Topic: Should I sell my CD collection? (Read 10958 times)

Z0001 · « **on:** May 17, 2016, 03:10:30 am »

Hi

My wife wants to spring clean and have me get rid of my 1000 CD collection.

I don't listen to them. It's all jriver now. But here's the question. If I had a super duper CD player and amp would I hear any difference? My old CD player was OK but died and so we just went 100% jriver. And I've not looked back. It does sound great. But I have this nag in my mind - will I ever hear a difference if I drop $000s on a CD player?

Any experience here?
Z

eddyshere · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2016, 03:45:09 am »

You will certainly have a different sound experience. Now this question is difficult to answer as the rationale of investing in a super duper CD player will depend on the rest of your equipment. A lot has been written about "what sounds better" going from rational, scientific over to esoteric and real hocus pocus arguments.

What I experienced is that investing in High-End equipment does make a difference. The gear which I cross tested most before buying were the speakers - followed by the amp - and only lastly the source machines (ie Universal player).

The most important point in the chain is where the digital to analog (DAC) conversion takes place.

Now if you already have all your CD's ripped on a server and I assume they have been ripped in wav or FLAC I would rather look into a dedicated USB DAC than a physical high-end CD player. Depending on the model you choose you will be safe for any music format be it CD or DVD-A or Bluray Audio or SACD, 2.0 or 5.1 when played through JRiver.

To make it short : throwing money into any high-end equipment is not the guarantee for YOUR best listening experience. Sure a 20'000 installation will most probably sound better than a 2'000 one. I would strongly recommend to go to a dealer and try to hear as many combinations/brands as possible to see IF you hear/feel a difference and you like the sound. Once you have found it and if you want to be absolutely sure have a listening session of the gear in your home...and then go for it.

I had the same question than you some years ago and I decided to buy a dedicated DAC (my physical CD/SACD Collection is stored in the basement and all is on the server) .

PS : and BTW the genre also plays a role. I'm more a jazz listening person so I appreciate good sounding equipments but I don't look for the ultimate sound as written about in some reviews "the sound stage clearly came 3 inch closer and the presence of the 3th bell produced a more warm enveloping sound without jeopardizing the deepness of the silences between the notes" ...what I found out is that the so-called "reaching the sound climax" is often a hobby of classical music fans. Clearly recent HD audio production is mostly exclusively only producing classical music.

blgentry · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2016, 06:45:44 am »

There should not be any discernible difference in sound quality of a CD in a CD player, versus a lossless rip of that same CD. When played back on the same DAC that is. DACs can sound different from each other for sure.

I would never get rid of my CDs. They are:

1. The last physical backup of my music.
2. The proof that I own the music I have stored digitally.
3. In some cases, mildly sentimental, as I've acquired them over a period of almost 30 years.

Brian.

JimH · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2016, 06:46:42 am »

If your files are lossless, there would be no difference in sound. Your DAC would see identical streams of bits in either case.

You will hear conflicting advice on this, there is no difference.

Matt · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2016, 07:27:07 am »

I have a bin of all my CDs in my basement. I haven't sold them because I feel a little funny selling them when I'm keeping a digital copy.

But they'll certainly never be used!

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2016, 08:32:14 am »

Quote from: blgentry on May 17, 2016, 06:45:44 am

I would never get rid of my CDs. They are:

1. The last physical backup of my music.
2. The proof that I own the music I have stored digitally.
3. In some cases, mildly sentimental, as I've acquired them over a period of almost 30 years.

Number 2 is the reason why I'd keep the CDs around, regardless of how unlikely it may be that the FBI could come knocking at your door.

That's why I keep all my CDs.

eddyshere · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2016, 09:56:02 am »

Exactly the same reasons.
I even bought special CD archiving plastics in Germany. Costed nearly nothing. So I could throw away the Jewell cases and only keep disc, booklet and inlay prints. The whole collection now takes only 25% of the space it used to with the Jewel cases

Dawgincontrol · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2016, 03:40:32 pm »

I've kept mine and glad I did. Have come across songs/files that had stutters in them not noticed before. The cd let's you reburn them if needed. Computers and drives fail and files can get corrupted. Depending on your back-up system the cd is a reliable and stable resource.

