A.Wayne

The major labels plan to abandon the CD-format by the end of 2012 (or even earlier) and replace it with download/stream only releases via iTunes and related music services. The only CD-formats that will be left over will be the limited edition ones, which will of course not be available for every artist. The distribution model for these remaining CD releases would be primarily Amazon which is already the biggest CD retailer worldwide anyhow.



Full Story:

http://www.side-line.com/news_commen...=46980_0_2_0_C

LT Texan

...leaving "real hifi" where it's always been - on vinyl!

A.Wayne

HD downloads is better than vinyl IMO, has all the positives with better resolution and lower noise, nothing like 16/44. This is good news , we will be able to purchase our favorite artist at the higher 24/192 format...

LT Texan

oh, come on. Let me have my fun!

911 Crazy

and who would have thunk that CD's would only be around for 20 years or so???

mdrums

I have thousands of CD's....come to think of it I have not inserted a CD into my car or home cd player in years.

Dean_Fuller

It seems to me that quality of downloaded music has more to do with the "weak link" ? which would /could be your base of download. Like playing a DVD on a BluRay player. Then what happens when your hard drive that holds all that you have paid for goes keys up???

Maybe I'm just an old fart and don't understand this new stuff well enough. I still will stick to my vinyl.

911 Crazy

Good point Dean.

Randy V

8-track FTW!

aussie jimmy

a friend owns a cd store, and she is closing down after xmas. say's things are really bad for retailers, as people are either downloading/streaming or buying from amazon. she cannot compete.

A.Wayne

Losing your files is an concern , backup HDdrives solve this. The HD downloads are much better than 16/44 played back on the best of CD players, easy access to your files and continuos music selection is just the tip of what is a no brainer, sonics aside.

I currently have all formats R2R, analog TT, CD 16/44 nd now HD downloads. I still purchase 16/44 due to selection, with the majors going this route, means all type of music will be available for downloads, a win , win for everyone IMO..




Only the ones with output tubes......

Hard to compete with amazon, where one can purchase CD's for as low as 4 bucks. I will miss purchasing as with most who has been in this for a long time , i do enjoy purchasing that new album or CD for my collection...

deutschmick

I'll stick with vintage digital for now.

George from MD

I hope this isn't true. I love my Shanling and l like having something that I can keep, hold and use if the hard drive ever blows up. I just bought five CDs last WE.

Noted in the comments that Billboard suggests differently: http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/indus...05490122.story

carcommander

I just switched to Hires. Sooloos Control 15 and Mietner Dac. It is much better than CD quality music. It was not cheap. There are a lot of less expensive ways of doing it. There will alway be vinyl. And tube gear. I have waited a while but I think the music experience I have now is much better.

triode

I'll keep buying physical media, which I greatly prefer, including CDs for my AMR CD-77.1 CD player.