Do CD’s have soul? Are records longer lasting than CD’s? Are records too heavy and big? In the end what would you prefer?
I gotta say I’m a vinyl man myself. But I still spend way too much on Cd’s.
CDs of course, last longer with less degradation. Every time you play vinyl, the surface of the track contacts the stylus. There is some degradation every time you play it.
Also, CDs can be thrown across the room or dropped from 5 feet onto cement and not break.
‘Soul’? Who cares? It’s music - you are trying for a reproduction of the original experience. The ‘soul’ comes from the recording engineer. Some of the engineers for the vinyl records were extremely competent and had to be to invent a lot of workarounds to make the music sound better, but actual reproduction of sound in a modern digital studio is excellent.
The same argument holds for ‘tubes’ in music systems vs. semiconductors.
There is a satisfaction from sitting on a wooden chair built by your grandfather, but it isn’t necessarily better then sitting in a La-Z-Boy with magic fingers, a refrigerator, etc.
As a DJ I never use anything except vinyl. It’s just so much easier to manipulate.(besides we all know how much cooler it looks to hunch over a pair of techs compared to those “cd-table” things) however, for simply listening to music, its cd’s all the way.
5-HT
That’s not an absolute. As I posted somewhere else, an article that I read in an audio-related magazine (I’m sorry but I don’t have a cite) stated that CD’s may have a limited shelf life of like 30-40 years. There is just no way to know for sure. Apparently, there is a possibility that they can oxidize from the inside out, thereby destroying the data (or something like that, my memory is somewhat vague). If this is true, phonograph records would seem to last quite a bit longer. I have records from the 40’s that play fine. The fact is that CD’s have not really been around long enough for anyone to assert their longevity with any certainty. And I wouldn’t recommend throwing them around too much as they are easily scratched which can produce errors.
Most digital recording studios, including the one I own, use tube-based preamps when recording instruments and vocals because they add a noticable warmth to the sound of the track. The digital platform, without some help from the old technology, can end up actually sounding artificial.
[Moderator Hat ON]
Not quite “Great” enough of a debate, IMHO. So it goes to IMHO. 
[Moderator Hat OFF]
My album collection certainly brings back memories, and you fit a lot more art or photographic detail in an album liner.
However, it comes down to the music, and I much prefer CDs. Besides, I can’t burn my own albums.
Actually, with a cd burner, you can burn your albums to better preserve them.
And it’s fine if you prefer CD’s. So do I, for the most part. My only point is, don’t be so sure that they will last indefinitely, no matter how well you take care of them.It just isn’t proven yet.
The thing is, you could get that warm sound from semiconductors - it would just take some work. Right now, you get that warm sound without any work, since engineers from the early days have set it up that way.
There are a lot of “warm” sounding totally digital recordings.
That is subject to debate. Mant audiophiles feel that the records sound better, in that the frequency range is better represented. The current standard for CD’s is 44.1KHz. Some argue that there are things that occur above that frequency range (artifacts) that do affect the sound even if we don’t necessarily hear above that range. There has even been talk of changing the standard to 96KHz now that we have the DVD media available, and therefore, more storage space available.
Personally, All I know is that a CD sounds warm until you have something to compare it with, such as hearing a live symphony orchestra. Thats where I notice the difference.
I am still pissed-off at how the music industry ganged up on us and whipped vinyl out from under us like that. I have several hundred records—78s, 45s, 33s, some going back 100 years—and have not yet bought a CD player.
My 3-speed record player died a few years back, so I am reduced to listening to the records I’d taped onto cassette, as I knew that record player wasn’t going to last forever . . . I have no plans to buy a CD player: • They still don’t make a portable one you can listen to WITHOUT earphones • CDs are too goddam expensive • They don’t release the music I wanna hear on CD • They can go fuck themselves for screwing us all like that in the first place!
You can still get turntables that play all three speeds you know. I have a pair of them. they are expensive though and i’m not sure if they still make cheaper ones that play 78’s
I have been lookinmg for a three-speed turntable for years—even had a thread about that right here! Where can I get one?
I suppose it depends on what you’re willing to pay. There are some that are available cheap on eBay, but those are mostly fixer-uppers. And there are some you can buy over the net in the $300 range.
http://www.garage-a-records.com/td170.html
http://www.garage-a-records.com/tt100.html
Also, if you’re into old electronics, Goodwill and Aunt Sally are nice places to haunt. I recommend you stick to solid state, though. Don’t let some nerd talk you into messing around with vacuum tubes. Sure, they look cool. Solid state electronics look like the suburbs, but vacuum tubes look like a glass and steel city of the future. They’re beautiful things, ponderous in their complexity, breathtaking in their ethereal delicacy. But they’ll only break your heart.
Thanks, Johnny, you are indeed an angel! I bookmarked that site and will go a-huntin’.
I think that what Dire Wolf meant was that he can’t burn LP’s, not CDs.
My Tables are DJ tables, Numark Pro TT-2’s, they let you play at 78 rpm for effects. They cost about $330-400 depending on where you buy them. They have a full ±20 pitch control and let you reverse the platter direction. not that reversing direction is all that useful for the casual listener(unless you’re REALLY into looking for backmasking:) ). I doubt this is really what you’re looking for, but if you really want a 3 speed table and can’t find anything else, they’re out there
5-HT
INMO vinyl has already come back(or not left) plenty. depending on the music you’re into, vinyl might be the main medium you use. if you don’t believe me ask dalovindj, i trust he knows what i mean.
ps if this was meant as a joke, please disregard my response. shhh… I’m a little drunk
I don’t get it. Vinyl albums cost just as much (when they were popular) as CDs do today, when you account for inflation. They never made a practical portable turntable, either.
And what music CAN’T you find on CD these days?
???
The first CD player I ever owned was a portable with built in speakers. Paid about $300 for it 15 years ago. Now you can get one about half the size for under $100.
And the only “portable” turntables I’ve ever had needed to be set on a flat surface to actually play them. Attempting to play one while in motion would result in a black vinyl coaster.