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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 ps68

ps68
228 posts
 
Good discussion gents.

With regard to whether CD is dead or very much alive, it all depends on where you view the statistics from: Sales are lower than historical figures, downloads are up by a huge margin, so some will therefore proclaim CD as past it. The real question here though is clearly in disregard of commercial success of any medium, it is based on sound quality from CD. This is where the medium has not fared quite so well even though it is nearly 30 years since inception. There are audio designers still working very hard on perfecting the data extraction/transmission/conversion to analogue, and have got in many ways extremely close to 16bit limit in my view. And yes, this does cost a lot of money as has been pointed out, but for me in my personal system, I have no need or desire to explore the possibilities of higher resolution just yet. The system that I more than happily live with, (that continually impresses with the sheer dynamics/detail/air/space/decay etc etc) does indeed utilise a mix of old and new technology, but the underlying principle from each designer is to extract as much of the original recording as is possible, even though this may require obsolete DAC chips, 1950's vacuum tubes, heavily worked and balanced Philips Pro mechanisms, and given a suitably cared for recording, it is staggeringly realistic. A friend often proclaims my music room as the 'Royal Festival Hall'.

Sabai is also correct of course, cabling being important along with many many other details, but for this discussion to focus on the 'front end' of 16bit, the digital interconnect is, (against the engineers perception) a likely area for data loss. I worked quite hard in this area, and got real improvement over the last couple of month's, the fruits of which will be used at CES in January.

Good recordings are very very real, with Reference Recordings/some Naxos/Decca/ etc being great, Eva Cassidy's Imagine is on as I write and is simply there. Eiji Oue (Minnesota) Stravinsky's Firebird Suite commands absolute attention, the list is endless really..

So, CD is very much alive in our household and will continue to be for quite some time..
ps68
228 posts
 
Charles,

Yes, thanks, CF are one of a number of manufacturers determined to seek the absolute potential of the RBCD format, for which they regularly gain much praise for at shows.

There are some great selections listed also, some of which I will hunt out over the holiday period..
Rgds,
Paul.
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