Comments on: Do you still buy CDs?

Sales of music downloads won't surpass silver discs for a while--a report projects the year 2012. So fess up: a lot of you are still buying discs, and I want to know who you are.

[GardenLobster]

Nope I can't say that I do. Often, I'll buy a CD after hearing a single, and realize I only like the single and hate the rest of the songs on the album. Or, there will only be a few songs that I like and I have to waste time skipping to the 3 or 4 that I like. I much prefer being able to sample songs, download the ones I like, or just download albums for $7.99 or less on Amazon, and have the option to delete the songs I don't like rather than feel like I wasted $16 bucks. As for album art, that's gone digital, too. Nine Inch Nails included .pdf files of liner notes and album art with its online release of The Slip, which was completely free to download, even for CD quality sound.

At this point, I'd rather push the digital revolution and avoid the space issue of CD storage or filling up landfills with old discs. Plus, my digital files (once backed up) are essentially safe from my children, while we have lost numerous CD's and DVD's due to just regular household destruction. The quality of the sound will steadily get better as CD's are sent the way of the cassette tape.

[tek-ed]

DRM, LOSSY formats, No liner notes, crappy music...it's getting impossible to buy music CDs from the established producers (re. RIAA supporting producers) Their inflexibility and refusal to budge on producing formulaic music which is designed to do nothing more than make money is a death-grip that is causing the music industry to implode in upon it's self. Yes, I have purchased music CDs...but only from independant publishers...I have *NOT* purchased a music CD from ASCAP or RIAA supporting producers for about a dozen years now!, but I have increased by CD collection by several hundred CDs in that time period!
Perhaps the "music industry" needs to take another look at their numbers...Perhaps the "music industry" is *not* loosing money in lost CD sales...perhaps those "lost CD sales" are going to independant producers which to not report their revenues to ASCAP...
And don't even get me started on Sony's ill fated attempt at restricting user's access to the legally purchased license to listen to their music by installing a buggy Root Kit onto unsuspecting users's computers which cost some people hundreds of dollars in repairs and lost time...
Ed
web/gadget guru

[pcfish]

Give me some LIVING proof (like a blind test) if you can actually tell the different between 256Kbps AAC and 16bit WAV (CD) coming out from the SAME device (e.g. your computer's soundcard).

[dpchris]

I use the Internet to find new music. If I like what something then I'll buy the CD. I prefer CDs to digital distribution because (1) I like having a physical collection and (2) because I like to control the quality of my digital files. I rip everything into lossless FLAC for my PC and LAME VBR MP3 for my digital audio player. DRM used to be a third point for buying CDs over digital distribution, but many retailers are dropping DRM so it's not much of an issue anymore.

[soundman45]

In answer to PC fish question. you actually can hear a difference between a sixteen bit file and a 256Pbps AAC file.
It's probably harder coming out of a cheap sound card on a computer and the source material does make a difference, but its definitely possible. Ive done the test several times with great success. You just need to know what to listen for though. You see when audio signals are compressed they start to lose sonic dimension. Distortion is more apparent and the low end not as full sounding. There's not as much air around the instruments for instance. Compare an SACD to a 16 bit CD and the difference is usually even greater. Ive even done tests where I've mad a copy of a sixteen bit CD and compared it to the original. In some cases you can even tell a slight difference between the two. Although it's unlike saying which one sounds better. They just sound somewhat different. It's so subtle though. Ive tried this test with many of my recording engineer friends and they've had similar results as well.

[benkaeding]

Here's the thing... I know why I purchase CD's rather than downloads. I can easily copy the content of the cd to my computer to listen on my iPOD. Lets just say I don't want to backup my old computer all it dies. Oh sorry, so sad. the music industry would be very happy with me purchasing all my music over again but I would not. Guess what, I just spend afternoon pulling my favorites off the cd's again. For those out there that don't think the industry deserves the money and feel ok stealing it, just need to remember that what comes around goes around and they will end up paying for it in the long run. I is always better to be honest and pay an honest wage for work done.

[RamGen77]

Only for my favorite bands, about 2 a year. Rip it at 360 VBR.
I listen to some CD's/MP3 CD's in the car, my car has an iPod hookup which I mainly use when traveling. At home I always listen to my iPod which is hooked up to my stereo.
I buy mostly iTunes Plus tracks, never full albums.
I wish iTunes offered tracks compressed at various rates (e.g. 256, 360, etc) - I would buy more.
Vinyl? Give me a break! What happens when it scratches?

[DragonStab]

You hit it with the comment about sound quality.... I have never purchased downloaded music for that fact alone. Plus, as Tom33 commented, with a CD I am assured of being able to put the music anywhere I want it. Music server in my house, Archos media player in my car (not an iPod fan). Or anywhere else in the future I might want to store/play my music.

I still don't get the whole Vinyl fascination. I grew up with vinyl, and when CD's came out I immediately switched and haven't looked back. Sure, I still own my vinyl, but have replaced many favorites with CD's. All I hear about vinyl sounding better is how it sounds "warmer" or "more natural" and such. To me that just means "less clear" or "lower dynamic range". With Digital Recordings (CD's and such), you can hear everything the human ear is capable of hearing (and more), in a much more convenient format. Maybe the pure clarity of sound just sounds "less warm" or "unnatural" to the ones used to what you get from vinyl...... Sure, with expensive equipment, and a record that's well kept and properly cleaned, you can get a great sound. But hook up any decent CD/DVD player to the same system and you will hear much more. That's why it sounds "different", and to some, different means worse.......

[sleepy7]

It's not just people over 40 that prefer to buy CDs. I'm in my mid 30s and I still prefer to buy CDs. I like having the artwork. I know a lot of bands don't put much thought into that now but some do. I also like having it as a backup. DRM files are just a major pain. Thankfully we are seeing the death of DRM when it comes to music. I still want my CDs. I like having the best quality possible. MP3s are fine for your iPod but uncompressed music is the best for piping through a stereo system.

