CDs obsolete?

[Mr. Lin]

Just a couple of days ago and came out with 3 CDs.

As for buying CDs, I think I have purchased/ordered well over 20 CDs since the beginning of the year.

I've probably bought about 60 CDs this month, no joke. But to be fair, that's all classical, a genre that's still alive and well on the CD format, a niche group.

I could have sworn we had another thread about this topic just a few days ago.

Don't worry my man, you're not hallucinating!

 

[eljr]

The BIG retail chain sells a lot of $7.00 CD's. Their web site has a lot of jazz stuff I'll be picking up soon.

who is the "BIG retail chain?"

 

[theprofessor]

Everyone has a different perspective. Personally, I purchase between 10 and 30 CDs a month, and maybe 5-10 LPs during that same timeframe. Much of the music I like is not available on vinyl, so CD is my next best option. I don't think CDs are obsolete, but I can foresee a future with less CD and LP sales as hard drive space increases and lossless formats become the norm.

I will admit this, I do keep copies of everything I own on my computer, all in 320 MP3 or AAC. I do like the ability to stream, shuffle, and mix my music on the fly around my home. It is like I have my own personal radio station on demand, all 37,137 tracks. When I am serious about a certain album, or I really just want to relax I will bring out the LP or CD, but most of my listening comes from my digitized collection.

 

[Peter_Klim]

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/108504/10-things-not-to-buy-in-2010

I buy alot of CDs. I don't want to download crappy MP3s. Some of us don't even have computers.

Don't stop selling CDs

Then don't download crappy MP3s - download lossless files.

Take your CDs and rip them to lossless files.

What did you do after 1982 when you didn't have a CP player? Sooner or later you bought one. So now go buy a computer!

I don't see the problem here...

 

[FloridaSam]

I just bought a Denon 1650AR CD player for ridiculously cheap beacause CD players are obsolete you know.

Even though I have most of my collection ripped to my computer I have to say I have never heard my CDs sound as good as they do on the Denon. I'm dusting off my CDs and even buying more.

 

[Mr. Lin]

I just bought a Denon 1650AR CD player for ridiculously cheap beacause CD players are obsolete you know.

Even though I have most of my collection ripped to my computer I have to say I have never heard my CDs sound as good as they do on the Denon. I'm dusting off my CDs and even buying more.

That's the funny thing about this whole declaration that the CD is dead. People who dismiss the medium probably have never heard a really good CD player, and/or a really well-recorded and produced CD. I know for me it was a real eye-opener when I bought a used Rega Planet years ago. Never knew CDs could sound so good, and now I've moved up the ladder a little bit, things are even better. So while I lament the rapidly diminishing availability of CDs in stores, I can still get anything I want online, cheaper than ever, and I have no plans to stop. In fact, I just got my Jolida CD player last summer and I'm already considering what the next step should be in the world of CD players...

 

[Elliot Thompson]

That's the funny thing about this whole declaration that the CD is dead. People who dismiss the medium probably have never heard a really good CD player, and/or a really well-recorded and produced CD. I know for me it was a real eye-opener when I bought a used Rega Planet years ago. Never knew CDs could sound so good, and now I've moved up the ladder a little bit, things are even better. So while I lament the rapidly diminishing availability of CDs in stores, I can still get anything I want online, cheaper than ever, and I have no plans to stop. In fact, I just got my Jolida CD player last summer and I'm already considering what the next step should be in the world of CD players...

I don’t think the whole CD is dead has to do with audio quality as much as sales.

Surely anyone who is familiar with a computer can convert all their CDs in wav/aiff and will have the same quality as the CD. All portable media players can manage those formats. However, the majority prefers using MP3/MP4 files to consolidate space. That is the harsh reality.

Best Regards,

 

[Mr. Lin]

I don’t think the whole CD is dead has to do with audio quality as much as sales.

Surely anyone who is familiar with a computer can convert all their CDs in wav/aiff and will have the same quality as the CD. All portable media players can manage those formats. However, the majority prefers using MP3/MP4 files to consolidate space. That is the harsh reality.

Best Regards,

You're right, and my post was a little confused in that regard, talking about two different things at once. But a lot of times here discussions of "the CD is dead" include comments about how it was a poor format to begin with, and good riddance. As for getting identical sound quality by simply ripping your CDs to .wav, etc, it's beginning to look like it's actually not that simple. To achieve the same quality you get playing a CD in a good audio system is not as simple as ripping the music to a hard drive and playing it through a pair of speakers connected to your computer, as the quality of the hardware, cables, and DAC involved play a large part. This is why, if you pick up any audio magazine right now, they're flooded with articles about new hi-fi DACs intended for that specific use.

