Why do people prefer CD rips of music already on streaming services?

[DoctorDoodle19]

I was organizing some Sonoton music I liked the other day, and because I upload music onto Apple Music privately through my computer, so I can listen to it mobile, Apple Music recognized the songs, as they are already on Apple Music.
But some of the CD rips here, along with almost all KPM stuff, is uploaded here and also on streaming services. I don’t understand why people prefer CD rips, can someone explain?
I’m new to CD ripping, don’t judge me.
Thank you!
- DoctorDoodle19

[ChunYinZi]

Albums in the Music Library on streaming platforms are referred to as the “Public Edition.”

In contrast, albums within the Music Library proxy website are termed the “Commercial Edition.”

A significant difference between them lies in the number of tracks included.

The Public Edition typically offers only one version—the so-called “Full Version.”

Commercial Edition albums, however, encompass all track variations, such as 1-minute versions, 30-second versions, 15-second versions, and so on.

On streaming platforms, albums are often incomplete—some albums may be missing entirely, and even within certain albums, individual tracks might be absent.

[DoctorDoodle19]

Hm, because I notice with C MUSIC, they include alternate versions on streaming services, as well as instrumentals. Is there also compression added on streaming services?

[Mr]

Interesting question! I'm sure this is largely subjective - but I prefer collecting CDs for the novelty of the physical object itself. LPs even more so; photos can't really convey the 'feel' of looking at or holding the physical copy in your hands.

As for the rips, there's not really any universal standard, and not necessarily any objective "definitive" version - as you both bring up, sometimes there are different versions found on digital platforms and on the original CDs; sometimes cues on the CDs are omitted from streaming/digital releases, sometimes the digital version contains additional material that couldn't fit on the CD due to size constraints, often they have different masters (some worse, some better), etc. etc. - but many times they are actually completely identical.

I'd argue the CD rips are still valuable as they offer the 'authentic', historical version of the release that shows how it existed at the time of release (giving certainty that it hasn't been "tampered" with), and sometimes the differences between CD and digital is only obvious when you have both versions available - but arguing over which is the better version of two lossless files that are actually identical but come from different sources seems completely pointless to me. It's like sorting a stack of paper sheets from best to worst.

The CD versions are also, by their very nature, "rarer", and require more effort; you have to get a hold of the physical CD and digitize it yourself, whereas ripping something from a digital platform often is just a few clicks away.

I can only speak for myself here, but in my experience, putting some effort into digitizing something gives you more of a personal 'bond' to it, and makes it more likely that you'll give the release some proper attention. Library releases are not only checkboxes on a spreadsheet, but individual works of artistic expression.

[DoctorDoodle19]

I can see that. I completely do relate to the first response, and when I find a library music song on streaming services I like, I add It to a playlist. But when I manually go through and name each song and give it a cover from a CD rip, those I tend to listen to more.

[likedeeler]

... some of the CD rips here, along with almost all KPM stuff, is uploaded here and also on streaming services. I don’t understand why people prefer CD rips, can someone explain?

For me it's the reason that I don't, and never will, use streaming services. I don't have a simple explanation for it, as I really love listening to (non-commercial) radio stations. But even at home, where I have a fairly large music collection on the computer and can (and do) listen to my own playlists, I still prefer to put on a CD or a record, or switch on the tuner. Funny that.

[kpmhill]

I can only speak for myself here, but in my experience, putting some effort into digitizing something gives you more of a personal 'bond' to it, and makes it more likely that you'll give the release some proper attention. Library releases are not only checkboxes on a spreadsheet, but individual works of artistic expression.

Totally agree. I often do cleanup work, and also look for good cover art if it's not already there. That process familiarizes me with the music, and I can also decide if it is or isn't something I want in my library after all.

At first, this process seemed too much like a brake, keeping me from entering music quickly. Eventually, I realized this was actually "a feature, not a bug" for someone like me- not a completist, and interested in collecting music I actually want to listen to.