What do you mean by "High Fidelity Pure Audio discs"? I assume you are referring to SACD and DVD-A, which essentially can hold the same type of resolution like 24/96, whereas a standard CD can only hold 16/44. Both SACD and DVD-A can accommodate 5.1 surround sound for those that want that type of music listening experience. SACD can also hold the standard redbook layer so a traditional CD player can play them, hybrid SACD's have two layers.

 

I don't have a SACD capable player, main reason is the lack of a catalog of music that I listen to, same goes for the hi-rez files like 24/96 or 24/192 downloads, most of these catalogs are very heavy to Jazz, Pop and Classical music....the only progressive rock I see is Yes, Pink Floyd and maybe Rush just a couple albums of each, hardly a catalog, plus they are very expensive for a non-physical purchase. I did buy Yes CTTE as 24/96 couple yrs ago and really found nothing too exciting about it. I also bought a Diana Krall at 24/192 and that is pretty special, but reading on many music forums these hi-rez downloads are hit and miss, as somebody still has to make that transfer to their servers and well...things can happen that seem to degrade the quality, assuming it was there in the first place.

 

The demise of the CD player? I struggle with that as turntables never went away and I don't think CD players will go away either, they are inexpensive to produce and the margin return is pretty high I understand.

There actually is a segment of very high-end CDP that is enjoying a robust business right now, people with extra cash to spend will always upgrade. An Oppo BRP are some of the most popular players and sell very, very well, since they are able to play any disc configuration and the reproduction is very high end return for your money.

 

In general I agree that the whole downloading/streaming process should continue to grow, will it bury the physical CD, I don't think so, CDs are so cheap to make and press and distribute and again the high rate of margin return will keep it around well passed your and my lifetime probably.

 

Good topic.

 

 

Hi José. Yeah, those "high fidelity pure audio discs" are actually blu ray discs, but audio only, with no particular visual content. Very much similar to DVD-As, to be honest.

Yes, the same thing happening with people still shooting film cameras or even hand painting pictures, despite very much able digital cameras being widely available. I'm just wondering what will happen to the mainstream when downloadable high resolution files become significantly cheaper than CDs and seriously affordable and competent blu ray/USB players will become more apparent on the market. I guess that the unavoidable will happen 

Exhibit B: The Cloud. 

 

I think the digital realm is no more and no less than a microcosm of the greater world. You own nothing, ever. Really. 

Job said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will go away'. 

I would go a few steps further: you come into the world as a piece of software, loaded into a single cell. Then you continuously loan and return atoms from/to Mother Earth, some of which atoms happen to constitute your body at any given time for as long as you live. And then you die, and all the atoms that you have borrowed, but haven't yet returned are recycled. 

 

http://www.stereophile.com/content/11-years-us-cd-sales" rel="nofollow - http://www.stereophile.com/content/11-years-us-cd-sales

 

 

 

^this

 

Well...cd's would be useless without the players (unless one plays it through their computers) so I would think some one would continue to make players. 

There's still a market for them albeit a much smaller one.

I either have a mix CD in my deck or plug in my Zune and shuffle play. I am not in my car that often as I ride a vanpool to work, doing my bit to save the world .

Just like I think you can still buy a VHS player, of course these units are no better than a toy, CD Players will always be around. I firmly believe high-end CD Players will continue, in the $1,000+ range, digital audiophiles will pay good money for high-end digital gear. And then you have this one by Esoteric, the K01 runs about $19,000.00. Probably better described as a all Digital media player, discs as well hi-rez files and SACD....pretty sweet.

Unless another option comes along, they will not demise. Fact is that people like tangible goods and digital mp3's won't make up for that.

 

Those digipâk are atrocious IMHO...

 

not only is the carboard terribly exposed to scratchs, but once the center prongs of the tray are broken, you're screwed (unrepairable)... At least with CDs, you can replace the jewel cases

 

OK, of late, they've made digipaks with a more solid center prong thing.

 

But for albums I rerally hold dear , I'll splurge for a mini-Lp Cds replica (provided the artwork is reallky worth it)/

 

 

 

I've just bought a new CD player this week - had too as my old Arcam finally gave up but I was glad of the excuse to get a new one to be honest. My new Roksan K3 only came out this year so Hi-Fi manufacurer's are still investing in Cd technology despite what many might tell you.

Did you take out a loan?

 

 

 

 

Whilst I certainly don't consider it a cheap player there are plenty out there that cost a lot more. Nain for example have the CDx2 which I believe goes for around £3500. Of course the laws of diminishing returns kick in once you start going that far. I could never afford to go down that road even if I wanted too.

That was the case ten years ago because those two companies jointly owned the patents for optical discs and transport mechanisms, not sure what the situation is now as the patents expired back in 2009. I suspect that most brand-named manufacturers (Aiwa, Akai, NAD, Onkyo, Technics, etc.) continue to use either Philips or Sony products because neither of those companies are stupid enough to lose a main revenue stream just because a patent expired. If a player manufacturer doesn't mention the design of the transport specifically in their promotional literature then it's likely that they would have bought-in the mechanism rather than designed and manufactured it themselves - if you are going to the expense of manufacturing your own mechanism then you're going to make a big song and dance about it.

As the market dwindles there is little incentive for other manufacturers to get into the game. With all products like this (DAC chips, TFT screens, Hard-drives, etc.) the market is dominated by one or two prime manufacturers

Yes, sounds really great though haven't had chance to put it through its paces yet. I choose it for its tight and powerful bass and detailed overall sound having compared it back to back with players from Naim, Audio Analogue, Rega and Unico (Unison Research). The interesting thing about the Unico which I almost went for was it uses valves which gave it a really warm almost vinyl like sound. The sound wasn't as tight though overall which is why I went for the Roksan though it was a lovely sounding player.

I have never been a Rega CDP fan, they seem to have a lot of issues with their drives and optical pickups, plus I think Rega products in general are over priced.

Naim is excellent gear......The trick with valve CDP is you need to probably roll in different vales to find the best sound, so there is some tweaking you can do to improve the SQ. I know cables can be considered snake oil, but you might try that tweak once you find the Roksan has settled in. Looks like the DAC supports up to 24bit/192kHz resolution....main reason I chose the player I have.

Congrats

 

That was more or less my train of thought....

 

Even Blue-Rays were somewhat of a disappointtment in terms of sales (both discs and readers), so who'd risk starting a manufacturing plants of a more or less dying technology that has seen its better days over a decade ago.

Wait...shouldn't they be playing "Stairway to Heaven" backwards on the turntable?