What comes after CD`s?


Hi! So what will the future bring in with regards to audio technology? We`ve seen the great vinyl and cassette come and go, then came the compact disc which is durable,good life span when stored correctly, plus it`s digital sound allows audio to remain the same quality use after use, but it`s down flaw is the 16bit 44.1khz! which just cannot re-produce the full and rich sound of analogue and therefore costing the audiophile a fortune in essential converting devices. Then came the mp3! which is perfect for listening to with earphones, but fails horribly when played in an uncontrolled environment.

There is a pattern developing in the world of audio innovation and that pattern is a noticeable decline in sound quality! So what`s next? Will the DAC converter 24bit 96khz,192khz become the standard converter found within the common hi-fi and cd player? or will music be distributed in chip form!

I`d appreciate your input on the issue :)
rootsdub
The best sound available is still vinyl. Digital is getting closer, maybe even comparable in the new formats but still lacks the "alive" sound of vinyl.
Dolby True-HD doesn't sound too shabby (on the handful of HD-DVD disks I own that have it).

Dear Stereophile and TAS: Please serve the audiophile community and create a True-HD demo disk.

Thanks
The mass consumer is more concerned about how many songs they can put on their ipod/phone then the quality of sound. Anything higher than 16/44.1 will have a hard time gaining any traction in the future unfortunately. Distribution is going download style with artwork and inserts available on-line. Truly sad in a way.
I think dweller is right, I have the Norwegian symphony Blu-ray w/DTS HD MA and the SACD version as well, the Blu-ray from my Sony BDP-S1 via the Denon AVP-A1HDCI blows away my Esoteric DV-50s with the SACD.....

If Neil Young truly releases everything on Blu-ray, maybe others will follow.