Yipes! Just try buying a CD these days!

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Posted on December 20, 2014 at 11:01:43

SamA
Audiophile

Posts: 2902
Location: Washington, D.C.
Joined: February 12, 2004

Most of my CD purchases are online, but today with a bit of last-minute Christmas shopping I stopped in at Best Buy and Walmart to pick up a few CDs. Yipes. Neither store had anything on my list - not the Bette Midler Girl, not the Fleetwood Mac Tusk, not the Bryan Ferry Avonmore, etc.

Lesson learned. Shop early and online.

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RE: Yipes! Just try buying a CD these days!

neolith

09:30:32 12/21/14

CD sales are plummeting

Bromo33333

09:16:43 12/21/14

3

First World problems.

jusbe

13:01:26 12/21/14

...

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RE: Yipes! Just try buying a CD these days!

neolith

09:30:32 12/21/14

CD sales are plummeting

Bromo33333

09:16:43 12/21/14

3

First World problems.

jusbe

13:01:26 12/21/14

But, as audiophiles, we take what's obsolete, make it beautiful, and keep it forever....

genungo

09:26:36 12/21/14

RE: But, as audiophiles, we take what's obsolete, make it beautiful, and keep it forever....

Bromo33333

09:40:26 12/21/14

better yet... try playing a CD at a HiFi show!

Peter Breuninger

07:43:25 12/21/14

I have good luck at Hastings

cloudwalker

00:39:18 12/21/14

RE: Yipes! Just try buying a CD these days!

fantja

16:47:53 12/20/14

Lesson learned.

Awe-d-o-file

14:10:42 12/20/14

16

Each to their own of course ...

three_sox

16:16:52 12/20/14

RE: Lesson learned.

J.Mac

14:20:31 12/20/14

14

What for?

Awe-d-o-file

15:22:51 12/20/14

13

RE: What for?

J.Mac

15:45:17 12/20/14

RE: What for?

Awe-d-o-file

16:38:56 12/20/14

RE: What for?

kentaja

15:40:37 12/20/14

10

RE: What for?

ahendler

16:50:00 12/20/14

9

RE: What for?

kentaja

04:43:52 12/21/14

RE: What for?

Kurtle

01:22:57 12/21/14

7

A lot of people have been programmed to think that time online isn't wasted. They'll spend days and days

tinear

10:15:09 12/21/14

6

your choice but

Old Listener

09:44:23 12/23/14

No, not at all. Your ad hominem, however, points

tinear

12:39:13 01/06/15

Clearly

E-Stat

08:30:44 12/23/14

Sorry, that is simply incorrect �.

three_sox

03:29:40 12/22/14

2

Okay, but how often does someone want to play the same CD??? Anyhow, I forgot to add all the time one would

tinear

10:56:30 12/22/14

Often ...

three_sox

16:14:06 12/22/14

RE: Yipes! Just try buying a CD these days!

coffee-phil

11:16:26 12/20/14

RE: Yipes! Just try buying a CD these days!, posted on December 20, 2014 at 11:16:26
coffee-phil Audiophile Posts: 1444 Location: Shingle Springs CA Joined: January 7, 2010	I needed to get some classical guitar for a Christmas gift. I scored a bunch of them At Rasputin Music in Campbell CA as well as the new Keith Jarrett / Charlie Haden Last Dance. The Last Dance was also there in vinyl but I got "sticker shock" at north of $30. I also scored some used vinyl and even some shellac. Phil

Lesson learned., posted on December 20, 2014 at 14:10:42
Awe-d-o-file Dealer Posts: 21037 Location: 50 miles west of DC Joined: January 10, 2004	Yes the real lesson to me is avoid mass market retailers and national chains. Online is fine but support your local music store if you have one. E T ET "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

RE: Lesson learned., posted on December 20, 2014 at 14:20:31

J.Mac
Audiophile

Posts: 3553
Location: Colorado
Joined: November 6, 2002

> Online is fine but support your local music store if you have one.

What for? So you can pay an extra $3-6 per CD? So you can choose from a selection that is 1/1000th the size of what's available to you through conventional online sellers? Nah. When something is ready to pass away of natural causes, it's best to let it die.

The only local music stores here that are surviving are stores selling used CDs, vinyl, and books. There's one that I frequent. It's absurdly overpriced, but I buy a few things.

What for?, posted on December 20, 2014 at 15:22:51

Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004

I'm sorry your local store(s) suck and don't have good prices. Mine do. I also have weird tastes and often buy on line but totally support a local if they have what I need AND a good price. I would never pay an extra 3-6$ for a CD and have no idea why you assumed I or anyone would. I also only buy online w/free shipping or shipping via a priority mail box where the seller charges actual shipping costs. I will never buy from a place that has marked up shipping.

