CD - the lost opportunity

[Clive]

Now that we have redbook reproduction that can sit well with the sound of a good TT it seems a shame that the original packing of the product was so poor. Had it been better maybe the format would be more enduring. Here's an example of what I mean, this handles like an LP:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/CTM_0860_zpscd48cf60.jpg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/CTM_0860_zpscd48cf60.jpg.html)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/CTM_0854_zps704dc8fd.jpg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/CTM_0854_zps704dc8fd.jpg.html)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/CTM_0862_zps5b131173.jpg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/CTM_0862_zps5b131173.jpg.html)

I showed this to my 20 year old daughter, she was really taken by the packaging.

[Firebottle]

I think you've got a good point there Clive. With the price that CDs started out at the publishers should have put more effort in.

That sample you have looks the biz.

I suppose when CDs came out it was into a 'plastic is best' sort of era.

:cool: Alan

[UV101]

David Gilmore - on an island is similar.

Definitely moves you to pick it up and read it :)

[Clive]

I play purely ripped CDs but in this case I keep the CD handy for when I play the music via my computer. So yes I agree it does want to make you pick it up, handle it and read it.

[realysm42]

I had a tidy up of my CDs the other day, they're all ripped so I never handle them; I was surprised how much I'd missed them lol.

[RichB]

I cleaned up an old Marantz CD 63 the other day which was skipping and sticking a bit. Even for a numpty like me cleaning the lens and regreasing the transport mech was a doddle. As such my old discs are having a bit of a revival at the moment much to Mrs B's disappointment as there are piles of them everywhere. The nice thing about playing them is actually listening to whole albums again unlike my file based system which is usually on random.

I've tried the CD player through my Rega DAC and found I actually preferred the sound of the old Marantz for spinning discs. A great format and I still buy around 20 second hands discs every month. My cupboards are full of them. I'd agree with some if the comments here about the packaging though, its been a long time since I removed and read any of the covers. This died when I gave up vinyl many moons ago.

[UV101]

That's a great tweekable CD player you got there :D

[Audioman]

Many CD's use digipacks to accommodate special artwork and booklets. Unfortunately unlike Jewel cases, they cannot have hubs and cases renewed if damaged, so must be treated with even more care than vintage LP covers.

[twickers]

Now that we have redbook reproduction..

Apologies if this is a dim and already answered question but what exactly is redbook. I always thought cd had a standard recording format?

[Marco]

The nice thing about playing them is actually listening to whole albums again unlike my file based system which is usually on random.


You're not alone in that respect, and it's one of my pet hates with streaming, as it encourages laziness. I'm defo a 'play an album the whole way through' kinda guy, even if it sometimes involves getting up and turning the record over! ;)

Clive, as usual, I completely agree with your sentiments. We need more tactility woven into the process of how we access recorded music these days!!

Marco.

[Clive]

Apologies if this is a dim and already answered question but what exactly is redbook. I always thought cd had a standard recording format?
CD = redbook, it's the name of the standard. What I was getting at is that we can get a great sound with CD, not just hi res downloads.

Marco, yes the failure by marketeers to appreciate importance of tactile experience just goes to show what you should do when someone from marketing says "I'm from marketing, I'm here to help"....

I'm sure we all enjoy tactile experiences but I digress.

[Ali Tait]

Apologies if this is a dim and already answered question but what exactly is redbook. I always thought cd had a standard recording format?

Redbook is the CD recording standard system-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc_Digital_Audio

[RichB]

That's a great tweekable CD player you got there :D

Yes, I've admired your various mods on the player from the other threads. So far I've managed to install a better mains cable (some spare black rhodium I've had kicking about) and do some dampening of the transport and case.

I'm wondering how far to take it or indeed whether its worth asking someone like your good self to do them for me. As it stands I quite like how it sounds.

[synsei]

You're not alone in that respect, and it's one of my pet hates with streaming, as it encourages laziness. I'm defo a 'play an album the whole way through' kinda guy, even if it sometimes involves getting up and turning the record over! ;)

Marco.

And what is wrong with streaming complete albums? I do it all the time and I never never use shuffle... :ner: :cool:

[DSJR]

I still prefer the tactile experience of playing discs of all shapes and sizes, but my eyes and bi-focals/vari-focals don't like squinting at the tiny text on CD booklets.

The whiole thing about CD was the smaller size, yet adding half an inch to the diameter of the disc (IIRC) would have DOUBLED the playing time at red-book streaming rates. I believe they tried this with 8" audio-video discs at the time, but they didn't catch on :(

[morris_minor]

I've a number of World Circuit CDs that exhibit exemplary design and packaging; its obvious care has been taken to produce an all-round quality product.