CDs Sound Better Than Vinyl, and Every Other Reason I’m Still Buying Them in 2024

CD gross sales are on the rise once more, and for good motive. In truth, there are lots of good causes.

Cropped shot of a young woman shopping for DVDs at a store

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It’s 2024 and streaming makes up greater than 84 % of the music business. But there’s nonetheless lots of love for bodily audio codecs. , in fact, with gross sales rising yr after yr since 2005. In 2023, greater than 41 million LPs have been bought within the U.S. alone.

As for CDs, effectively, you may be shocked that individuals are nonetheless listening to them. In truth, I’m one among them. After being in a gentle decline since 2000, CD gross sales are literally rising. Last, nearly 37 million CDs have been bought — up almost three % yr over yr.

Here are all the explanations I acquire CDs and assume you must, too.

1. CDs sound higher than vinyl

One of the good myths within the audio world is that vinyl sounds higher than CDs. It’s simply not true.

Don’t get me incorrect. I like vinyl’s heat analog sound, particularly its crackling and different imperfections. And there’s the visceral expertise of truly dropping the needle on a spinning report.

But CDs are merely the most effective sounding bodily audio format. Compared to vinyl, CDs are capable of produce a wider dynamic vary and extra bass. Plus, they’re not going to skip (except they’re scratched).

2. CDs sound higher than streaming recordsdata, too

If you’re streaming music from the likes of Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal, you’re listening to a compressed music file. That signifies that the audio information is being saved in much less area, which ends up in a lack of data and the music isn’t going to sound as vibrant or as full. MP3, AAC, WMA are all forms of compressed music recordsdata.

Apple-Music-Gear-Patrol-Lead-Full — Most songs on streaming companies are compressed recordsdata, that means songs don’t sound as vibrant or full.

The greatest compressed digital music recordsdata are known as lossless as a result of they don’t lose data, however just a few streaming companies are capable of play lossless or CD-quality audio — corresponding to Tidal, Amazon Music HD and Apple Music — and people require a subscription and will be fairly costly.

3. CDs are considerably cheaper than vinyl

If you’re searching for a superior audio format, CDs are the most effective deal you’re prone to get. To be frank, they’re low-cost to purchase. Audio retailers and retailers are virtually giving freely used CDs, whereas new CDs are normally within the $12 to $15 value vary.

If you’re searching for vinyl, then again, a brand new report will seemingly price twice as a lot as that. Also, there’s the resale worth of CDs and vinyl. It may not be a lot, however you’ll be able to promote your previous records and CDs on-line or to report retailers. If you purchase a digital music, like an mp3 file, there’s no resale worth.

4. CD booklets are underrated

In this streaming age, the album paintings appears to be extra of an afterthought (to customers, no less than). Sure, you see slightly image of the album cowl once you’re listening to a music, however you’re lacking the story of the album.

Woman reading a CD booklet — When you stream music, you lose among the finest components about listening to a brand new album: diving into the booklet that comes with a CD.

The 12×12 album cowl of a vinyl report continues to be the gold customary, however the little booklet that comes with every CD, highlighting some behind the scenes pictures or fascinating paintings, and exhibiting the lyrics to every music, is a pleasant center floor between having to depend on digital photographs and having to retailer large vinyl records.

As a child, I at all times loved getting a CD and flipping by the booklet — one thing I nonetheless attempt to do. I believe it makes you are feeling extra linked to the music.

5. Artists nonetheless launch CDs of their new albums

Yes, you’ll be able to nonetheless purchase the most recent albums of recent artists as CDs. They are releasing their new albums in CD codecs similar to they’re additionally releasing them vinyl.

You can purchase these new CDs at just about any music store. But in the event you’re struggling to discover a CD of a selected artist, it’s price going to their official web site — lots of artists and bands lately promote direct-to-consumers lately as effectively.

6. Audio firms are nonetheless releasing new CD gamers

The moveable CD participant is generally a factor of the previous, however, consider it or not, big-time audio firms are nonetheless releasing CD gamers for the house. Why? Because audiophiles are nonetheless craving them.

In the previous few years, firms corresponding to Cambridge Audio, Panasonic, McIntosh, Rotel and Sony have all launched new CD gamers (or integrating them into digital streamers).

These gamers are an incredible possibility for individuals who have a big CD assortment and don’t wish to pay for a music server (or spend the time importing all their total CD library to it). Also, high-end CD gamers aren’t terribly costly.