Yep. My copy of Led Zeppelin which was bought probably in the mid-late 80s is the same, except I can't rip it. Got a couple others that have the same issue, most of which are far less easily replaceable. Fortunately I found that my work laptop has a better drive than any of my personal machines and was able to get a good rip of a few cds that were in the bad pile.
CD vs. MP3 pricing
- Thread starter JoeESP9
- Start date
JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
When I can stream FLAC or higher quality files I may consider it. The idea of storing my music files or any of my files in "the cloud" simply doesn't appeal to me. I don't like needing internet access to listen to music that I own.
Not feeling the need to be in constant touch with everyone 24/7 probably has a lot to do with my attitude. I have a smart phone that I do not use for music. My Sansa ClipZip with 40Gb of music files is enough music for me to carry around. I'm currently looking into a Pono or other higher definition player. Take note that none of them use cloud storage. I suppose the real difference is that I want better sound not just more convenient sound.
I do the exact same for my car. Foobar2000 to convert my FLACs to mp3. 64GB thumb drives because I haven't found a 128GB one that my car will read.
Frank Sol
Lunatic Member
Ken, go back to my reply. Post #23
I purposely snipped out all of the stuff about legal and illegal.
I replied to your statement of "As for not having a CDP seems kind of silly"
ldatlof
We are all steak
Not buying either
I am old enough to remember when there was no such thing as a CD player. All my CD players are now in storage.
I have ripped all my CDs to FLAC and store them on a USB HDD and do incremental backups every night. I am a Spotify Premium member and I am on my 1 month free trial with Tidal. My thoughts are that if I go with Tidal I really don't need to buy another CD to rip to my HDD and I will still have CD quality music and a vast library that I will never be able to amass myself in several life times. I have even stopped go to thrift stores to buy used CDs.
Sure, I am taking a chance that streaming will go away and I will be left with just my own ripped CDs. I am willing to take that chance. Most of my "new" music is live concerts that the artists allow tapers to distribute to the public for free. Right now I am listening to Gov't Mule perform "Darkside of The Moon". These recordings will never be available on streaming services or released on CD.
I am old enough to remember when there was no such thing as a CD player. All my CD players are now in storage.
I have ripped all my CDs to FLAC and store them on a USB HDD and do incremental backups every night. I am a Spotify Premium member and I am on my 1 month free trial with Tidal. My thoughts are that if I go with Tidal I really don't need to buy another CD to rip to my HDD and I will still have CD quality music and a vast library that I will never be able to amass myself in several life times. I have even stopped go to thrift stores to buy used CDs.
Sure, I am taking a chance that streaming will go away and I will be left with just my own ripped CDs. I am willing to take that chance. Most of my "new" music is live concerts that the artists allow tapers to distribute to the public for free. Right now I am listening to Gov't Mule perform "Darkside of The Moon". These recordings will never be available on streaming services or released on CD.
As do I - preferably used. Since I rip the CDs and promptly put it away, I couldn't care less about the condition of the jewel case. I've only had one situation where the $.01 disc was scratched such that one track was unlistenable.
Although at least one poster doesn't understand your use of the word "usually", I agree. A few CDs are more expensive, but not many. And I will gladly pay nominally more for noticeably better sound quality.
I wish all CDs were available as downloads as well. High quality and instant gratification. I use network services for accessing work documents from anywhere, but don't have to pay a monthly subscription to access them!
I find that the cloud serves its purpose, albeit in a limited sense for me. My wife and I have used XM radio in our cars and at home via the internet for a decade. I'm listening to it as I type. While relatively low quality, it is fine for listening at work and most importantly, for discovering new music. Then I buy the highest resolution version I can find.
Drumolator
Super Member
That has not always been the case. About the same time that Amazon started giving free downloads for buying the CD, I had already decided to stop buying downloads due to sound quality issues on a few of them. I do like when I buy a CD for someone as a gift, and I get the free download. Peace and goodwill.
chadnliz
Addicted Member
If I like a song enough to buy it chances are I will dig something else on a CD so I buy it but I completely get how many only want a track, nobody should be held hostage to buying a entire disc of filler songs. If we still were forced to buy entire albums I would have ZERO sympathy for piracy complaints.