 

[Live_Wire]

I still actively buy CDs and LPs. I can't stand downloading my music from iTunes. I did it once on an album, but for the same price (or even less if used) I will purchase the CD/LP (Used or new).

CDs, when mastered correctly, sound great. The same goes for LPs. I purchased the Foo Fighters' greatest hits album and it's just like the CD version. Highly compressed and very non-dynamic.

Hopefully the mastering process will revert to the classic, dynamic way and bring back audio fidelity.

 

[Mr. Lin]

Hopefully the mastering process will revert to the classic, dynamic way and bring back audio fidelity.

Or you could be like me and give up on that hope, and just start listening to classical music where it's already the case lol!

 

[Elliot Thompson]

You're right, and my post was a little confused in that regard, talking about two different things at once. But a lot of times here discussions of "the CD is dead" include comments about how it was a poor format to begin with, and good riddance. As for getting identical sound quality by simply ripping your CDs to .wav, etc, it's beginning to look like it's actually not that simple. To achieve the same quality you get playing a CD in a good audio system is not as simple as ripping the music to a hard drive and playing it through a pair of speakers connected to your computer, as the quality of the hardware, cables, and DAC involved play a large part. This is why, if you pick up any audio magazine right now, they're flooded with articles about new hi-fi DACs intended for that specific use.

I agree to a point. You may be confused on a few things.

All music enters a computer and is finalised before being burned to CD. As matter of fact audio is down sampled (some will dither as well) to fit on the lower grade (16 bit, 44.100 kHz) CD Audio format.

All one needs is a pro audio sound card that is aimed for high resolution recording. The playback will be synonymous with the recording in terms or quality. If you would like to play your files through a device that offers 384 kHz 32 bit float, there are sound cards that will meet your task.

It is not as esoteric as many assume. All converters will be incorporated in the sound card so there is really no need to add anything between the audio outs of the sound card and the amplifier/receiver.

Cable is subjective which I won’t get into. I’m in pro-audio and, we tend prefer to see measured graphs and, not assumptions.

Loudspeakers are where the majority of sound systems fail. Many users do not understand what the specifications really mean. Some are mesmerised by a fast talking salesmen speaking rubbish. That type of behaviour is quite common from does who do not want to disclose the measured graphs of the loudspeaker.

Bear in mind it will be very hard to find a loudspeaker system that will offer a 20 – 20,000 kHz bandwidth flat. Since loudspeakers are the final say (last element in the chain) in terms of sound, it does not matter what you have at the front end if you have no idea where the loudspeaker’s performance stands, in terms of frequency response, from an SPL perspective.

Best Regards,

 

[Mr. Lin]

I agree to a point. You may be confused on a few things.

All music enters a computer and is finalised before being burned to CD. As matter of fact audio is down sampled (some will dither as well) to fit on the lower grade (16 bit, 44.100 kHz) CD Audio format.

All one needs is a pro audio sound card that is aimed for high resolution recording. The playback will be synonymous with the recording in terms or quality. If you would like to play your files through a device that offers 384 kHz 32 bit float, there are sound cards that will meet your task.

It is not as esoteric as many assume. All converters will be incorporated in the sound card so there is really no need to add anything between the audio outs of the sound card and the amplifier/receiver.

Cable is subjective which I won’t get into. I’m in pro-audio and, we tend prefer to see measured graphs and, not assumptions.

Loudspeakers are where the majority of sound systems fail. Many users do not understand what the specifications really mean. Some are mesmerised by a fast talking salesmen speaking rubbish. That type of behaviour is quite common from does who do not want to disclose the measured graphs of the loudspeaker.

Bear in mind it will be very hard to find a loudspeaker system that will offer a 20 – 20,000 kHz bandwidth flat. Since loudspeakers are the final say (last element in the chain) in terms of sound, it does not matter what you have at the front end if you have no idea where the loudspeaker’s performance stands, in terms of frequency response, from an SPL perspective.

Best Regards,

I'm not confused, you and I just don't agree on some things. Cables are definitely one of those things, it's been debated to death, but I'm beyond caring about the "we need proof on paper to believe what we're hearing" crowd, because the differences are pretty obvious to me. As for the sound card thing, that's highly debatable, and a lot of people would disagree with your summary of how it works, and how simple it is to get identical sound. Are you one of those people who thinks that all CD players sound alike? If so, we should just agree to disagree at this point.

