Is it really worth buying CDs?

[mikealdren]

Late to the thread as usual!

I've recently started the Mammoth task of loading all my CDs onto my computer, largely to release space in the living room. I've spent a lot of time trying to decide how to do it and settled on the Musichi software which is proving very good.

It takes ages. Musichi helps to correct data from the available on-line databases which are very inconsistent but you still get left to decide on naming conventions. Is it Partitia no1, Partitia for Violin no1, Partita for solo violin no1, Violin partita no1 etc etc. Musichi does provide excellent editing.

I will then have to decide how to play back, currently it's PC only but I want to stream to other rooms later.

I've also found a couple of CDs that no longer play and I'm sure I'll find more.

The best part however is rediscovering long forgotten favourites and comparing different versions, so much easier on the computer.

Mike

[amateur51]

Late to the thread as usual!

I've recently started the Mammoth task of loading all my CDs onto my computer, largely to release space in the living room. I've spent a lot of time trying to decide how to do it and settled on the Musichi software which is proving very good.

It takes ages. Musichi helps to correct data from the available on-line databases which are very inconsistent but you still get left to decide on naming conventions. Is it Partitia no1, Partitia for Violin no1, Partita for solo violin no1, Violin partita no1 etc etc. Musichi does provide excellent editing.

I will then have to decide how to play back, currently it's PC only but I want to stream to other rooms later.

I've also found a couple of CDs that no longer play and I'm sure I'll find more.

The best part however is rediscovering long forgotten favourites and comparing different versions, so much easier on the computer.

Mike

Lovely post Mike - aaah how those Winter months stretch out before you

[Dave2002]

I've also found a couple of CDs that no longer play and I'm sure I'll find more.

The best part however is rediscovering long forgotten favourites and comparing different versions, so much easier on the computer.

Mike

It could be worth putting some time into testing out the ones that don't work. Do they not play in any CD player? Are they scratched? Do they perhaps have the "bronzing" discussed from time to time.

Some CDs may be marginal for playback. Clean them first, and try again. Also clean the CD laser lens if you can. That might be all that's required.

Some CD players or CD drives are considerably better than others. I have a (now) old LG DVD drive, which was solidly built and that seems much better at reading DVDs and CDs than many of the flimsy ones available now. Using laptop drives is not a particularly good idea for bulk digitisation.

If the CDs are scratched, then various forms of very slightly abrasive material (e.g toothpaste, brasso etc.) can be used to polish them up. Use radial strokes, not circular ones around the disc. If you're digitising the CDs, then this only has to work once.

If there are still problems, try tools such as EAC (Exact Audio Copy - free), which will repeatedly try reading the discs at different speeds, and may be able to get it right eventually. There may be something similar for Mac or Linux. Does DBPoweramp also do the same?

If your CDs are bronzed, then some firms will take them back and send you a new one. I've not had this problem, though some of my CDs have changed colour slightly, but are still readable. I think. This may also include some CD-Rs.

Good luck with your exercise.

[VodkaDilc]

But to answer the question posed by the thread title: YES. At current prices, it wouldn't make sense NOT to buy them.

I am in complete agreement with Mandryka. As long as they don't suddenly stop working, I expect CDs to form the bulk of my listening for the next few years. When funds allow, I also hope to buy a good quality record deck, in order to take advantage of the LPs hidden in my under-stairs cupboard. And then there's a pile of 78s somewhere in the loft! There's still life in a century-old medium, so plenty of time left for CDs!!

In answer to someone's point about CDs occasionally not playing: in my limited experience of this rare problem, it's a 'high-end' CD player which refuses to play them, while a cheap player (such as the one I used at the school I worked at) would have no difficulty. There's probably a technical reason.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If you're digitising the CDs...

Here we go again.

"Ripping?"

[Dave2002]

In answer to someone's point about CDs occasionally not playing: in my limited experience of this rare problem, it's a 'high-end' CD player which refuses to play them, while a cheap player (such as the one I used at the school I worked at) would have no difficulty. There's probably a technical reason.

That shouldn't normally happen, and in general the "better" CD player should do better. However, sometimes, if discs (e.g DVDs, CDs others) have DRM constraints then sometimes the cheaper players don't bother, and get better results! Otherwise I don't think there is a rule such as you state.

