Redbook Digital Can Sound Great -- On Occassion


Just spun a new CD last week that really impressed me. The CD is Michael Buble, To Be Loved (Reprise 2013). Mr. Buble sings old standards like -- You Make Me Feel So Young, It's A Beautiful Day, Something Stupid, Come Dance With Me, among many others. Sometimes I think it's Frank Sinatra or the other original artists actually singing, but with Mr. Buble's own vocal style. For those who like the old standards, it's a unqualified "Buy" recommendation.

But there's an added surprise. There's a number of threads currently running that speak to the pros and cons of digital, in generally, and redbook CD, in particular. IMO, the recording playback quality of this CD is exemplary (almost as good as vinyl), which I think permits the inference that if the industry did a better recording job in the redbook format, there could still be life in that medium.

So, if anyone has the CD, I'd appreciate hearing your comments. And, if you like the old standards, it's a "Buy" recommendation -- just for the enjoyment of listening to a modern re-do of the music.
bifwynne
I don't have that CD, but I agree that CD sound has the potential to be excellent, and certainly up to par with even the finest modern equipment, which essentially makes high resolution digital irrelevant. To say nothing of vinyl. And here's a heretical statement: 'low resolution' digital downloads as offered by sites such as itunes and emusic can sound excellent as well.
Redbook CD, when done right, can sound wonderful, with "done right", the operative phrase. If only the labels had higher QC standards when recording and pressing CDs.

I'll check out that Michael Buble CD. Thanks.

All the best,
Nonoise
I agree very much with the above comments.The quality of sound is often genre related,most jazz CDs sound quite good to excellent.Pop,rock and some other genres don`t do as well in general.

If you have a good redbook source component you can enjoy very good music reproduction.Some players are clearly better than others.I enjoy redbook playback immensely.
Regards,
I do have some pretty incredible sounding CD's and a pretty decent digital playback system. Just ordered an Esoteric K03 to replace my X03SE. CD players aren't dead, gentlemen. This computer thing is temporary.
"This computer thing is temporary." I've heard that before Cerrot. 8^)
But I have to add, I'm also playing Cds and using my computer for other things.