CountryBumkin · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2016, 04:33:01 pm »

YES - you should sell - to me!.
Sell me your collection for a $1, I'll rip all the ones I like, then I'll sell everything to the next guy for a $1, and so on.

Daydream · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2016, 04:35:27 pm »

You cannot appropriately represent the music elites without being surrounded by the media on which you built your musical empire. The airless embodiment of today's music, this army of ghost players, all them Spotifies and Tidals are nothing but poor echoes of the golden days when owning the right special release on vinyl or CD meant status and fame around the block.

Selling them is anathema, and only the thought of such an action demands an obligatory (re)watching of "High Fidelity" (2000).

You should find the closest Fye store (or similar depending where you live) and RESCUE all those $3 CDs. Add another hundred of them to your collection. That is the stuff legends are made of...!

<cue for laughter>

Ashfall · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2016, 06:01:07 pm »

If you sell them, you'll find out a month later that you accidentally used the wrong settings when ripping. If you don't sell them, this will never happen.

JimH · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2016, 07:49:32 pm »

mwillems · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2016, 07:58:32 pm »

Save them, you'll need them for the great CD revival of March 2022:

http://pitchfork.com/features/poptimist/7772-poptimist-26/

glynor · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2016, 09:55:36 pm »

Quote from: JimH on May 17, 2016, 06:46:42 am

If your files are lossless, there would be no difference in sound. Your DAC would see identical streams of bits in either case.

You will hear conflicting advice on this, there is no difference.

This.

Quote from: Matt on May 17, 2016, 07:27:07 am

I have a bin of all my CDs in my basement. I haven't sold them because I feel a little funny selling them when I'm keeping a digital copy.

But they'll certainly never be used!

I actually got rid of almost all of my old CD collection long ago (15 years ago, I think, though perhaps longer). Out of probably 500-600 discs, I still have maybe 50 of them, stashed away (currently in the garage with all of my other crap).

My motivation for the purge was moving (and, to a lesser degree, storage). With a major packing and moving operation looming, I went through them all and re-ripped the stuff I cared about to FLAC* (and made sure I had good -V2 rips of the stuff I didn't care about), and then kept only the chosen few. The favorites, and the rare items that would be impossible to replace even if I lost it all and had to start from scratch and re-buy it all. Everything else went.

Still, I agree with Matt. I didn't feel it would be morally right for me to resell the discs, knowing full-well that I would be keeping my pristine digital copies. So I didn't resell them. I gave them away. First to friends, and then to random people at work and whatnot, I gave them all away. The ones left over that no one wanted, I trashed (this mostly comprised poorly cared-for junk anyway, people like free stuff). That is, of course, really no better from the perspective of the copyright holders, but (1) I'll have the utmost respect and sympathy for them when we go back to reasonable copyright terms, like it was for most of the history of this nation, and (2) at least I didn't profit from their sale. The people I gave them to would have never bought them all anyway. Maybe a handful would have been "eventually sold", but not the majority (and, frankly, as-likely-as-not the people did end up re-buying them from iTunes 3 or 4 years later when that was possible).

I don't regret it in any way and have never needed them.

But, I do have a serious backup plan. If you do it, you need a backup system. If it isn't backed up twice (once locally and once offsite) then it does not exist. The end. No exceptions. And doing backups manually is not good enough. You need a system, or your backups will become quickly utterly useless when you need them most.

* EDIT: Actually, upon consideration, I think I used APE, and only later converted most-everything over to FLAC. APE existed quite a bit earlier, and I think FLAC either didn't exist, or wasn't widely supported or stable back when I did this. Thanks again, Matt.

Z0001 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2016, 01:56:24 am »

Quote from: glynor on May 17, 2016, 09:55:36 pm

But, I do have a serious backup plan. If you do it, you need a backup system. If it isn't backed up twice (once locally and once offsite) then it does not exist. The end. No exceptions. And doing backups manually is not good enough. You need a system, or your backups will become quickly utterly useless when you need them most.

