Critic's Corner

You don't have to know anything technical to know digital is not delivering

64.122.72.31

This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

All you have to know is that it failed to replace its predecessor.
Usually when a new technology demonstrates its superiority, the result is that within a short time it supplants the older (obsolete) technology.
In time, the obsolete technology is gone from the marketplace and becomes an artifact of museums.
Some examples:
Side valves in internal combustion motors have long since been replaced by overhead valves and no looking back.
The last really commercial 78 was produced in 1956 (Doris Day).
There are many more!
The marketplace seems to determine what is working and what is not. Beta could have been a lot more successful if Sony had not been so precious about their technology...
Anyway, vacuum tubes are still somehow with us despite being declared obsolete in the 1960s. Heck, they've been 'obsolete' for longer than they were the only game in town! The market keeps them for a reason- they have certain applications for which the succeeding technology somehow failed.
The same is true with digital; the LP is still very much around after being declared obsolete in 1987. 1992 was the year of the least production of vinyl worldwide. Its sales have been on the rise ever since. Last December saw its sales eclipse that of digital downloads in the UK. While the CD has been dying, the LP continues to sell, now showing up in Barnes and Nobles, Best Buy and Target.
Best Buy sells turntables and Technics has even released a new completely redesigned-from-the-ground-up SL1200. For which they were asking $4000, and to my understanding is nearly sold out. LP mastering houses and pressing plants in the US are backed up, pressing plants in particular often have 6 month leadtimes on new projects. There are even new pressing machines available; something not seen in decades.
If digital were really bringing home the bacon, the analog/digital debate would simply not exist and neither would the LP!

Edits: 04/18/17

Follow Ups: