Access to product.
Having purchased Classical CDs since they first started appearing in the early 80s, have seen the many changes that have taken place in the retail environment. These days there are no music stores left that sell new product (remember Tower records?) and you are facing first a decision to follow streaming or acquisition options and then how to find the music you want.
Classical recordings are notable for their ageless qualities. A great performance from the 60s still pleases. Sure there are remarkable improvements in fidelity throughout the last 50 years but ADD recordings can sound convincing on even the best audiophile systems.
So I prefer to buy CDs and have a hard copy even though I rip them into JRiver immediately and just store the original.
With this preference, I am currently ordering new product from Amazon and scouring the two used media outlets in my city for used CDs. We all know that used CDs are as good as new ones and, in conjunction with the ageless quality of classical performances, represent a genuine bargain for the classical aficionado.
Have tried HDTracks and other downloading services and not been pleased. Presto in England has most of the new offerings but their shipment to my state is uncertain and they have not downloaded to the US in the past.
DG is moving into the downloading area and I suspect some other companies are also active.
But I find that most downloading options are limited in the pieces made available.
So I am still visiting the used bins and using Internet reviews to identify new CDs to order from Amazon.
Suspect some of you on this site have found better access to CD product and would appreciate your knowledge.
Having purchased Classical CDs since they first started appearing in the early 80s, have seen the many changes that have taken place in the retail environment. These days there are no music stores left that sell new product (remember Tower records?) and you are facing first a decision to follow streaming or acquisition options and then how to find the music you want.
Classical recordings are notable for their ageless qualities. A great performance from the 60s still pleases. Sure there are remarkable improvements in fidelity throughout the last 50 years but ADD recordings can sound convincing on even the best audiophile systems.
So I prefer to buy CDs and have a hard copy even though I rip them into JRiver immediately and just store the original.
With this preference, I am currently ordering new product from Amazon and scouring the two used media outlets in my city for used CDs. We all know that used CDs are as good as new ones and, in conjunction with the ageless quality of classical performances, represent a genuine bargain for the classical aficionado.
Have tried HDTracks and other downloading services and not been pleased. Presto in England has most of the new offerings but their shipment to my state is uncertain and they have not downloaded to the US in the past.
DG is moving into the downloading area and I suspect some other companies are also active.
But I find that most downloading options are limited in the pieces made available.
So I am still visiting the used bins and using Internet reviews to identify new CDs to order from Amazon.
Suspect some of you on this site have found better access to CD product and would appreciate your knowledge.