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Poll

Buying Used CDs

Yes
[ 54 ] (80.6%)
No
[ 13 ] (19.4%)

Total Members Voted: 75

Topic: Buying Used CDs (Read 4246 times) previous topic - next topic
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Buying Used CDs

Is it worth is to buy used CDs to use for ripping purposes only? It can save me a bundle, but might not have the same sound of buying a new CD.

Buying Used CDs

Reply #1 –
I suppose you mean used, original CDs? Sure it can be worth it, when they are in good condition. I made good experiences on Amazon, bought a used CD there... they stated the condition of the CD and the booklet + case, and it was even better than i expected, only one very light scratch on it. I'd do it again.

Buying Used CDs

Reply #2 –
My neatest hobby at the moment is to buy used CDs
from ebay. There are real treasures i used to tape
from friends and heard about in the late 80s. Now
i ebay them and none of them was in bad condition.
Every single one ripped perfectly. Seems like the
rest of the world takes more care than me of their
CDs. None of them was more than 10 Euro with shipping.
Some of these are no more to buy anywhere else.

Wombat
Is troll-adiposity coming from feederism?
With 24bit music you can listen to silence much louder!

Buying Used CDs

Reply #3 –
I like to buy used CD's from the local record store, where I can examine the disc, take it home, and rip it. If it fails to copy in EAC, I can take it back for a full refund. I've ordered several things from eBay, and usually the product isn't quite as good as advertised (but close enough that I still go back for good deals).

Used CD's, as long as they copy without errors, sound the same as new CD's. They just cost less, and they use fewer resources, since it's one less CD that needs to be pressed, packaged, and shipped. Every little bit counts!

Buying Used CDs

Reply #4 –
What's the deal with the condition? Are you allowed to examine the disc in store, or do you have to buy it, examine, and return if it's not good?

Buying Used CDs

Reply #5 –
I haven't bought a new CD for quite some time. I got used to used cds () that I buy in a specialized shop and I never regreted it. They usually cost 10 euros but some are even cheaper (5 euros) and I can always check their condition. I never bought them online though I've checked prices, and it seems to me it's worth it (now even more 'cause the euro is more expensive than the dollar).

cya

Buying Used CDs

Reply #6 –
There are a couple of shops that have a used section near my home. When you go to the counter to purchase, they open the case for you and let you inspect the disc before shelling out the money. They always look brand-new. The only way I can remember if a CD in my collection was purchased used is by looking at the CD booklet... they usually look a little more worn out than my own CD booklets, and that's only because I almost never look at them.

And of course, since they look brand new, they rip just fine. The worst problem I have had so far were simple timing errors on one disc, and cdparanoia was able to fix them without any complaint.

It's a good way to buy CDs that are out of print or not usually in stock, since those are very expensive to buy new. All used CDs I have bought cost me less than $10 (Canadian), while buying them new would have cost me over $20.

I don't think I would trust Amazon or eBay for used CDs, because they are usually sold by individuals. Find a specialty shop in the city, if you can. It's actually fun to just browse through the shelf and find that old gem that you forgot all about.

Buying Used CDs

Reply #7 –
The local pawn shops here are good spot for picking up used cd's. Cheaper than the record store, too. One shop has 6 cd's for $25.00. I can look them over to see what kind of shape they are in. Many times there is more than one copy so I pick the best of the bunch. Never had any that didn't rip properly.

Buying Used CDs

Reply #8 –
My only problem with buying used  CDs is if the version I purchase is an older, audibly inferior mastering job relative to the current release.  This is a real problem for some of my favorite genres (jazz, blues, classic rock).
One reason I buy relatively few used CDs is because I belong to a CD club and can typically get discs for around $6-7 after shipping, though I will have to wait a week or two to get them.

Buying Used CDs

Reply #9 –
I've bought a few used CDs over time, and I've been lucky...never had a problem with one.  Paid an average of $3 to $5 each for them, and could find some stuff that was out of print too.

Quote
It can save me a bundle, but might not have the same sound of buying a new CD.


Unless the CD is physically damaged (scratched), then the audio quality shouldn't be the any different than when it was new, I would think.  Unless you're referring more to the fact that older CDs were recorded with lower sound quality compared with newer ones.

To be sure about the integrity of a used CD, you can use Exact Audio Copy (as some others here have mentioned) or dBpowerAmp Music Converter with AccurateRip.  Once you calculate your CD drive's read offset, then these tools can make a theoretically "perfect" rip by verifying the all of the data extracted.  Any scratches on a CD would either be corrected by the ripping tool or reported as "uncorrectable".  And if you already know all this, then forgive me for "preaching to the choir".   

