A Little Hypocrisy?

I shop for audio gear on Audiogon to save 30-60% on my purchases. I shop for music at BMG, Columbia House, the multiple annual sales at Streetside records where everything is 20% off, new releases when they're 20% off, Amazon when you can find used, etc. etc. In other words, I don't pay 15 to 20 dollars a CD. I'd guess my average price per CD is 10 to 11 dollars. I only complain a bit, and about both, but I'd say that retail price on CDs is just as ficticious for me as retail price on audio equipment.

I can't tell you how enlightening it has been to read all the posts. Tok20000, you in particular appealed to the accountant in me.

In my humble opinion, it's all about the value. When we part with hard earned dollars for a coveted piece of equipment, it's because we perceive a very high cost to value ratio.

When we look at cd's, I, for one, compare them to concert footage on dvd that, in many cases, is less expensive. I compare them to much higher resolution media like DVD-A and SACD that may be a dollar or two more expensive. I compare them to the cost of a movie on dvd, and find them wanting.

Twenty years ago, when cd's were perceived as THE high rez alternative (at least by some), the fifteen dollar price tag may not have seemed so onerous. Now, with all the alternatives offering so much more entertainment bang for the buck, they do seem a ripoff.

Again, IMHO, the cost of the plastic is irrelevant. It's what's on the plastic that matter. Put another way, 2 pieces of plastic, one contains a 15 year old episode of Barney, the other has your favorite latest run hit movie in THX. They both cost the same 80 cents or whatever to make. Which has more value?

If I do know one thing about economic imbalances, it's that there is always a correction and a day of reckoning. It's my theory that the BIG one in the music industry is at hand. Take heart.

I do not purchase "retail" priced software because of the high prices (have well over 1000 CD's and LP's, each).

I would equate it to people complaining about gasoline prices (when they take a hike). Regardless of what gasoline engine one uses the gas/fuel is what makes the engine run, no matter what "price bracket" of automobile is owned/driven (the same with software and music reproduction).

I own a lot less Hi-fi components than software pieces (same with automobiles Vs gasoline purchases) and consider the "CD/high end" comparison to be non-linear or "apples & oranges", whichever you prefer.

I fully agree with Damon's post. Everyone here on Audiogon is looking for higher end audio gear and ways to improve their music experience. Most of us (depending on our budget)
have no problem buying a $500.00 or $1500.00 single disc CD player. We desire the newer player because we feel it will reward us with a more natural and detailed sound. Or it may be better matched with other components in our systems. And we regard that CD player purchase as a high quality item.
A CD on the other hand, is a mass market item produced at the lowest possible cost. In way too many cases, a CD may be poorly produced and/or compressed in such a way that on a decent audio system it sounds like junk. And how about all those CDs that have maybe two or three decent songs, and all the rest is just "filler" garbage you will never play again. And what about all those back catalog CDs that still sound decent on vinyl, yet are just plain bad on CD.
I rest my case.

Certain people have no problem purchasing a $100 bottle of wine and drinking it out of a cheap 6 oz wine glass. If you tell them it would show much better in a nice 18 oz. $25 crystal Reidel they get upset and say why should I spend $25 for a wine glass. What's more important the wine or the glass? THE WINE. What adds to the experience of enjoying a fine bottle of wine....THE GLASS. I don't like paying $18 for CD's either and most of the time I don't. But I love music and have invested in a very nice cd player. I would rather spend $18 on a cd with a few good tracks then purchase an $18 bad bottle of wine. What's more important the music or the CD player? THE MUSIC. What will enhance your musical experience? THE CD PLAYER Case in point, if you are going to drink good wine buy a nice glass and don't complain. If you love music and purchase CD's buy a nice cd player.....if it sounds bad....think how bad it would have sounded in a sub $100 player. Remember, you spent the money because you want to enjoy the music to the fullest.