Are CD players dead

There seems to me to be a bit of a luddite camp on this thread: while CD never managed to compete sonically with Vinyl, the same doesn't apply to digital, even in Redbook format through upsampled memory play. Hence I would encourage everybody to compare their CD players with a properly set up computer and new generation DAC. It' ll put paid to this thread without further ado. BTW, the best result on Vinyl is via digitizing through Purevinyl and I run a Dynavector DV 507, Zyx Universe + Artisan setup!

"Redbook format through upsampled memory play"??? We are
talking about REPLACING "Ripping" exclusively with
"Downloading". There will be no Ripping of Redbook Format
if there are no CD's. You call Downloading of MP3/i-Tunes
as Downloading Redbook? What Book are you reading? If CD
doesn't compete sonically, MP3/i-Tunes will? Lossless
compressed downloaded 16/44.1 CD material will sound better
than a non-compressed/non-processed 16/44.1 CD Disk? Isn't
it the same source for both, 16/44.1? So, how exactly does downloading/compressing them "1's" and "0's" improve S.Q.?

Pettyofficer,

what I was talking about was playing ripped CD in AIFF format on my Mach2Music through puremusic memory play upsampled to 176.4 via a Zodiac Gold + Voltikus, compared to playing the CD through my upsampling AudioAero Capitole 24/192 SE. Sorry if the shorthand was too opaque.

...and I for one have not been able to detect any difference between a ripped redbook CD and an 16/44.1 download via itunes/puremusic

What we are talking about here, is competing Formats.
CD's (Ripped or Disk) vs. Downloaded Music Files. "Soon
all New Music will only be available via Music Downloads"!
That means CD's (Plus the ability to Rip them) is gone!
You can Rip a CD onto a Music File, and keep the CD as a
physical Back-up to the Music File; but, not anymore if all
new Music is severely strictly limited to Downloading only! You are replacing a physical medium Format (CD) with
a more fragile non-tactile Format in Downloaded Music Files. Even if you believe that there is no sonic difference, having a non-tactile fragile non-physical Music
File Format replace a physical one at additional cost
advantages who??? Not only those seeking better Sonics, but
reasonable reliability in keeping those Sonics longer-I
think not!!! No preparation has been made to make
Computer Audio Downloads reliable enough to replace the
CD, and none is even expected to be done in the near
future. The ability to Burn Music Files doesn't solve this problem-it makes it worse! That which can crash a Hard Drive can certainly crash a Back-up Hard Drive, it happens since they are both the same mechanism. Hold onto CD until Computer Audio Downloads have been developed with sufficient reliability to overcome the drawbacks of their non-physical nature. Instead it is rush/ rush/ hurry/ hurry/ hurry to replace CD Format with underdeveloped premature Downloading Format. This is the first time that we will be exclusively using a non-physical Format. It is not crazy to suggest that we tread cautiously, and not burn our bridges behind us just yet! We will pay for it dearly later on if mistakes are made by being way too premature! Treacherous ground here-keep both Formats!!!