The Rapid Rise (& Fall) of the CD


A few days ago, one of my favorite YouTube channels did a video on the CD. This channel (Asianometry) always does an incredible job telling the story of different technologies, technical industries and/or products.

I think most of you will find the 25 minute video to be very interesting.

Asianometry - The rapid start (& end) of the CD

mwinkc

From personal experience of owning both very high-end CD/CDT players, and of late the incredible Shanling ET3 ($729), I find the tech in less expensive CD/CDT players was the main problem that is until the ET3 especially when combined with the Vera-Fi Audio Snubway ($295). This combination rivals many $5000+ players/transports Ive owned

HTH

Meant Snubway, of course.  Effin spell-checker tried to change it in this followup!  Grrrrr.

@facten I'll spare you the economics lesson, but:

CD sales are a small fraction of what they used to be and still declining. Manufacturers of CD players, CDs and creators who publish on CD look at these numbers to determine their path. As that number decreases fewer consumer CD players will be manufactured and artists will choose another means to deliver their work.

Super high-end manufacturers of audiophile CD transports do not care if last year 1 million CDs were sold versus 15 million a few years before. They're only concern is that the small number of audiophileswith very deep pockets want to buy a handful of these super expensive devices.

A small number of high-end CD transport manufacturers do not affect and are not affected by the millions of CDs that may or may not be sold. 

@mwinkc "I’ll spare you the economics lesson"

Guess I should turn in my MBA in Finance, and the 40 years I spent in business finance roles in a fortune 100 company must have been a dream. Let me know when your classes start so I can finally understand business economics from the great man himself