Take for example the current issue of TAS, which covers the latest Rocky Mountain Audio convention. Jonathan Valin noted it was one of the more disappointing years he's experienced as far as outstanding sound quality goes, and he suggested this may be due the the very high proportion of computer-based music servers that were being used for demonstrations. According to the folks who review these things - and I dare say they have more access to and time with equipment at all price points than many or all of us here on AK - it turns out simply playing hi-resolution files through a good sound card doesn't cut it. And I doubt it's their speakers, considering the ones they use for reviews are typically in the $10,000+ category.

And btw, I'm pro-audio too; I believe if you can't trust your ears you need to get a new hobby.

 

[Elliot Thompson]

Cables are debatable due to how one perceives sound. Since sound is subjective, you and I may pinpoint on different elements in a song which, will stand out in our own point of view. No one knows what a next person can or cannot hear much less predict the frequency response of one’s hearing on the Internet. I know the frequency response of my ears however next persons…

This is precisely why I will not debate on things like cable.

A CD player’s output follows the same rule as a computer sound card. There are certain elements in the design that alters the sound in a positive or negative way.

However, the bottom line is the speakers no matter what lies in the chain which many seem to overlook Assuming speakers offer an excellent frequency response based on the price point is precisely what I meant about a fast talking salesman mesmerising those who are not familiar with specifications.

Feel free to give me a link to these $10,000 speakers so I can evaluate the specifications my self.

And btw, I'm pro-audio too; I believe if you can't trust your ears you need to get a new hobby.

If you are into pro-audio you may have read some of my reviews I’ve done years ago from subwoofer shootouts.

2007

http://srforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/mv/msg/20431/184228/83/#msg_184228

2003

http://www.livesoundint.com/lab/lab/messages/archive7/70267.html


When I am unable to hear the product, measurements are the next best thing. :thmbsp:

Best Regards,

 

[oldironjeff]

It's much cheaper to be a bottom feeder,I've been buying $1.00 vinal for years and $1.00 VHS tapes.I do have a DVD player for rental vids but have never owned a CD player or a CD.Sorry I just don't see the value in them.
In my town there is a new and used vinal store that I frequent next to a used CD,game and DVD store.:thmbsp:

 

[Scuzzer]

I do have a DVD player for rental vids but have never owned a CD player or a CD.

Well if you own a DVD player then you most likely also own a CD player since most (all?) DVD players will play CDs.

 

[JonL]

Wouldn't it be nice if they started releasing music in two versions - highly compressed "loudness wars" versions as downloads, and non-compressed editions (maybe they'd even call them "audiophile" editions) on CD. Perhaps vinyl at the same time.

 

[rifftrax]

All one needs is a pro audio sound card that is aimed for high resolution recording. The playback will be synonymous with the recording in terms or quality. If you would like to play your files through a device that offers 384 kHz 32 bit float, there are sound cards that will meet your task.

I know of no 32 bit ADC/DAC stage. There may be an internal mixing bus/stage that operates at that resolution for handing the information in a digital domain but no true conversion for 32 bit format exists. Same thing for a 384 khz samplerate (sure, you can edit or mix at that rate in some systems like Pyramix or SADiE but that usually has to do with plugin/effect accuracy). I have only ever heard of of 192 khz ADAs on the pro audio/consumer market. Upsampling/oversampling is not anything near the same thing as actually sampling 384 thousand voltage points per second and then decoding the same amount.

DSD is close but it's a 1-bit 2.8224 MHz stream which just means that the samplerate is so high you only need to denote a difference of "up" or "down" compared to the previous sample in terms of plotting amplitude which accomplishes (debatable of course, and it is debated on many audio engineering forums) essentially the same effect as a high bit rate/high sample rate concept of recording.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Stream_Digital

 

[philcib]

Not in my house.

 

[cwall99]

Wouldn't it be nice if they started releasing music in two versions - highly compressed "loudness wars" versions as downloads, and non-compressed editions (maybe they'd even call them "audiophile" editions) on CD. Perhaps vinyl at the same time.

Actually, some artists do. David Byrne did this with his previous collaboration with Brian Eno (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today). For this, you could download high bitrate MP3s, order the CD, or order a 180 gram vinyl album. Though, to be fair, I don't know that the dynamics have been compressed out of the MP3s in the "loudness wars" kind of way. Given Byrne's indifference to mass media, I suspect, insofar as the MP3 format can capture dynamics, he's left them in.

Byrne's doing it again on his upcoming double album. This latest work is a collaboration with Fat Boy Slim, and it's a dual-CD release concept work based on the biography of Imelda Marcos.

Boy, there's a specialty marketing niche if ever I saw one. I downloaded a track off his website, and it's quite good.

Granted, right now you can't order this latest release on vinyl, but I suspect you'll be able to soon.

 

[Edriz]

Vinyl will inherit the Earth.

Amen Brother :thmbsp: