Much Thanks!  I will check it out.

Interesting blog Greenwood . 

I agree with most of what you said . I've been enjoying the CD format since the beginning and analog even longer . I have a high end turntable ( the price of a nice car ) and a nearly as high end CD player and DAC . My take on it is that neither is superior in every way . The sound is simply a different flavor . I have many friends and audio club members that visit our sound/living room , it's pretty much a 50 50 split as to which each prefers .

  As it's been said in the pages of Stereophile many times " it's the music that matters most " .

   I think the reason many folks talk about the source so highly is because of the old Humpty Dumpty affect , if you don't get things right in the beginning all the best gear on the planet won't put the bits back together again . As far as sources go I'm with Greenwood , the improvements are small , but if the rest of your setup is right you should at least hear gains in texture and inner detail . These gains may seem small but sometimes it's the small things that are important . Keep in mind that better components usually have a greater degree of neutrality that  many perceive as less impressive . If a system is set up corectly you shouldn't be gobsmacked by any part of it's sonic presentation , it should simply sound closer to live music . Don't be fooled by big bass and bright highs . 

   On the subject of transports and DACs , I also use to feel that the DAC was more important , but a couple of years ago when I upgraded my Marantz SA11 II to the latest Ayre C5mp , both being used as transports only with the same Audio Research DAC8 , the music was transformed to a sound that was equal to but different than my SME 20/12 turntable -Manley Steelhead analog combo . 

   I should make it clear this is only my opinion , I am not a qualified reviewer or seasoned insider .                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                   Have a great day

I've waffled over the years on which component in the chain I considered the most important. I tend to take more of a "system as a whole" approach these days. Different trade offs are made with each component in a system, but I think maybe it boils down to personal preference unique to the situation. 

Nice job! Green wood.

Why does the CD need defending? I know, I know, streaming music from a web site is the thing to do. It's the latest, greatest hi tech format but if anyone knows exactly what a hodge podge of electronics, cable, etc., etc. streamed music goes to get to your PC...well, just give it some thought.

Back to the CD...Vinyl is still popular, reel-to-reel has a following (some HIGH end stuff is available) even cassettes are still around. The CD has all the properties a person could want/need. Just because technology marches on doesn't mean an older technology needs to become outdated.

Good read, GW 

I'd been considering tossing all my CD cases, and moving all the CDs to booklets for storage, but then I started looking at the cases and getting nostalgic for the moment that I bought it and the times spent with each or the times yet to be spent. It's not just for vinyl.

   I really think it comes down to the source . Like others have said even lower priced cd players can give good sound. It comes down to the CD itself.  There are some cd's that were mastered correctly  and some that sound absolutely horrid  lacking any kind of detail.  This was true even on vinyl. I remember the old ABC/Dunhill vinyl pretty much sounded crappy across the board along with whatever that label was the Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded on .