E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

RE: What for?, posted on December 20, 2014 at 15:40:37

kentaja
Manufacturer

Posts: 4614
Joined: March 26, 2001

"I would never pay an extra 3-6$ for a CD and have no idea why you assumed I or anyone would."

I will pay the extra in an instant. Why? Lots of reasons but mainly because I can walk out of the store NOW with what I want.

While I not an instant gratification type of person for most things when it comes to music I am. Most of my musical purchases are impulse buys. When I want some new music I want it now, not tomorrow or the day after, but now.

A couple extra bucks to get it now? Not a problem.

RE: What for?, posted on December 20, 2014 at 15:45:17
J.Mac Audiophile Posts: 3553 Location: Colorado Joined: November 6, 2002	I live in a university town of 150,000 people. Smaller towns these days have absolutely nothing even comparable to the few music stores that remain in this town. Probably the best selection here for new CDs is the local Barnes & Noble, where a typical CD that can be had online for $8-12 will cost you $15-18. It's just a lost cause.

Each to their own of course ... , posted on December 20, 2014 at 16:16:52

three_sox

... However I agree with the concept of supporting a local independent retailer.

I live in a small coastal town in the sub tropics on the east coast of Australia and there are 4 or 5 national chain stores here and 1 independent retailer of CD/records.

My wife and I usually shop at the independent who has a huge selection. However, if they don't have something you want they will order it in quick smart for you.

They also provide the facility to actually listen to your purchase on decent headphones. IMHO this service is well worth paying a few extra shekels for a CD. Plus, I like to support a local retailer.

As with everything, YMMV.

RE: What for?, posted on December 20, 2014 at 16:38:56
Awe-d-o-file Dealer Posts: 21037 Location: 50 miles west of DC Joined: January 10, 2004	Plenty of smaller towns have a good record store and several don't. Asheville NC has less than 100K and has at least two good stores. E T ET "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

RE: Yipes! Just try buying a CD these days!, posted on December 20, 2014 at 16:47:53
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15519 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	scary indeed!

RE: What for?, posted on December 20, 2014 at 16:50:00
ahendler Audiophile Posts: 5151 Location: San Antonio, Texas Joined: January 24, 2003	If you want it now why not Spotify or Tidal? Alan

I have good luck at Hastings, posted on December 21, 2014 at 00:39:18
cloudwalker Audiophile Posts: 634 Location: central wa Joined: September 27, 2012	a

RE: What for?, posted on December 21, 2014 at 01:22:57

Kurtle
Audiophile

Posts: 364
Location: Salem Oregon
Joined: December 21, 2002
Contributor
Since: April 6, 2011

I am interested in Tidal, lossless streaming would be great and the price is pretty good. I went to the web page to see what they have, perused the FAQ wherein it states:

"If you would like to browse our music library, please visit our web player at listen.tidalhifi.com (no log in or account required).

Here you can browse our entire music catalog to see if TIDAL has all of the content for your musical interests."

However when clicking on the "Artists" link, the only way to see the list is to sign up... Meh...

RE: What for?, posted on December 21, 2014 at 04:43:52

kentaja
Manufacturer

Posts: 4614
Joined: March 26, 2001

I have Spotify. It has its charms, a great way to explore new music and scratch the itch.

My preference is for vinyl. When I want a new record I want it now. Sometimes I have no choice but to order on-line but fortunately I live in a city that has lots of great record shops. A couple shops that have large inventory of new vinyl, new releases.

Bottom line for me is I am not going to quibble over a few dollars and if I can get something immediately and it is a few dollars higher than what I would pay on-line so be it.

better yet... try playing a CD at a HiFi show!, posted on December 21, 2014 at 07:43:25
Peter Breuninger Reviewer Posts: 601 Joined: August 28, 2002	Over the past several years playing CDs at shows is getting harder and harder. Yes, there are lots of DACs and streamers but transports are becoming rare.

CD sales are plummeting, posted on December 21, 2014 at 09:16:43
Bromo33333 Audiophile Posts: 3502 Location: Ipswich, MA Joined: May 4, 2004	Best Buy is slowly pulling back from CD sales as the buying public turns to streamed media. Streaming YouTube when budgets are low, and premium services like Spotify when you want to spring for $10/mo. ==== "You are precisely as big as what you love and precisely as small as what you allow to annoy you." ~ R A Wilson

But, as audiophiles, we take what's obsolete, make it beautiful, and keep it forever...., posted on December 21, 2014 at 09:26:36
genungo	Or as cheapskates, we take what's obsolete, clean it up, make it look acceptable, and play around with it until the associated hardware breaks down.