And this is another thing I have to do. Fix my back up. I use free file sync to back up my photos and audio to a NAS. But video is harder just because of the file size it expands quickly and needs a lot of disk space. I'd love a more automated and resiliant system. What do you use?

mark_h · « **Reply #15 on:** May 18, 2016, 02:55:21 am »

Always good to have a backup for the digital files. Keep the CD collection.

slerch666 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 18, 2016, 07:08:04 am »

Technically it would be "illegal" to sell your CDs if you're listening to rips. But we won't tell...

If you are like me, and have the stupid, horrible, ridiculous collector mentality, you wouldn't be able to get rid of the CDs (or DVDs, or BDs, or LPs, etc). In that case, what I recommend to save a TON of space, are CD Pro CD Disc Sox:

http://www.mmdesign.com/products/cd-pro-poly-sleeve.php

Of course, there is the price concern. 1000 CDs = 1000 Pro sleeves... = ~$550 for storage. The nice thing is that you can, as the website claims, cram 75 CDs into 12" of space. And these don't do well for those oversized CD cases, the 2-4

I've moved 90% of my DVD collection to DiscSox. And maybe 25% of my BD collection. And roughly 50% of my CD collection in these things, purely for space considerations. The only solution I've found that you don't need to trim artwork, bend it, etc.

Hilton · « **Reply #17 on:** May 18, 2016, 07:59:25 am »

Call me sentimental but I would never get rid of my CD's or movies. I have thrown away all hard CD covers, kept the liners and put the discs in sleeves in a CD case the size of a small suitcase. (it's a road case for DJ's) It takes hardly any space.
Soon I'll be doing the same to my video collection and putting all the liners into a coffee table photo type album for sentimental value.

I got rid of my vinyl many years ago and now regret it and have selectively replaced a few at great cost! Music is precious to me, it's not cheap throw away stuff to me like it is to the younger throw away generation of today.

I very much appreciate the effort that went into making music and will look forward in the next couple of years to introducing my 5 year old daughter to the same love and appreciation of the original media.

I use Acronis backup and recovery 11.7 and also keep two backup copies religiously with a copy at the inlaws. I use large 4TB to 8TB drives collected at different times and rotate them monthly with the set stored at the inlaws. I use a 4bay dock that makes it simple to swap the drives and rotate them. Took a while to get the backup plan sorted but it works.

I use a GFS backup plan with daily incremental, weekly full. It's pretty space efficient and gives me the ability to restore to a previous version if I ever do anything stupid to the collection. (which i did once to a small set of files - it was quicker to restore them than to painstakingly redo the tags)

8139david · « **Reply #18 on:** May 18, 2016, 08:16:10 am »

Quote from: blgentry on May 17, 2016, 06:45:44 am

1. The last physical backup of my music.
2. The proof that I own the music I have stored digitally.
3. In some cases, mildly sentimental, as I've acquired them over a period of almost 30 years.

I agree with Brian that each point is important.
In my case, if I needed space, I would sell or give my cds -- bearing in mind, then, to have a back-up solution.
But it need not be completely full-proof -- after all, if the flat burns, the cds burn with it!

ssands · « **Reply #19 on:** May 18, 2016, 04:30:49 pm »

I'm keeping my CDs, BUT I am very interested in the comments regarding losing the jewel cases and using "archival" sleeve storage.

eddyshere: can you please post a link of the product you bought?

Slerch666 & eddyshere: how do your sleeves work with larger booklets that some CDs contain?

BartMan01 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 21, 2016, 04:42:19 pm »

I didn't spend the $$ on archival storage, I just got some big case logic cases and put them in there. I kept some of the generic hard cases (out of the way in the attic) in case I needed them but got rid of most of those. Also kept any 'special' cases.