Another possibility is that the CDs are not regular, but HDCDs, or that they have pre-emphasis. A simple player might ignore these features, and although this would not be correct, it might at least play the disc. A more expensive feature rich player might try to decode the disc, and get it wrong, hence the disc would appear to be unplayable, or in some cases playable, but not listenable to. I still think there's no general rule that cheaper = better!

[johnb]

Even though I have transferred all my CDs and the audio tracks of music DVDs to a computer hard drive (actually to a Server hard drive) I prefer to buy CDs rather than downloads except when there is a considerable cost saving, when the CD is no longer available or when I am downloading a high res album (94/24, say).

One of the problems many people face once they download music files is how to play the damned things. Playing them on a PC isn't exactly a good solution. Even taking the analogue or digital output to one's audio system presents compromises (trailing cables, compromises introduced by Windows Mixer and the usual poor quality computer sound cards), although buying a pro soundcard can alleviate the sound quality issues.

One can burn the downloads to CD, but then why not buy the CD in the first place.

There are a number of other solutions:

The most cost effective used to be the, now discontinued, Squeezebox Touch which I use - it can stream music from your PC or NAS (which can and should be in another room) to your audio system, bit perfect, at up to 96/24 and can be controlled by an iPad, iPhone, Android apps. It can also stream iPlayer R3, Spotify, etc to your audio system. The Sonus system is a more expensive but more basic system which does the same thing but can't handle high res files. It is less flexible and has fewer options. (Then the likes of Linn and Meridian have very expensive high end systems.)

There are also devices which are enhanced external hard drives which have analogue and digital outputs. One (very) expensive example is the Meridian MC200 (which includes a 1TB hard drive) which can be controlled via an iPad app - a snip at £2k.

(I'm rambling again!)

[Dave2002]

Here we go again.

"Ripping?"

OK - I get your point.

[VodkaDilc]

That shouldn't normally happen, and in general the "better" CD player should do better. However, sometimes, if discs (e.g DVDs, CDs others) have DRM constraints then sometimes the cheaper players don't bother, and get better results! Otherwise I don't think there is a rule such as you state.

I can only recall two CDs failing to play on my machine. In both cases they were OK on a 'cheap and cheerful' player. I would not want to draw any conclusions. CDs do seem to be wonderfully reliable - if a certainly degree of care is taken over their handling and storage. (Something which comes naturally to those of us brought up on the notoriously sensitive medium of vinyl.)

[Dave2002]

Even though I have transferred all my CDs and the audio tracks of music DVDs to a computer hard drive (actually to a Server hard drive) I prefer to buy CDs rather than downloads except when there is a considerable cost saving, when the CD is no longer available or when I am downloading a high res album (94/24, say).

Agreed, but do you evaluate how often you are going to play a CD once bought? That was my point re the Art of Fugue. I might only play the CD once a year for the next 20 years- if I'm lucky. With fairly simple and crude economics I wouldn't break even vis a vis Spotify for about 12 years. If on other hand it became my favourite CD, then I could perhaps play it 10-20 times per year, so break even would favour having the CDs. Depends how much money is a problem, and whether the ultimate in quality really matters.

[Dave2002]

I would not want to draw any conclusions.

Though you hinted at them on the basis of a sample of two. I'm not saying you didn't have the experiences, but simply that it's too early to draw a causal relationship of the form you mentioned on your evidence.

[Stunsworth]

I still occasionally buy CDs, though the first thing I do is rip them to a hard drive. I can't remember the last time I listened to an actual CD.

Spotify, and now Qobuz, are amazing resources - and the ability to stream at CD quality from Qobuz is fantastic. I was listening to the Karajan recording of I Pagliacci this afternoon, wonderful sound and a recording I probably wouldn't have bought.

[johnb]

Agreed, but do you evaluate how often you are going to play a CD once bought?

Play the CDs?

What sort of madness is this?

The next thing you will be suggesting is that I read the books I buy.

[amateur51]

Play the CDs?

What sort of madness is this?

The next thing you will be suggesting is that I read the books I buy.

madness innit!

[Suffolkcoastal]

Well I still purchase CDs but can't afford too many these days, so I tend to search for bargains in various sales. I also download a fair amount as well. I sometimes mix classics online and itunes getting one movement of a piece from one and another from the other as this can work out cheaper if you have a mixture of tracks under and over 10 minutes and you only want one work (over 10 minutes is where itunes makes you but the whole album, but with classics online they can still be purchased separately at a slightly higher price per track). I then put the work back together by creating a playlist. But overall I still prefer to purchase the CD.