CD Sales are up again …

[JBT]

Originally Posted by crwilli

I still buy CD/SACDs but never spin them after ripping.

Same here

[mulveling]

Makes sense. CDs are cheap and available right now. Streaming services are showing us the first signs of the "now you see it, now you don't" game with artists & titles. I don't see how serious music lovers and audiophiles can count on it as their primary music source. It has great value for exploratory purposes, but I don't want it in my main 2ch. Physical ownership is the only music library you can count on.

[Maks]

I've been discussing this with a few people recently, I am a vinyl fan but lately it's just cheaper to buy a CD from an artist vs paying a $10-15 premium for vinyl....that is 99.9% of the time pressed from digital files anyway. There have been a lot of 1990's reissues out lately and when dealing with smaller labels I would imagine the records are being pressed from a 16/44 source or maybe a 16/48 DAT master that may have survived or been transferred years ago. CDs never went away for me, but now with the bigger price delta if I'm just a casual fan I'd rather grab a CD.

[JoeN]

Originally Posted by mulveling

Makes sense. CDs are cheap and available right now. Streaming services are showing us the first signs of the "now you see it, now you don't" game with artists & titles. I don't see how serious music lovers and audiophiles can count on it as their primary music source. It has great value for exploratory purposes, but I don't want it in my main 2ch. Physical ownership is the only music library you can count on.

Well stated.

[joel_hifi]

I enjoy the streaming services, their immense catalogue and the constant new music discovery they offer. But those platforms are yet to demonstrate their financial viability. As an example the industry leader Spotify have accumulated close to $3B losses since 2015 (public company, financials available on their website), Tidal were losing $30-50M per year before being absorbed into Block/Square (public co, not sure about their results in the past 2 years), Qobuz are also in the red. Audio medium diversification is recommended in an uncertain world...

[bart]

Originally Posted by joel_hifi

I enjoy the streaming services, their immense catalogue and the constant new music discovery they offer. But those platforms are yet to demonstrate their financial viability. As an example the industry leader Spotify have accumulated close to $3B losses since 2015 (public company, financials available on their website), Tidal were losing $30-50M per year before being absorbed into Block/Square (public co, not sure about their results in the past 2 years), Qobuz are also in the red. Audio medium diversification is recommended in an uncertain world...

Good points Joel.
I'm also glad I can fall back on 2,500-3,000 silver discs if necessary.

[FreddieFerric]

It's a sure sign the Stream is losing Steam.

[audioguy3107]

I still have no problem whatsoever with discs, I've compared streaming on both Tidal and Qobuz to the same physical media (with the same mastering) and have found that physical media outshines the streaming, although I'm sure the dCS Rossini transport has much to do with that. SACDs are even further ahead. I enjoy streaming, especially classical since there is so much content, but if I'm a fan of the music, I still stick to the physical media whether it is vinyl or optical disc. That being said, if was just starting out in hifi without a meaningful media collection, then streaming would be the best thing I've ever fathomed.

- Buck

[Still-One]

I done purchasing music for the most part. I may have averaged 1 CD and 1 Hi Rez purchase over the past 4 or 5 years. In the past I would purchase CD's and immediately burn a copy and store them. Too much clutter.

Now I can find all the new music I will ever need from Tidal and I don't have to store all those plastic CD jewel boxes. The SQ of streaming is currently excellent.

[Jdsmoke]

I stream when I want background tunes or I’m trying something new. I buy vinyl for the music I want to hold onto and enjoy.