Example of a case logic case: http://www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-DVDW-208-Capacity-Classic/dp/B00005ATMF/ref=sr_1_17?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1463866600&sr=1-17&keywords=cd+case

Everything takes up a fraction of the space it used to and serves as a local failure backup. Ultimate 'fire burned down the house' back up is my insurance on them, I can re-buy the stuff I really want with insurance. I may eventually get it backed up off-site but I need to make sure everything else that I can't replace is there first.

eddyshere · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2016, 09:21:50 am »

Quote from: ssands on May 18, 2016, 04:30:49 pm

I'm keeping my CDs, BUT I am very interested in the comments regarding losing the jewel cases and using "archival" sleeve storage.

eddyshere: can you please post a link of the product you bought?

Slerch666 & eddyshere: how do your sleeves work with larger booklets that some CDs contain?

http://www.knosti.de/deutsch/media-archiving/medienarchivierung/discover-alben/cd-hulle-discoverr-20er-pack-1.html
most fit in even the bit larger ones. The special formats I kept as such but are very few
added some pics

~OHM~ · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2016, 09:28:20 am »

Quote from: ssands on May 18, 2016, 04:30:49 pm

I'm keeping my CDs, BUT I am very interested in the comments regarding losing the jewel cases and using "archival" sleeve storage.

eddyshere: can you please post a link of the product you bought?

Slerch666 & eddyshere: how do your sleeves work with larger booklets that some CDs contain?

My 2cents. These are paper sleeves that I use, they also can be printed on the back if need be (depending on your printer). Very cost effective.
Then I went thrift-ing to find a well built dresser with quality bottom to file them in!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400-Paper-CD-CD-R-DVD-Sleeves-white-with-Window-Flap-case-102177O-/111293193709?hash=item19e9975ded:g:-mMAAOxy-8pSZt1H

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #23 on:** May 22, 2016, 10:04:13 am »

Quote from: eddyshere on May 22, 2016, 09:21:50 am

http://www.knosti.de/deutsch/media-archiving/medienarchivierung/discover-alben/cd-hulle-discoverr-20er-pack-1.html
most fit in even the bit larger ones. The special formats I kept as such but are very few
added some pics

Huh, I wonder where we can get those in the US?

eddyshere · « **Reply #24 on:** May 22, 2016, 10:14:02 am »

You can order directly from them...BTW...just found out that's also in english : http://www.knosti.de/english/media-archiving/medienarchivierung/discover-alben/cd-hulle-discoverr-20er-pack-1.html?___from_store=deutsch

William-NM · « **Reply #25 on:** May 22, 2016, 10:15:47 pm »

Hmmm... I've barely touched a CD in years. I finally gave all my music CD's to a neighbor last year. All the music that I most care has been remastered in hi-res versions that are vastly superior to those early CDs. (Yes, I know that some will prefer the 'original' versions -- not going there, except to say that my ears are in constant aural ecstasy lately). and that's through an inexpensive FiiO DAC and either my venerable, old Sennheiser HD-580's or the new FiiO EX1 buds (simply amazing @ $70).

Definitely agree on double backups - speaking from painful experience, here.

ssands · « **Reply #26 on:** May 23, 2016, 12:57:19 am »

Thanks for the links and photos. I do have some Case Logic cases but I like the sleeve that holds the CD and all related paper bits. I'll probably go that route.

slerch666 · « **Reply #27 on:** May 24, 2016, 11:15:19 am »

Quote from: ssands on May 18, 2016, 04:30:49 pm

Slerch666 & eddyshere: how do your sleeves work with larger booklets that some CDs contain?

I guess it depends on how big they are. By larger you mean "lots of pages." If that's the case, it's a tight fit, or it won't fit.

If you mean they are wider/taller, then they won't fit.

The huge 2-4 disc cases that were more popular in the late 90s, I just leave them alone. The sleeves won't work well on them, if at all.

For the discs I have with THICK books, I leave those alone as well.

The Disc Sox aren't a 100% option for most collections, unless all you have are standard type jewel case releases. But for me, getting 100% of my standard size jewel cases shrunk saves more than enough space to just be OK with keeping the larger cases intact.

Hope that makes sense.

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