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What am I missing?

When discussing streaming we often hear the quality achieved by streaming compared to "cd quality". "Cd quality" seems often to be the standard by which streaming is favorably compared while cds have at the same widely fallen into disfavor as a medium. If "cd quality" continues to be a quality standard by which we judge streaming services -which it appears to be- why exactly do we hold cds in such disfavor? More sophisticated dacs can always be employed with cd transports as they are with streaming. I understand the convenience and storage issues with cds but I also understand that with streaming you will never own the music which you do with cds. This becomes even more unclear to me when considering the resurgence of vinyl and the storage and convenience issues involved with this medium. I don't believe the music industry ever wanted us to own the music we listen to but rather preferred we only rent and pay for that music each time.

128x128pmiller115
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,629 posts
 

"We" who? Your what hurts?

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,885 posts
 

Your premise is a bit off. CD sales are up 21% and the number of units are up 47%.  Hi Rez is not much of an advantage, sound wise, than Redbook if the CD is properly mastered. In fact, it can be indistinguishable between the two types.

Personal ownership is still a thing for some as well as properly compensating the artists. Don't forget that the whole concept of streaming and sharing music started off as a way to rip off the artist and pretend you were dissing the man (record companies). I still get a laugh over that one. Now that it's SOP, let's get the tech down pat and enjoy the fruits of our crimes. The sad part is, a different group of owners are screwing over the artists and still charging you to listen without owning. Owning costs extra. 

All the best,
Nonoise

 

ghdprentice
7,051 posts
 

CD quality is the standard only because it was the first digital. The next was ripper files, then purchased files, now streaming.Since streaming services more and more have higher resolution files than CDs, streaming can frequently sound better (equipment dependent like all of audio). Qobuz for instance has over one half million high resolution albums. My streamer sounds better for these, in general than the CDs, and on pretty equal footing with my high end vinyl rig.

 

Streaming is simply an unbelievable good deal. Nothing to do with “the industry” not wanting you to own stuff. For the price of one CD per month you get access to millions of albums! This is a screaming deal. The trend has been for higher quality through streaming and the cost is going down not up. It is the future, period. I had 2,000 CDs. I gave them away. I never listened to them anymore since I got good quality streaming.

Technological trends cause change for all in the area. For the consumer, it creates real bargains. For musicians it creates problems, how to, adjust to the new world. I know some. While they are not happy with the small payments for the use of their music, my close friend makes money through concerts. They will need to work this out over time.

kota1
2,706 posts
 

That is a GREAT question. I think the advantage to CD is buy once, no monthly fees, I have a choice of ripping them or playing them. SQ will be dependent on your components. To me the BIG disadvantage of streaming is movies, they are compressed and sound weak compared to a 4K UHD BR in Atmos.

ghdprentice
7,051 posts
 

I have owned hundreds of movies in laser disk, VHS, DVD, DVD special addition, Blue Ray and on line. So, conservatively I have spent $500 on copies of permanent copies of Star Wars and many other movies.

I bought vinyl, audiophile pressing, CD, and HD copies of Kind of Blue.

We can stop this madness now. Over the next years the best available will become what is on line as all content becomes so. All documents, music, video, photographs…

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