Concerning returning a CD, as some people are saying, that would definitely be a favorable policy of the store you buy it from in case you DO run into a damaged one.

Quote
My only problem with buying used CDs is if the version I purchase is an older, audibly inferior mastering job relative to the current release. This is a real problem for some of my favorite genres (jazz, blues, classic rock).


For less than perfect mastering, I suppose there's not much that can be done.  But concerning lower recording volumes, can MP3Gain (or WaveGain) minimize that problem?  Or does gaining up an audio track more than a few dB's result in a sound quality drop (i.e., increased noise)?  (Stupid newbie question, I know.)  I've only had to gain up tracks a couple of decibels on the CDs I've done so far (most are instead 6-10 dBs too loud)...haven't started ripping my older, quieter stuff yet, including the used CDs I've bought.

Edit:  Changed the second and third paragraphs for clarification.

Buying Used CDs

Reply #10 –
interesting poll

Buying Used CDs

Reply #11 –
Quote
For less than perfect mastering, I suppose there's not much that can be done. But concerning lower recording volumes, can MP3Gain (or WaveGain) minimize that problem? Or does gaining up an audio track more than a few dB's result in a sound quality drop (i.e., increased noise)? (Stupid newbie question, I know.)

MP3 Gain does a good job IMO, but low volume is rarely the only problem with an older CD (especially the very early ones which I still have a few of). Often, it sounds like the 'master' used in the transfer is not the original tape, but a much-used record master.
  There are occasionally some CDs that have a relative low recording level but maintain very respectable sound quality. These certainly benefit from a bit of a gain boost, and while the noise should get a comparable boost as well, if the recording is pretty clean it's not a big issue.
  For instance, the E'G remasters of King Crimsons very early albums are pretty quiet, but the sound quality is good. Compared to their newer stuff, the old albums are very quiet indeed - a bad combination for a career-long playlist because I'd have to keep adjusting the volume knob

Buying Used CDs

Reply #12 –
Remember though, when you buy used music CDs, the RIAA isn't getting any money, so you're stealing.

Buying Used CDs

Reply #13 –
Quote
Remember though, when you buy used music CDs, the RIAA isn't getting any money, so you're stealing.

You may be joking Canar, but the RIAA isn't... check this out!

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/busines...b14usedcds.html

Does anyone know if the RIAA has had any success with their royalty scheme for used CDs?

Buying Used CDs

Reply #14 –
Quote
Often, it sounds like the 'master' used in the transfer is not the original tape, but a much-used record master.

Are these cd's labelled DDD anywhere on them? Some of the eariliest discs released were actually all digital recordings. No analog was used in their making. And it showed. The equipment was so sensitive it picked up everything. Singer taking a breath, fingers sliding on strings, etc. After a while it was changed to AAD or DAD. This helped much in quieting things down.

Might be why they sound so funky.

Buying Used CDs

Reply #15 –
Quote
Are these cd's labelled DDD anywhere on them? Some of the eariliest discs released were actually all digital recordings. No analog was used in their making. And it showed. The equipment was so sensitive it picked up everything. Singer taking a breath, fingers sliding on strings, etc. After a while it was changed to AAD or DAD. This helped much in quieting things down.


No, these are actually AAD discs, and if you have a decent used CD store in your town, you can probably find some of them.
Check out the original CD versions of Eric Clapton's solo work if you're interested. I have a copy of 461 Ocean Boulevard somewhere that was manufactured in West Germany circa 1985 and probably used a severely worn record master as the "CD master". A very used LP on a mediocre player would sound better, literally.

All of my older Direct to Digital (DDD) recordings actually sound pretty damn good - this was quite the popular method in the classical (anal) recording community, and still is so far as I know. All of my DDD discs are classical, I believe.
  Edit - I just remembered I have a Laserlight DDD Taj Mahal Live set....

Buying Used CDs

Reply #16 –
Quote
manufactured in West Germany circa 1985 and probably used a severely worn record master as the "CD master"


OK, know what you're saying now. I have a friend that has Nektar - Remember the Future. He has it on both vinyl and cd. The record is old and in pitiful condition (years of partying and playback - you get the idea). But it does not sound anything like the cd. The guitars on the cd are so quiet and pushed to the back (they sound distant) that he can hardly stand to listen to it. It was also made in Germany, and he suspects a bad master was used to create it.

I may have to give a look on the Internet to see if I can find him a decent copy on vinyl. Stubborn sucker doesn't have a connection! He has a stand alone burner (AIWA) that he uses to preserve his collection of records. Recently he purchased a new cartridge for the turntable and made a few cd's of stuff I had heard before. Major improvement. Anyway, enough rambling...