Phasing out of Compact Disc

In some cases, imports are of higher sound quality and may be laid down with higher-rez masters; results vary but often research into what the imports are versus the domestic release may be worth the trouble and either save you money or confirm that buying the import is best move. Case in point, Gardot's last album, "The Absence" had a high priced import option available from Japan so I ordered both the import and the US version. Like the prior Gardot album, the US version of the 2nd was of very good sound quality. The surprise (at least for me) came when I received the import version of the second album; I found higher playback quality (Japanese imports tend to utilize higher quality CD blanks and have higher attention to detail in the cutting process IMHO), this was an SHM-CD, AND HAD a bonus track at the end (WILLOW) that does not seem to be present on any other version of the album. WILLOW for audio demo purposes is worth the price of the entire album in my opinion...

FWIW,...don't think CDs are going anywhere anytime soon; they seem to be going the way of SACDs and LP in that audiophile-level of recordings are continuing to be produced on CD, XRCD24, SHM-CD, SHM SACD, and SACD releases...

My wife didn't realize it was an import. I just checked and yes, it is. I'm going to keep it as I have found many times in the past that as Zephyr mentioned, the imports are usually better sq.

Talk on the street? You're kidding, right? Did you speak to the man under the bridge?

Yeah the cd is not going anywhere anytime soon. There are some many cheap used cds on amazon. Sometimes you pay more for the shipping then the cd. I use the ps audio perfect wave transport with a wyred4sound dac and it sounds incredible. I have no desire to go to computer audio now or in the future.

CD's won't go away with a whisper or like a thief in the night. Like all changes that'll not likely be well received by everyone it will be a sudden announcement made unilaterally (by the powers that be) - and Then everybody will scream the sky is falling...