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Redbook CD Is Not Dead

There are dozens of variant of this topic. Nevertheless, I want to start this OP to "defibrillate" an "old" technology -- "redbook" CD. I have posted many comments and questions about the next industry digital/electronic "standard" that old-heads like me should be thinking about. The responses sound like techno-babble. That of course presupposes that redbook CD has seen a better day. A similar view was expressed years ago by many about vinyl, but that technology is still with us.

Ok ... to the point. I wanted to test the proposition that some have made about redbook CD -- 16 bit/44.1K Hz. Specifically, that the technology is NOT obsolete. By contrast, if the music industry was less lazy and profit driven, and we the consumer less tolerant, redbook CD and our trusty CD players have lots of life left in them. Here's a thoughtful and largely understandable link that a member posted in another OP that explains the hypothesis:

http://xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html

So ... to start testing the hypothesis, I logged onto the Acoustic Sounds music website. Here's the link:

http://store.acousticsounds.com/

Acoustic Sounds sells many so called hi-rez redbook CDs, e.g., "Gold," "HDCD," "Super HDCD 24 bit," and so forth. I bought 2 such CDs: (1) The Artistry of Linda Rosenthal, (First Impression Music, Inc.) (CD FIM 022VD) and (2) Jim Croce, Words and Music, (DCC Compact Disc Classics) (GZS-1134). First reactions are -- quite impressive. I'll continue to listen and report back.

I see no reason to trash a piece of equipment, or a technology, if it still has utility and can deliver the sonic goods. I will come back later with a music review of the Linda Rosenthal and Jim Croce CDs. I would like others to do the same, especially if they can suggest a good source of high-quality/almost vinyl quality redbook CD.

I will ask in advance that all member posts stay on topic. There are many threads that discuss the pros and cons of this versus that format or technology. Please keep such discussions in those other threads.

I would like to see a thread devoted to music reviews and sources of excellent quality redbook CD. Perhaps this thread and others like it will rejuvenate an older music medium that can still satisfy.

Thanks all.

Bruce
bifwynne

Showing 2 responses by jon2020

jon2020's avatar
jon2020
982 posts
 
Hi all,

This has been a great discussion. A good collection of well-recorded redbook cd's plus a good cd player will ensure the longevity of this format. All the labels mentioned so far are well known but lesser known recordings sound great too. Herbie Hancock's tribute to Joni Mitchell in River, is a must-have redbook cd.

I am a reluctant entrant to the world of computer audio simply because while redbook is far from dead, stores selling it are shutting down faster than you can say cd.

So, I tried it and am truly amazed by the superiority of hi-rez over redbook. I did not spend much more, just hooking up my desktop to my player's usb input with a good usb cable.

Credible sites like Linn, Naim and Hyperion give Hi-rez a good name. It is all about the srudio master tapes, the recording technique and being true to the hi-rez format, instead of simply (and fraudulently) upsampling old redbook recordings to 96/24 or 192/24. As good as redbook is in the best of hands, hi-rez is indeed stunning to behold. And most of the gems are the classical recordings.
Cheers!
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
982 posts
 
Hi Bifwynne,

Other examples of what I believe are super redbook cd's are :-

1. Art Davis -A Time to Remember(Jazz Planet)
2. David Fray - Mozart Piano Concertos 22. & 25(Verve Classics)
3. Van Cliburn - Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1(JVC XRCD24)
4. Seiji Ozawa - Pictures at an Exhibition(JVC XRCD24)
5. Somethin' Else - Cannonball Adderley(Blue Note)

Where the Herbie Hancock 'River' recording is concerned, the redbook cd and 96/24 download from the Linn website sound very, very close and only a superb hi-rez dac section would be able to show up the superiority of the 96/24 format.

Happy listening!
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