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Is computer audio pushing up the price of CDPs?

Having heard several times, computer audio accessed via an I-PAD, I-POD and I-phones, I have to say I was impressed by the purity and ease of the sound. However, I did NOT go out and junk MY CD player and other related components

However, I am curious if the so-called purity of computer audio has set the bar higher in terms of sound quality for CDs and especially players. As evidence of this, the average price of a used player on AG seems to have increased dramatically. Many used players seem to begin at about $1500 to a range of $2000, and begin a new level that starts at $2500 and vigorously moves forward to upper $3000; then, jumps again from $4500 up several at $7000 to $9000, and a few $10,000 to $11,000 plus. These are not necessarily two piece units of separate DAC and Transport, but integrated CDP which specify the high quality of the inboard DAC, and flexibility of the player digital inputs.

I have to conclude, that consumers over the last 2-3 years, reluctant to jump into computer audio, just went out and spent 2 or 3 times more than what they would normally have spent for a CDP, assuming, AND also validating in store the sound quality of these upper tier CDPs. Were they hoping that their way over budget investment outdistanced any server file of digital music??

Would like to hear both pros and cons on the issue or issues I have provided. Thanks
sunnyjim
djohnson54
396 posts
 
Jim, I don't know if this has occurred (haven't done any research) but it seems to me that the market is shifting. I think that persons who would have been in the market for an inexpensive CD player are more likely to switch to streaming than those who were buying the expensive players. It wouldn't be unreasonable for manufacturers to simply be catering to their (perceived) audience by shifting to more expensive equipment.

Dick
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
That has happened in the 'changer' CDP market. The Sony 300 disc units are a good example. Sony itself sold these units as refurb's for about $100 a few years ago, now these units go for $300 plus. I have three of these units chained together. They work great, sounding almost as good as my $3000 hi end player in my main system. My computer audio is limited to ripped MP3 files for use in my mobile player. I just love that I have 900 CD's at my finger tips to quickly play. I keep the file system in an Excel spread sheet which adds to the convenience. For me it did not make any sense to put my 10,000 CDS in a computer file.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,709 posts
 
Probably.

Many newer digital technologies/products are increasingly supplanting a dedicated CD only player for home audio use only. Its already become a small niche product on map overall.

Multi format music/video disk format players seem way more common these days.

I bought a CD player/recorded several years back. I only use it to record vinyl and other analog sources though my system these days. I never play CDs anymore. They all get ripped to music server. I do play a DVD on occasion via DVD player. Not a big video fan so I never bought into Blu-ray.
kacz
177 posts
 
CD players and such just don't have the luxury of selling in the millions like they used to and don't have the benefit of scale of economy anymore. That has been taken over by servers, phones, ipods and the like. So the price has to go up. Eventually some companies find it's not worth it to make them all.
sunnyjim OP
927 posts
 
Thanks to all for excellent comments about the issues addressed in this thread, especially DJohnson, Mapman,and Kacz.

To kacz, I think the last sentence of your response may be dead on target for the future of CDP's,and CD's. It depends on the niche market. Maybe,I am wrong but I don't see the buyer of audio systems up to $2000 (without T/T and accessories) wanting to bother with learning the jargon and in and outs of computer audio. They just want good sound, and possibly the bragging rights to friends.

The more sophisticated buyer who has been involved 5 to 10 years in above mid-fi audio and reaches for the inner circle of the best sound possible is the niche buyer for PC audio, even if he has a fair amount of CD's

I am not sure I know enough about current audio marketing to state with certainity what might motivate the high-end buyer to master PC audio and load up on its accessories.

Another issue that has perplexed me, is how the potential and ultimate abandonment of CDP's and CD's will impact a weakened and struggling economy; because, CDP's and CD hardware are a billion dollar a year industry that provides a fair amount of jobs even despite the cost effective automation of production.

The audio store of the past unfortunately is going by way of the buffalo, however, those that remain, that is, survive, will have a hard time paying bills just selling the music of cyber space via PC's with their own speakers, possibly even better than today's junk that sits on IKEA computer tables.
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