RE: Yipes! Just try buying a CD these days!, posted on December 21, 2014 at 09:30:32

neolith
Audiophile

Posts: 4842
Location: Virginia
Joined: February 21, 2002
Contributor
Since: December 2, 2004

CD's have outlasted their utility. I recently bought my wife a new laptop --no CD or DVD drive, just get it online. The biggest draw of CD's in my mind was convenience, the ability to be played in a car and storage size -- remember the 360 Kb floppy? None of these are true anymore. So we are left with digital media and vinyl. Vinyl not only sounds better but for all practical purposes cannot be cloned, so it's a win for the music industry and for the audiophile alike.

"Our head is round in order to allow our thoughts to change direction." Francis Picabia

RE: But, as audiophiles, we take what's obsolete, make it beautiful, and keep it forever...., posted on December 21, 2014 at 09:40:26
Bromo33333 Audiophile Posts: 3502 Location: Ipswich, MA Joined: May 4, 2004	Now is an excellent time to be buying CD's, and making sure you have a CD player you like. Merry Christmas! ==== "You are precisely as big as what you love and precisely as small as what you allow to annoy you." ~ R A Wilson

A lot of people have been programmed to think that time online isn't wasted. They'll spend days and days , posted on December 21, 2014 at 10:15:09

tinear
Audiophile

Posts: 65782
Location: Kansas City, KS
Joined: April 9, 2006

copying their CDs to files. For what? If you've alphabetized your CDs, you can grab one, stick it into a CDP and be listening in seconds.
Or, you can find your laptop, go through the log on stuff, do all those commands--- and still have to convince yourself that all those extra steps lead to similar sonic results.
I ascribe to the tenet that every piece of equipment, every manipulation of data leads to some loss. There is no audio free lunch.

First World problems., posted on December 21, 2014 at 13:01:26
jusbe Audiophile Posts: 5950 Location: North Island Joined: April 4, 2000	Last time I checked, you can still buy pre-recorded cassettes (Caribbean, South America according to friends there) in parts of the world. CDs will be around a while yet. Buy the good ones while the going is good. I like to have something to show for my money. Big J "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal* salvation is a contradiction in terms."*

Sorry, that is simply incorrect …. , posted on December 22, 2014 at 03:29:40

three_sox

... Especially if you have thousands of CDs and even more so if you have more than one system and more than one person accessing the music collection. (which my family certainly do)

I find having my entire library automatically categorized alphabetically by either title, artist or track is an enormous convenience.

Now, I am not into having a streaming service so maybe you might have a valid point there.

However I have my music collection on a desktop PC with multiple hard drives and it is accessible to 5 systems throughout the house and everyone can individually accesses the interface on their iPad to play whatever they want on the system in the particular room. (trying playing a physical CD if someone else is using it in a different room)

Yes, everything makes a difference but if you play your digital files through a decent DAC then there really should not be a problem.

Of course, YMMV.

Okay, but how often does someone want to play the same CD??? Anyhow, I forgot to add all the time one would , posted on December 22, 2014 at 10:56:30
tinear Audiophile Posts: 65782 Location: Kansas City, KS Joined: April 9, 2006	need to spend researching the best devices, installing them, etc. I'm too lazy. I don't see the benefit since it's not inconvenient to grab a CD and have it for the car or a portable CD player ("what's that?"). It's all good.

Often ... , posted on December 22, 2014 at 16:14:06

three_sox

... One of my kids actually likes a lot of my classic rock music.

Having about 20,000 tracks (and rising all the time) at my finger tips is far more convenient for me than searching for the physical media. If you think it is easier to play the physical media then more power to you, but it is extremely hard to believe how you think this unless you don't have a proper grasp how computer based audio works.

If you are lazy then computer based audio is for you.

In our cars we have iPods loaded from a computer with lossless music. Far easier than having a stack of discs in the car. I don't listen to much music in the car but my wife and kids do always in their cars.

Oh, we have portable disc players and various boom-boxes (the boom boxes have docks for ipods & iPhones), but they are just ancillaries to the systems in the home.

Enjoy your music however you like but believing playing the physical media is just as convenient as computer based audio is just a tad naïve.

Clearly, posted on December 23, 2014 at 08:30:44
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37643 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	You have never experienced a server based environment where any title is immediately available.

your choice but, posted on December 23, 2014 at 09:44:23
Old Listener Audiophile Posts: 2090 Location: SF Bay area Joined: February 6, 2005	It's your choice to stick to CDs and that's OK. Your reasons why it is a superior choice are based on your ignorance. my blog: http://carsmusicandnature.blogspot.com/

No, not at all. Your ad hominem, however, points, posted on January 6, 2015 at 12:39:13
tinear Audiophile Posts: 65782 Location: Kansas City, KS Joined: April 9, 2006	not only to YOUR ignorance, but your complete lack of civility. I welcome, of course, some evidence to discuss, but you're obviously impotent.

General Asylum

Yipes! Just try buying a CD these days!

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