I read this article CD Sound: A Closer Look at the Truth (courtesy of Halvorsen.org which clearly explains why the sound quality of CDs recorded since the 1990s is not as good as it could be.

Basically, studio sound enginers tend to mix for the largest equipment share of the audience, 70% of which is portable CD players, boom-boxes and car stereos.

The other 30% – those with high quality equipment – suffer because of the sound manipulations going on to make the music loud and attention-grabbing enough for the majority.

What happens? Original studio sound is lost; a ‘pale reflection’ of the original.

I noticed this effect with a CD I bought recently; it sounds much better on a portable CD player than on a better quality hi-fi.

And deep down we all still know that vinyl can offer better quality than CD.