[Macworld]

Post your comments for The future of CDs here

[dsaponaro]

Is it just me or is this a reprint of an article from 2003?

[Filburt]

I buy CDs used. Used CDs are typically cheaper than downloading an entire album, and I have the freedom of ripping it to whatever formats I want. Most CDs are ripped into 256 Kbps VBR AAC files (occasionally ALAC) then stored somewhere deep never to be seen again.

[Padgreen]

Sure people buy downloads, but personally I just don't get it. Play a download through a decent Hi-Fi and they sound rubbish, as bad or worse than the first CD's sounded and that is saying something. Same goes for Digital compressed radio, yuk. I only buy Cd's and will continue until they are replaced by something that sounds as good or better.

[dean_o]

Actually, the Springsteen example is a little unfair. $19 may well be the list price of the CD, but that's rarely the actual retail. WalMart sells it for $10, so a better question is, "Would you buy the download for $10 or the CD for the same price?" For a lot of buyers the convenience and immediate gratification of the download makes it the better deal. For me, having a durable, physical disc and the superior audio quality of the CD make that a better deal.
It's a matter of personal preference more than it is cost. Downloads simply aren't really cheaper most of the time.

[dean_o]

One more comment:
I agree that the CD is in decline. The sales numbers don't lie. Isn't it interesting, though? This will be the first time that a previous generation of play-back technology will be replaced by a technology with lower audio quality.
It looks like convenience trumped all the other factors this time around.

[kdbarto]

I will almost always purchase the CD. Better quality, and I can put it into iTunes in the Apple Lossless format.
Quality wins for me.

[Rhywun]

When you go into a record store, you get a chance to see albums that you might not see on iTunes or Amazon.

Except iTunes not only shows "similar" music, it lets you listen to it! When's the last time you could do that in a record store. (For me that was 1990.)

Is it just me or is this a reprint of an article from 2003?

It might as well be. I haven't used a music CD since before then.
RE: Quality. Most people can't tell the difference, especially at the higher bitrates we're seeing now.

[julzmon]

I second your opinion. For people that really care about sound quality digital files just don't cut it. I've still yet to buy a digital track. I just refuse to do so until there are standard methods of backup and quality equal to the sound of CD. There is also something to be said for holding the artwork and looking through the liner notes etc. Unfortunately every day goes by I'm becoming more of a minority. And thing I don't understand is the video is going more and more higher quality with blu-ray and such but the audio is going backwards in quality. I don't get it. I still love listening to my music on the iphone while commuting and cycling but on a home stereo forget it... those files sound awful.

[myrmecophaga]

I did buy CD's until sometime last year. In fact I was buying at least 20 discs per year. Now I buy them rarely, and only for bands I really care about. Despite that, I intend to keep the 800 I have for archival purposes. I envision a day when I have so much storage on all my platforms, that I'll go back and re-rip everything in a lossless format. I have already re-ripped some from 128 to 256 Kbps.
Interestingly, I buy more music as digital files, than I did as CD. My eMusic quota alone is 50 songs per month. Since I drive an older car, I often buy an album online and then burn it to disc so that I can listen to it in the car. Naturally, it's on my iPod, iPhone and computer too.
The thing I like most about digital files is storing them all in one place and streaming the music around my home. I have 3 Airport Expresses, connected to 4 different stereos, driving 5 sets of speakers. In case you're wondering, one Airport Express drives two stereos (in a closet) using a mini-plug headphone splitter essentially in reverse.

[Jon Seff]

dean_o said:

One more comment:

This will be the first time that a previous generation of play-back technology will be replaced by a technology with lower audio quality.

A lot of people still argue that CDs don't sound as good as LPs (sampling versus an uninterupted sound wave).

[hillstones]

I still buy CD's from the artists I really like because I prefer listening to the uncompressed CD at home, and then I can rip it to iTunes at my preference for the iPod in the car.

[bilmor]

I buy most of my music as CDs purchased from local/touring bands at their gigs. Most of my online music purchases are from Amazon special price deals. I also shop at a great local store with a very liberal return policy to encourage experiments. Yes, I know about the samples on line, but 30 seconds just doesn't cut it.
I really, REALLY miss the artwork and especially the notes/lyrics/band roster/background info found on the printed cases. (Of course I totally miss real 12x12 art on LP covers!)
So, I guess that (as usual) I'm straddling two different worlds.

[ozmosis82]

I'll keep buying CDs until lossless media is available for purchase at places like iTunes.
Case in point: The last two Nine Inch Nails releases. No need to buy the CD if I can buy FLACs directly from the artist themselves. Trent even put studio masters up... now THAT'S quality.