Aaron Hartley, the music industry veteran and audiophile behind the popular YouTube channel Forever Analog, took time from reviewing HiFi gear to chat about CDs with 360°Sound. The 46-year-old “CD Junkie,” who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, has been collecting CDs for over three decades. In this exclusive interview, Hartley talks about his favorite artists and genres, provides tips for consumers looking for a new CD player, and shares his thoughts on the CD revival.
360°Sound: Tell us a little about your YouTube channel Forever Analog.
Aaron Hartley: Forever Analog’s mission is to help home audio consumers buy quality components by reviewing new products while also helping them properly install those products with instructional videos. One of my most popular YouTube videos is “How To Connect a CD Player to an External DAC.” I didn’t know how to do this and couldn’t find anyone on YouTube to show me how, so I bought a DAC, figured it out, and uploaded a short video showing others how to do the same in case they were also confused. That video has over 55,000 views!
Do you remember the first CD you ever bought?
For Christmas, my mom bought me a full stereo system with standalone JVC components, such as a separate CD player, receiver, cassette deck and speakers. We went CD shopping and for some reason I bought a used copy of Winger’s In The Heart of the Young. This was around 1990 so this was right before grunge blew my mind wide open in 1991.
My mom deserves a lot of credit for buying me that stereo system. My dad passed away when I was six, and she saved her money to buy me that system. It really started me down a path of musical appreciation, so much so that I’ve worked in the music business now for almost 25 years.
What do you love about the CD format?
Right now, I love the price. Even new CDs are a steal compared to buying a new vinyl record. I recently found 14 used CDs at a bookstore for $1.50 each and a lot were artists from the ‘90s or 2000s whose vinyl pressings are very collectible and expensive.
I always love buying new albums released by artists, but it can get expensive. Let’s say it’s Bandcamp Friday and I want to support new artists, I’ll often load up on CDs rather than vinyl because my money can support more artists! Lastly, I own over 1,500 vinyl records and have what I like to call a “space issue.” I like that CDs take up a smaller footprint and are easier to store.
What are some of your favorite genres? Who are some of your favorite artists?
I listen to all sorts of music but I’m a ‘90s indie/punk/alternative/grunge kid at heart, so I always keep my eyes peeled for Sonic Youth, Ween, Meat Puppets, Dinosaur Jr., Radiohead, Shellac, the Cure, Descendents, Fugazi, etc.
What CDs are at the top of your want list? Or perhaps a genre or artist that you’d like to add more of to your collection?
Part of my “job” with reviewing audio products on my YouTube channel is to find quality recordings, so I often keep an eye out for CDs that I know have excellent sound reproduction, think Daft Punk, but also the occasional classical or jazz CD.
I’ve been picking up bluegrass recordings by artists like Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and even the occasional “New Age” release. Basically, if it looks interesting and is priced right, I’ll pick it up because my curiosity for new music is never-ending.
What general guidance would you have for someone who is in the market for a new (or used) CD player?
My most popular video on YouTube has over 380,000 views and simply wonders if we should buy cheap Blu-ray players instead of expensive CD players, so I have a lot to say here! I spent most of last year making videos about CD players, so be sure to check those out on my YouTube channel to learn more about my journey.
First, you can often find used CD, DVD, or Blu-ray players in thrift stores or Facebook Marketplace. I have a video on my YouTube channel showing you what to look for because if you buy a vintage player with a digital output, you can connect a modern DAC to it and get even better sound performance for a great price. You can also find inexpensive players in big box stores like Walmart that have these digital outputs and you can pair the cheap CD player with an entry level DAC like the SMSL SU-1 for less than $100 and improve the sound immediately.
If you don’t mind spending money, Cambridge Audio makes the AXC-35 CD player for $399, which is a great performer. I went even further in this rabbit hole and discovered companies make CD transports, which means they do not have an internal DAC, its sole job is to spin the disc and send the information to an external DAC.
I bought the Schiit Urd transport and a Denafrips Ares II DAC and this has considerably changed the sound signature of CDs in my system. It eliminates some of that digital sheen that can make CDs sound fatiguing to listen to — something that’s not an issue with vinyl. I believe it’s possible to find a used player and improve the sound with an external DAC or buy a new one from companies like Cambridge Audio, Schiit, or Audiolab.
How do you feel about the future of the CD?
I operate a vintage booth in an antique mall and sell at record shows on the weekends, and I see more and more people buying CDs because they can buy two or three for the cost of one new vinyl LP. Many of these consumers are young, which is a lot of fun to see. I don’t know if it will be a revival as large as vinyl’s resurgence, but CDs are definitely not going away!
I just hope artists don’t stop at releasing vinyl and forget about CD options. For instance, Ween reissued Chocolate and Cheese with bonus tracks on vinyl, but no CD release, which was disappointing! If you are an indie artist, don’t sleep on making an affordable CD option to sell along with your vinyl. A lot of younger consumers are into CDs now and will buy them at the merch table!
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