From today’s Times. Discuss?
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It’s fine if you’ve got 40-50 CD’s. It’s when you’ve ended up with 1000’s of them over years of collecting and don’t want your front room to look like an aisle in a record shop 
I think a happy medium is buying CD’s (especially second hand) and having them on a NAS or music server.
I have multiple streaming subscriptions but can often find myself listening to something I know I’ll enjoy with my somewhat limited time on vinyl and enjoying not just the music but the forced disconnect the medium requires.
I have decent CD and Vinyl collections as many here do, the thought of building that now from scratch would likely be challenging not least vinyl being relatively expensive, CD’s are more resonably priced, usually far more so used and buying £30-40 worth of CD’s a month may well bring more reward than just scratching the surface of multiple streaming services.
Generationally, it’s a “new” novelty for younger listeners and a means for them to flex their love of an artist in physical form, if it means those artists get a better share of financial reward for their efforts it can only be a good thing.
I still regret selling my Naim CD player
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@Mr.M We have about 500 CDs. We have no desire to upload them to a server or NAS. We moved from a Nain CD5si to a Luxman D03/x. We are playing CDs more. We don’t plan on buying many more CDs.
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D you know I feared when I traded myCDS3 for the NDX2 I’d miss it, but not for one minute. All the CDs all ripped, instantly available, just brilliant.
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Whatever works best, nothing wrong with what you’re doing 
I’ve got over 5000, I still have them all but when they got boxed up when I moved house they stayed that way ever since. They’re all ripped and accessible still.
I’d be inclined to dig them out though and have a half decent CD player to spin them in. I do still buy used ones from time to time, mainly as it represents good value and unlike used vinyl is a lot more forgiving with age and less of a lottery!
I buy vinyl selectively these days, I used to buy a batch monthly, no idea how I was able to get away with that
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I had no regrets at the time, it part funded an NDX2 which replaced an ND5 XS2 so didn’t go to waste on my system journey.
Even if I’d use it infrequently I like the idea of being able to play CD’s, the reality of that is probably less practical of course, I tend to agree 
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I finally gave up on vinyl in 1988, due to Qc issues with many LP’s. I was an early adopter of the CD format.
I went to a friends house, and somebody had brought round a CD to show us, and we were amazed at the crystal clear sound. I bought one and a few CD’s the next weekend. I have a pretty huge collection of CD’s, mostly Jazz.
Times and technology changes. I buy a lot of obscure stuff from Bandcamp, or small labels. I like how I can buy the physical CD, and get a Wav download. I like the CD for the information on the sleeve. I am steadily ripping my CD’s to a hard disc, that connects to my streamer. It is just so convenient controlling everything from an iPad.
I read in the Guardian some months ago how young people were fed up with the price gouging of vinyl and were turning to a more economical hard format. I hope this does not lead to the violet coloured limited edition nonsense that has affected vinyl.
I have limited time to listen to music. I can explore a couple of albums a week in depth, so streaming at the buffet of all you can listen to, does not really interest me. Spotify on my computer is fine for exploring new stuff.
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I’m not young anymore (41 yo this year) but lately found myself got deeper attached to CDs as literally grew up in CDs era. Tho vinyl SQ is unmatched and so I keep the 2 sources. I did see vinyl actually playing in 80s so it’s not too far from reality.
My girlfriend born in late 90s (early GenZ) sees CDs as her vinyl. And not too into vinyl, in the end ‘it feels too ancient’ to her, ‘why everything is so fragile, raw and unprotected?’ really scared everything queueing for a song.
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It’s great to hear CD is coming back, although personally I have no desire to add to my existing collection of perhaps 800 cd’s. In truth I think the greedy record companies are pricing young people in particular out of vinyl, heck they’re nearly pricing me out of it and I have a number of serious audiophile mates who simply never buy brand new vinyl anymore due cost.
If we look at the price of a single vinyl album in 1988 it was around £5.99 retail.
The Bank of England says that a vinyl record costing £5.99 in 1988 should cost £16.82 today…
Taylor Swift’s latest album is £37.99 on vinyl in HMV, most albums cost £30-£33
It’s price gouging I’m afraid…
JonathanG
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If I understand correctly Ms Swift, has put out 18 different CD’s some with different tracks.
So, the marketing bods are trying a different method to empty her fans pockets. No Comment.
TS must be the worst for variants.
“those first-week sales were fueled by 34 different versions of TLOAS—including 27 physical iterations (18 CDs, eight vinyl LPs, and one cassette) and seven download variants (the latest being her Deluxe So Punk on the Internet Version).”
TTPD had 36 variants.
This is nothing to do with buying cds to listen to, as these are basically the same album. It’s a “gotta catch ‘em all” collector thing.
So you get people like this; 3rd row 8 copies of TTPD, and then 5 of the new one.
There’s nothing new under the sun: remember that Paul Hardcastle managed to keep 19 atop the charts for five weeks thanks in part to releasing a new remix every time sales started to slow.
At least that’s a remix.
These are exactly the same songs with a different cover. Then she released a few with 1 extra track being an acoustic version of one of the original 12.
I have no more interest in vinyl, probably i have circa 1500 items out of 5000 in my collection including CD s. Soon i will say adieu to the Sondek, eventually keeping the Rega P3, and selling the most valuable vinyl items.
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I did the same with my LP12 , but kept the LPs.
Now I am thinking of moving and wondering will I be buying any more LPs and should I downsize from the very bulky ClearAudio in favour of a Rega or basic Technics .
What goes around , comes around.
I suspect there are a number of reasons.
Streaming is boring. Although I do stream plenty. Sure it’s a great tool and something like Qobuz with it’s suggestion algorithms does easily aid the variety of my listening. But it is a bit boring. And remote. And you need to stare at a screen, at a time when lots of people realise they should be reducing their screen time.
Records, CD’s, tapes etc. aren’t boring.
Records are expensive now, even s/h but the whole process, from purchase to unsleeving and playing is more interesting. Clearly a deal of QC on both new and old needs to be exercised.
Due to the above two negative issues for records, CD’s come into their own. Rarely damaged (although some s/h purchases are a bit dirty and smelly) meaning QC is less of an issue, s/h ones are also usually substantially cheaper, from 50p to a few pounds. Even new ones are much cheaper than new vinyl, including lots of very nice Japanese sacd/shmcd buys.
Tapes are an odd one. I still buy tapes sometimes, especially when they were 50p and quite obscure. Unfortunately you don’t know if it’s a dud and won’t play until you’ve tried it. They rarely sound as good as streaming, CD or records but in my wfh setup, they do have a charm. However, I’ve noticed the price of those has gone up to many £ now too, for something that can only be determined as unplayable when you try to play it.
Given all the above, to me it’s no surprise that CD’s are back…
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I don’t see it that way. If you don’t have the will to stop looking at a screen perhaps you have a problem but you can do that while listening to your phonograph too if you want.
For me physical media are things that I was glad to see the back of for several reasons. Foe example, how many times have you listened to the opening bars of a piece of music while pointing your arse at the speakers, not out of disrespect for the artist, but because you are still scuttling back to your seat after cueing up a record? Don’t get me started on the hassle of cleaning records, the nasty tactile experience of handling those cheap, flimsy plastic ‘jewel’ cases and CDs etc.
I share the same feeling but inflation in play objectively speaking. £1000 in 1988 is like £37xx today, exactly 3-4 times.
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And they sound better than streaming.
Generally.
100% with you, Chris.
I do still occasionally buy CDs but immediately rip them to local storage, scan the booklet, stash them away and listen to the rip. It’s the music that matters and I don’t buy boring music.
Roger