HasCD sound exceeded expectations since 1983?

I'd say the players have caught up to cd and like all things some recordings are good and some bad, but present equipment has brought out previously unheard resolution from the medium, thanks to an Oppo 95 for me, I can say I love my cd's as much as my sacd's for musical pleasure.

Had LP's went to all Digital when the format came out because of the quieter background. Because of all the recent hype I tried vinyl again and I am now back to that format most of the time. And because of my recent vinyl experience cd's / SACD's in general have not meet my higher expectations. I also listen to Internet Radio on occasion.

Chuck

Thanks to all have responded so far. I am sure there is much more to be said. I was going to attach a separate question to this thread at first, but changed my mind. However, it was brought to my attention by a local audio dealer that audio is getting "too easy" for the consumer with the arrival of computer audio and server storage. In 1970, this hardware would have been almost the "stuff" of science fiction

Obviously on this site, many of use are audio equipment journeymen, that is moving from our first system, then the next....etc etc, until we have at least $10,000 worth of gear parked in our living rooms. We have learned the audio business by both addition and subtraction over a fixed time period. There is much personal satisfaction, and a sense of individual achievement in making this audio junkie journey. I don't own an I-PAD, POD or other techno marvels. I prefer very good sound in a room created by state of the art equipment or almost SOTA. A young man or woman who graduates college today at 22, or an MBA program at 26, will probably have little or no appreciate for analog audio, or even possibly digital CD formats. Their generation has been weened since age 12 on cells, PADS and PODS,and the efficiency and variety of music accessed by computer.

The interesting (negative) consequence of computer audio is that its ultimate goal almost by default is to eliminate most of the traditional audio components and necessary software. If so,this may be the final death knell for the audio store, and the CD hardware market. The technological efficiency and convenience of computer audio maybe, or is inevitable, However, I am not sure cyber accessed music is healthy for a world economy based on putting people to work. There is no way this scenario can magically make more out of less.

My digital listening experience has much improved since my first CD player in 1985. While I still prefer analog the gap has closed. I'd say that my digital rig sounds 90% as good as my analog rig sound at 10% the cost.

I think CD proven to be a big disappointment, at least amongst audiophiles. It promised perfect sound forever and ultimately delivered anything but. With it arrived death calls for vinyl but that archaic medium survived and underwent a bit of a revival due mostly to CD's shortcomings. And once higher res digital became available - first SACD/DVDa and now downloads - we realized just how compromised the format was.

The red book CD format appears to be dying and had a very short shelf life. It now appears that it may be outlived by vinyl - something absolutely unthinkable just 10 short years ago.