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
they why don't you throw out the IPod and get a Pono or something similar?
:scratch2:
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
If you are so set against MP3 why do you use it and not get a Flac player?
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
College age?
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
My portable players are an iPhone and iPad so I use dbPoweramp to convert FLAC to lossless AAC for the Apple world.
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
Amazon gives fee downloads? I often buy two copies, one digital and another on CD when that is the better price.
If they give music away I am unaware of it.
What they provide as a Prime member is cloud access and MP3 downloads of CDs you have already purchased.
Not really free music. Free conversion and convenient access.
I'm 38 so I'm probably in the younger crowd here.
MP3 is a lossy compression and has no value to me. I buy CDs and rip to FLAC. If lossless downloads were readily available, I would buy music that way. But, since services like iTunes only sell compressed music, I don't use them.
I also don't do cloud storage. I followed the computer revolution and I'm a computer nerd, but when cloud storage first appeared on the scene I stopped using it the moment I realized companies were trying to use the cloud space to control my media and get me to buy media only from them. Apple is a great example of this and I don't do anything Apple, except an iPAD for my kids.
My media exists on my home server, which streams to my Squeezeboxes. My server manages backups (including cloud backup to proprietary cloud based backup service that no content provider has anything to do with).
I control my files. Only me. And MP3 sucks. Yes, I can hear the difference.
MP3 is a lossy compression and has no value to me. I buy CDs and rip to FLAC. If lossless downloads were readily available, I would buy music that way. But, since services like iTunes only sell compressed music, I don't use them.
I also don't do cloud storage. I followed the computer revolution and I'm a computer nerd, but when cloud storage first appeared on the scene I stopped using it the moment I realized companies were trying to use the cloud space to control my media and get me to buy media only from them. Apple is a great example of this and I don't do anything Apple, except an iPAD for my kids.
My media exists on my home server, which streams to my Squeezeboxes. My server manages backups (including cloud backup to proprietary cloud based backup service that no content provider has anything to do with).
I control my files. Only me. And MP3 sucks. Yes, I can hear the difference.
JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
Nowhere did I say I was against MP3 files? My OP was questioning paying more for MP3 files than for the actual CD. Why pay more for lower quality?
For me MP3 files (I make FLAC's and MP3's from my CD's) are adequate for use in my Sansa although it plays FLAC files. The ability to play FLAC's was one of the major reasons I bought the Sansa. Yes I did some comparisons between FLAC and MP3. On my Sansa ClipZip there is no real difference to me.
On my main rig the situation is different. FLAC files are audibly better. The few higher resolution files I've downloaded sound even better. There is a music server connected to my main rig. It has nothing but FLAC's and some high res files on it.
Music on the go will always be of secondary importance to me. Headphones are not my thing. I've never been able to warm up to having all the sound come from a straight line between my ears. The only time I ever hear any type of soundstage with headphones is with true binaural recordings. Unfortunately they are few and far between. Despite my lukewarm feelings about headphone listening I'm still considering a Pono or equivalent. I want the ability to play DSD and other higher resolution files even if I never use it.
A pair of Stax phones are also on my consider list. They won't have any impact on portable use as they require a dedicated amplifier. I miss the pair I gave to a buddy.
Condorsat
Audio Enthusiast
Simple ... because to ME ... the MP3 is a utility like the old dubbed cassette tape. Disposable ... meaningless ... ephemeral.
Never did or would I ever buy a dubbed cassette tape back in the day ... same w/ MP3.
Buy a Pono? At some point I probably will. I would be willing to pay for high res files.
Going back to the cassette analogy (back in the day) ... I enjoyed dubbed cassette tapes in the car or on my Sony Walkman but my rig at home (LPs & CDs) was still my preferred method of listening when I'm in the mood for the wow factor. On the go ... extreme portable use ... I'll opt for good enough (192kbps MP3). Good enough makes me appreciate exceptional. In much the same way .... the McDonald's burger makes me appreciate a Five Guys burger.
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