Are you still playing CDs after, comp based syst?

Sorry Realremo! The Major Labels ARE gearing up for all of
their New Music to ONLY be available as Music Downloads.
That means NO CD Release! I have already come across
numerous New Artists whose Music is only available via
Music Downloads. I have already come across thousands of
CDs that are out of print (Not Available in CD). Only
access to these selections still remains strictly Music
Downloads. "...and they wonder why anyone would still be
buying shiny discs", those are the majority of Customers that Manufacturers are targeting with Music Downloads $$$!
Shiny Disks just get in the way, well...they have just got
to go! The CONVENIENCE is in the money going into the
pockets of these Manufacturers, selling disposably cheap
Music Files. Music Quality being replaced with the
conveniently disposable cheap for profit. Quality costs
money to produce, lower Quality to maximize Profit. To give
up Quality for the sake of convenience- IN THIS ECONOMY???
If there is another Recession, maybe we deserve what we get! We no longer have ANY Standard for Music Quality. Any
Standard for Quality in anything else we buy- will be the
next of many dominoes to fall. Might as well just sign over
your entire monthly Paycheck for a few beans! Sooo Sad!!!

I had fun as well when it came to the convenience of perusing my collection. Fast and easy became the norm. It was only when I swapped out some ICs that I came to the conclusion that all bets were off as far as sound quality: the difference was that big.

Being a cheapie, I 'retreated' back to my CDP and my old ways, Ol' fart that I am.

Better PC audio is just around the corner and when it comes, I'll be among the first to adopt. Check out Sarjans review of the ASUS DAC/Headphone/Preamp
http://6moons.com/audioreviews/asus/1.html

Yes, that ASUS. And pay attention to his remarks at the end of his review. ASUS has the means and market reach to finally come up with a dedicated laptop music server and keep the cost down, if only they listen.....

I recall a member here who wanted to see if there were enough feedback and willingness to seek out a maker of laptops for the same purpose. After reading Sarjans review, I feel it's just a matter of time.

All the best,
Nonoise

Mitch/Larry, this is why I decided to go with a PC audio setup, instead of buying a really nice CDP. I was at a crossroads, had bought a cheapo changer, and I knew I wasn't a single-disc guy, so after much hand wringing I went PC audio and never regretted it.
Petty officer, yes lots of new artists are only available via .mp3 download. I feel your pain. The indie music scene seems to think producing music with poor dynamic range is "stickin' it to the man." Some bands think going into a studio with tons of great recording gear is "selling out," I guess. I don't know how this kind of sound got popular, maybe it's all about budget, maybe not. Consider the Arctic Monkeys. Their first album was not well produced, but was very catchy and capitalized on their huge club following. Set all kinds of sales records. I will say that the quality of the 256kbps downloads on iTunes has improved greatly, but I still won't buy them. I vote with my wallet, but the vast majority of people really don't care about sound quality, and it is that majority that has most of the buying power. How do we change the sonic preferences of 20 million U.S. teenagers?
All that said, a lot of serious musicians make sure their music is available for lossless download somewhere on the 'net, consider Total Control's Henge Beat. Very edgy garage punk/synth pop; a lesser known Australian band made a very specific decision to release their album on the internet, and made sure a lossless version was available on allmusic.com, along with downloadable artwork so you could make your own CD jewel case. Of course that specific download is no longer available...and yes I have a lossless copy!

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New music being released only on download is fine with me. I rarely buy new music. I'm 59 yrs old and I primarily listen to jazz. There are so many jazz recordings that I still don't have from the 1940's thru 2010. It will be another 40 years before I discover all of the older jazz recordings that I have yet to hear....so, I'm all set. Every thing that I want to listen to is already either on a cd or a vinyl record.
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My CD still sounds better than my server. And my server sounds awesome (JRiver 17 w/JPlay, ESI Juli@, Esoteric G25U/Berkeley DAC). The Esoteric X03Se/G25U/Berkeley sounds better. (I an running 30 feet spdif cable which may be a factor, though).