTF am I supposed to do with this. If you want to here a good version of Death Magnetic then apparently the Guitar Hero version was remixed from original multitracks.
Sorry to ramble but am mainlining Lavazza before entering the studio!
Oh and CD is a great format for buying music at a gig!

I've no idea how many CD's I've got, but TBH I never use them, I spent a rainy weekend ages ago putting all of them on my itunes, and I pretty much (in fact always) listen to music thru the speakers connected to my laptop. I either download or youtube.

Joy Formidable CD was the last I bought (at a merch stand at the gig).

I can't tell the difference, but too many years in front of 30W of AC30 valve goodness will do that to your ears

They're useful for heating your front room, I'll give you that. 😉

The figure that gets quoted in my industry (Information Management) is about 10 years life span for a CD before the data starts degrading, unless stored at the correct temperature.

I've been told 5 years max for self burned stuff (on branded media), rather than pressed.

I'm happy to get 5 hours out of most of them.

convert - Member

The day (which will never happen!) when you can buy a platform free drm licenced download would I would have thought spell the end of CDs for most folks. If I could buy from itunes and know that in 2 or 3 decades time I could use the file on whatever device is prevalent at the time without having the faff of stripping out drm by doing a "virtual rip" and whatever I'd be happy to the leave the plastic behind for good.

iTunes is already DRM free, and you can buy DRM free FLAC files from 7digital etc.

nobtwidler - Member

OK I will bite on this!!
There is nothing wrong with current mastering HOWEVER there is a problem with cheap software making anyone think they can master their material also with recording studios struggling for business they are trying their hand at mastering which is a completely different skill.
And re the Death magnetic thing it is not badly mastered BUT badly mixed!
I believe that when it turned up at the mastering studio it was so loud the engineer rang up the producer and apparently asked WTF am I supposed to do with this. If you want to here a good version of Death Magnetic then apparently the Guitar Hero version was remixed from original multitracks.
Sorry to ramble but am mainlining Lavazza before entering the studio!
Oh and CD is a great format for buying music at a gig!

I've heard that story too, but I don't think it is totally true, as there is bad clipping on the mastered version so clearly whatever the engineer did has made it worse, not better.

As for being 'nothing wrong with mastering' you must be joking! I don't think I've heard a good mainstream CD for about 10 years! That's not to say the engineers are at fault, more likely the labels pressurising them to make the sound more in your face.

They're useful for heating your front room, I'll give you that.

Our singer/guitarist used to heat his Ginsters rider on it! It may be weird but I just love the smell, if I could bottle it I'd make a car air freshner out it.. hot ECC83s and ArmourAll..

Got into "hifi" in the nineties, all Linn Sondeks and what have you, there were big discussions when cd came out. can only imagine what this forum would have made of the for and against arguments, definetly have been tears.

I can understand the anaologue v digital argument (of which I think ano is better for what its worth) but digital against digital? Dont really get it, surely a cd is just the carrier it like arguing flash memory sound better than a hard drive.

In fact wouldnt a solid state memory be better at transfering data as theres no moving parts and less room for error?

Either way Cd's a dead duck, gone to a cloud in the sky which is were well all be getting our music from soon.

Ian

People actually own CDs?

..Why?

And no matter the technical implosion, I will always have the original should I need it.

And they feel nice.

Although not as good as sliding an LP out of it's dust sleeve, lifting it to the light and gently blowing any dust off the surface before dropping it onto the turntable.

Because I can rip a CD but I can't make a CD out of an MP3.

I can.

How do you calculate the bit-rate of an analogue medium?

You won't even "own" any files before long it will all be streamed from the cloud ala spotify on our uber wireless internet connections.

I love buying a CD and being able to flick through the book and look at the artwork, however most of my listening is now done on my iPhone when I'm out and about or sat at my desk in the office, even with an excellent set of headphones (B&W C5s) it doesn't compare to sitting at home listening to an CD played through the hifi.

vinyl will win everytime, especially in a club scenario

I've never been in in a club using anything more than 1210's (or whatever those cheep looking shiny ones that people who like scratching use) and a £70 stanton cartridge. Not a bad sounding setup, but the average hi-fi buff is going to turn his nose up at it!

CDJ's and their MP3 cousins will (and to a large extent, already have) takeover. Even just for practical reasons, big clubs get vinyl delivered by the crate, logisticaly that's a nightmare to store, whereas a laptop and external drive could probably hold every song ever played in the club.

Bit like BMX Vs MTB, no denying that a BMX is better for dirtjumping/skateparks/street, but people buy MTB's as they're practical.

it doesn't compare to sitting at home listening to an CD played through the hifi.

Quite.