Preferences for CDs, Downloading or Streaming

[cloughie]

It would be interesting to know what the balance is of those on the forum whose preferences are for cd over download and streaming.

Alps, I posed this question on the Brahms Piano Quintet BaL thread. Would it be possible to transfer the appropriate responses to this new thread?

[Joseph K]

CDs. Though my CD player is slightly irritating in that it takes what I'd consider to be a while to load a disk up. I am not sure if youtube is considered streaming, but I admit to using it quite a lot, even for records I already have.

[jayne lee wilson]

...as I said across the Brahmsian way........

....long story short chez moi, once streaming was available at CD/hires quality my downloading (which goes back to 2011, what an adventure it seemed back then, an hour to download an hour of 24/96...) quickly fell away. I do still buy some CD/SACDs, if I really love it. Often 2ndhand.

Streaming as such began with the Berlin DCH in 2009-10 (you could get 320 aac live then), and Radio 3 aac 192 in 2009, then the so-miscalled HDs at 320 in 2010).

But for financial reasons I'm sticking to streaming just now (or trying to... everyone here knows what I mean...). Qobuz/Audirvana is great value. Hard to live without really. My personal radio station, music player, new release alert, domestic ambience, all-in-one....
I use youtube via firestick via TV sometimes too for something other than silence, birds, cats, wind in the trees, rain upon the windowpane, or Radio 4 FM or Classic FM in the kitchen.

Sonic differences/SQ rankings with the same recording on different media can be very interesting, and I still have a deep attachment to the machinery & ritual involved in physical disc replay, but I guess that's another story.....(in the bedroom its FM or CD)...

[Richard Barrett]

once streaming was available at CD/hires quality my downloading quickly fell away

Same here. Except for all the stuff on small independent Bandcamp labels which obviously doesn't appear on Qobuz.

[teamsaint]

CD is still my gold standard.
Really like and use Apple Music a lot, but once I really like something, I like to own the object.

Only download bargains, really, or if there is no alternative.

In a perfect world I would get a really good turntable system and buy classic Rock ( ones I missed first time) and Jazz albums , but can’t justify the expense. In that world there would be a quality reel to reel as well, with lots of 60s avant garde stuff lying around........Somewhere in the Tuscan hills.......and maybe a quad system........

[LMcD]

CD is still my gold standard.
Really like and use Apple Music a lot, but once I really like something, I like to own the object.

Only download bargains, really, or if there is no alternative.

In a perfect world I would get a really good turntable system and buy classic Rock ( ones I missed first time) and Jazz albums , but can’t justify the expense. In that world there would be a quality reel to reel as well, with lots of 60s avant garde stuff lying around........Somewhere in the Tuscan hills.......and maybe a quad system........

CDs - especially at the prices I pay for them! (Having first dibs as a charity shop volunteer helps).

[Bryn]

CD is still my gold standard.
Really like and use Apple Music a lot, but once I really like something, I like to own the object.

Only download bargains, really, or if there is no alternative.

In a perfect world I would get a really good turntable system and buy classic Rock ( ones I missed first time) and Jazz albums , but can’t justify the expense. In that world there would be a quality reel to reel as well, with lots of 60s avant garde stuff lying around........Somewhere in the Tuscan hills.......and maybe a quad system........

Well, if you feel committed to the inherent distortions of the vinyl system . . . . As to reel-to-reel, if I want to get my Tandberg or Akai serviced back to usability, it would cost more than 10 times what I paid for each of them, new. As for Apple Music. forget it, horrible lossy data compression. Not even up to Radio 3 'HD Sound' audio quality.

[teamsaint]

Well, if you feel committed to the inherent distortions of the vinyl system . . . . As to reel-to-reel, if I want to get my Tandberg or Akai serviced back to usability, it would cost more than 10 times what I paid for each of them, new. As for Apple Music. forget it, horrible lossy data compression. Not even up to Radio 3 'HD Sound' audio quality.

But I don’t listen to Apple Music for perfect, uncompressed sound. I use it for accessibilty and convenience, as part of my “busy active lifestyle.....”

Nothing wrong with a bit of distortion anyway........

[Bryn]

But I don’t listen to Apple Music for perfect, uncompressed sound. I use it for accessibilty and convenience, as part of my “busy active lifestyle.....”

Nothing wrong with a bit of distortion anyway........

Sure, but to opt for it?

[teamsaint]

Sure, but to opt for it?

Part of the mix is all..... in a perfect world, where there might be CD quality alternatives for the LPs.
And in any case,playing a vinyl album is a different experience. It may involve sacrificing some sound quality, but can be a more active experience, for instance, replicating the conditions for which the record was put together.
I mean, who gets up to pause a CD, make a cup of tea, and then listen to the next 22 minutes of music........

Plus you get a lovely big sleeve.. Possibly with notes or lyrics you can actually read, and a funny message in the run off.....no “ Porky Prime Cuts” these days....

[jayne lee wilson]

But I don’t listen to Apple Music for perfect, uncompressed sound. I use it for accessibilty and convenience, as part of my “busy active lifestyle.....”

Nothing wrong with a bit of distortion anyway........

He's got a fuzzbox and he's gonna use it....

[Bryn]

. . . I mean, who gets up to pause a CD, make a cup of tea, and then listen to the next 22 minutes of music........

I do. Quite often, and with downloads and streaming, too.

[Braunschlag]

CDs.
I am not sure if youtube is considered streaming, but I admit to using it quite a lot, even for records I already have.

Don’t blush JK - it’s my frequent go to these days. It’s a surprise how soon new releases turn up there and it’s a handy way of doing a test run to see if it is worth investing in a download elsewhere (new Schmidt/Jarvi Symphonies are already there, for instance). Saved me a few bob on the Wilson/Respighi which I thought was nothing particularly special ( those pieces almost play themselves regardless). At 192kbps it’s quite satisfactory for a first audition. It’s handy for various live performances too - there’s a fine Walton 1 from 1970 with Previn and the LSO, someone must have a treasure trove of old FM broadcasts.

[Joseph K]

Don’t blush JK - it’s my frequent go to these days. It’s a surprise how soon new releases turn up there and it’s a handy way of doing a test run to see if it is worth investing in a download elsewhere (new Schmidt/Jarvi Symphonies are already there, for instance). Saved me a few bob on the Wilson/Respighi which I thought was nothing particularly special ( those pieces almost play themselves regardless). At 192kbps it’s quite satisfactory for a first audition. It’s handy for various live performances too - there’s a fine Walton 1 from 1970 with Previn and the LSO, someone must have a treasure trove of old FM broadcasts.

[LMcD]

Part of the mix is all..... in a perfect world, where there might be CD quality alternatives for the LPs.
And in any case,playing a vinyl album is a different experience. It may involve sacrificing some sound quality, but can be a more active experience, for instance, replicating the conditions for which the record was put together.
I mean, who gets up to pause a CD, make a cup of tea, and then listen to the next 22 minutes of music........

Plus you get a lovely big sleeve.. Possibly with notes or lyrics you can actually read, and a funny message in the run off.....no “ Porky Prime Cuts” these days....

I do.