It is the big question: which format?
I use CDs for the most part, because I love the format, the sound, the booklet, the availability, and to top those reasons also because they are very cheap nowadays. I love it
Bought the first one 32 years ago and my collection is still growing (buying 10 to 20 CDs each month) and now I have a little more than 4500, mainly jazz, 60-70’s rock and blues. But also have some classical, reggae, blues
Also I am interested in music from the middle east, india, pakistan, iran, etc, and only CD can make it possible, since it is in most cases the only available format.
This is one of the most beautiful aspects of the most democratic of the formats: the huge universal music catalog.
Want to buy music from the most remote village of the Himalayas? There is a cd on Discogs or eBay for sure
Because my large collection, I have six great CD players and will always look for another great one (in mint condition and serviceable) to keep.
When done right (recording, mastering and pressing) the sound from CD is wonderful and totally satisfying. When done badly (many of them are, especially in pop music), it is a music-killer. Ex: The Police compressed remasters!
In a distant second place comes streaming, accessing a Tidal subscription on the excellent Auralic Aries Femto transport, usually connect to the Denafrips Pontus II through Audioquest Carbon USB.
Sound quality wise is almost perfect, but I don’t feel as connected to music and it is mainly use to discover music or listen to album that I am not interested in buying.
And I also have a NAS with +2500 Flac albums, but don’t use it anymore because Tidal sounds better.
Last comes vinyl.
I have a great turntable, cartridge, phono stage, separated power supply, record washing machine, the whole lot... but in the end really don’t use it, so I have very recently decided to selling it all..
The LP collection counts no more than 250 records, so I know that I will not miss much.
I find it very annoying to change the record every 25 minutes and also my mind is accustomed to the quietness of digital.
There are at least six big (personal) issues that restrain me from using vinyl are:
- the crazy prices of new records...and old ones
- the usually poor condition of used records
- the huge differences between masterings and pressings... a much real but time consuming thing thatI don’t want to pursue at all.
- the special care and attention needed to obtain great sound (although this can be debatable... just use an all-Rega gear and you’re free to go)
- the storage space
- there isn’t not a good record store in the city where I live, and buying online is expensive (especially the shipping costs)
Like many I really feel that CD will come back... at least I hope so. But they will need to be more affordable than before.
What is your preference on format?
I use CDs for the most part, because I love the format, the sound, the booklet, the availability, and to top those reasons also because they are very cheap nowadays. I love it
Bought the first one 32 years ago and my collection is still growing (buying 10 to 20 CDs each month) and now I have a little more than 4500, mainly jazz, 60-70’s rock and blues. But also have some classical, reggae, blues
Also I am interested in music from the middle east, india, pakistan, iran, etc, and only CD can make it possible, since it is in most cases the only available format.
This is one of the most beautiful aspects of the most democratic of the formats: the huge universal music catalog.
Want to buy music from the most remote village of the Himalayas? There is a cd on Discogs or eBay for sure
Because my large collection, I have six great CD players and will always look for another great one (in mint condition and serviceable) to keep.
When done right (recording, mastering and pressing) the sound from CD is wonderful and totally satisfying. When done badly (many of them are, especially in pop music), it is a music-killer. Ex: The Police compressed remasters!
In a distant second place comes streaming, accessing a Tidal subscription on the excellent Auralic Aries Femto transport, usually connect to the Denafrips Pontus II through Audioquest Carbon USB.
Sound quality wise is almost perfect, but I don’t feel as connected to music and it is mainly use to discover music or listen to album that I am not interested in buying.
And I also have a NAS with +2500 Flac albums, but don’t use it anymore because Tidal sounds better.
Last comes vinyl.
I have a great turntable, cartridge, phono stage, separated power supply, record washing machine, the whole lot... but in the end really don’t use it, so I have very recently decided to selling it all..
The LP collection counts no more than 250 records, so I know that I will not miss much.
I find it very annoying to change the record every 25 minutes and also my mind is accustomed to the quietness of digital.
There are at least six big (personal) issues that restrain me from using vinyl are:
- the crazy prices of new records...and old ones
- the usually poor condition of used records
- the huge differences between masterings and pressings... a much real but time consuming thing thatI don’t want to pursue at all.
- the special care and attention needed to obtain great sound (although this can be debatable... just use an all-Rega gear and you’re free to go)
- the storage space
- there isn’t not a good record store in the city where I live, and buying online is expensive (especially the shipping costs)
Like many I really feel that CD will come back... at least I hope so. But they will need to be more affordable than before.
What is your preference on format?