[Gabh]

It's often cheaper to get the C.D. than buy it on iTunes, if it's not new; better sound quality, art work and a free back up. But not as environmentally friendly!

[ThreeMilesNorth]

When in the U.S. I use Amazon for my music needs, but there's a whole world out where even internet connection is a pain. I think CDs won't go away that soon at least for a better part of the world. And yes, music quality (bit-wise) on Amazon and iTunes is pathetic.

[sparrowhyperion]

I still buy CDs and DVDs instead of downloads for a few reasons.

1. Having worked in the computer hardware industry and as a network admin for many years; I know the complexity of magnetic storage devices like hard drives and Flash Ram. I also know that they have a propensity to meltdown at the worst possible moments. I prefer the optical storage media, it lasts longer as well. And since I would have to back up any digital downloads to a CDR or DVD-RW diskl, why not save the hassle and get it in hard media.

2. I don't care what anyone says, downloaded music does NOT sound as good as a CD, or better yet, an old style LP. I have an older Radio Shack Clarinette 98 stereo system dating back to the mid 1970s, which is in my opinion the best of the older stereo systems RS put out. Digital recording is good for some things, but for quality, analog will always beat it hands down.

3. Putting your faith in something as fragile as a PCs drive or worse yet someone elses web server to store your music is just dumb. It is an invitation to disaster... Keep your music under your control and on hardware you trust or physical media you can keep safe. Preferably both.

4. Todays generation seems to think it's cool or something to have all of their media in as nebulous a form as digital storage. Not a good idea..... Forget convenience and the seemingly endless rush of folks to the net. Suck it up and buy a CD.

[alegr]

FLASH is not magnetic storage; just in case you're not aware of that. No mechanical parts, too.

[pcfish]

Use RAID already, network admin. And I beg servers from amazon/apple, etc. are ten times saver than my apartment (especially in events like fire and flood).

[pcfish]

@sparrowhyperion

Oh, for #4, I didn't know CD does not count as DIGITAL STORAGE LoL. so much for your credibility as working many years in computer hardware industry.

[pjhenry1216]

I purchase albums by very few artists. There's only one artist that I'll purchase any available physical media that gets released (happens to be my favorite artist obviously, I'll leave the artist unnamed as to not bait anybody to argue about it). Other than that, I only purchase CDs when there's a reason: (1) not available as digital download (even DRMed if I have to, thats easy to take care of) (2) added value to the CD (special packaging, bonus tracks, or collector's item).

[carguy622]

I always buy CDs when I can. I can't hear much a sound quality difference, but I like the fact that there is physical media of a very high quality that I have as a back-up after I ripped them to the computer. I will not spend more than $10 a disc though.

[eldon21]

I always buy CDs and then rip them into iTunes. This was for two reasons: fidelity and DRM. As the DRM issue fades away and online offerings start to offer higher bitrates I may reconsider but I also like having the CDs in case anything catastrophic happens to my digital library. itunes hasn't historically offered a very good way to get back the stuff you bought if your local copies are lost or damaged.

[mjm4]

Yeah, I still buy CDs. Like you I can definitely hear the difference. I don't have an iPod, but if I did, I'd be searching for the best lossless way to rip my CDs.

[fwitsw]

My husband, a pro musician/engineer/producer, purchases CDs, eschewing mp3s--and it has nothing to do with over 40 and fear of tech. He's in the studio working in a high tech environment daily, and he and his colleagues talk frequently of their disdain for mp3s, sharing grief over individuals who have gotten used to mp3s and no longer recognize the difference in quality. As he says, "I'm killing myself trying to make stuff sound great and then will have radio stations ask for an advance copy on mp3 so they can air it and all the detail work is gone."

I appreciate quality sound yet download music for my iPod simply because of the convenience of it and because my environment is an mp3 environment. My son and husband are more likely to be using the stereo while I use the iPod or the computer for my music library. And yes I do miss liner notes but also have no love for graphic design and inadequate fonts that treat production credits on the limited CD real estate as extraneous and superfluous.

If he could download AIFF or wave files then my husband would purchase downloads.

[alegr]

If you think a CD will sound any better than MP3 over FM radio, you're kidding yourself.

[techman21]

I buy CD's when I like the whole album - that way I have a good backup copy - but I rip it and play on the computer or add to a CD full of MP3's for the car. I switched to an MP3 deck after I had 45 CD's stolen out of my car. I buy one-off songs digitally or when they're really cheap, like Amazon's daily deals.

[Beertroll]

Of course I still buy CDs. Until I can download DRM free lossless compression music I will continue to buy CDs and rip them to FLAC format.

[rainspainplain]

"Oh, and there's a lot more profit in selling physical media than downloads"

How is this true? I assumed that downloaded music gives higher profits than the cost that goes into selling CD's.

Either way, CD's offer a way better value to me. Sound quality being the biggest reason. Also having a hard backup is nice. For these reasons alone, and I thought it was cheaper for them to sell downloads, I think music downloads are way overpriced. The best option is usually used CD's. You can get some for 75 cents plus shipping at a certain website. Rip your own CD's for a way better deal.

[richardk32]

Yes, I still buy CDs. Older CDs as I spot them in cutout or sale kiosks, to fill in my library of past faves, new artists as they catch my ear, often after having bought one or two tracks via iTunes. Since once the differences are pointed out, almost anyone can hear the difference between lossy and lossless versions of the same tune, I'm in the process of re-ripping what I have - lossless for home with a second AAC copy for my iPod. I always wait for sales, but I'm still buying 3-5 albums a month. The hardest thing to find is intelligent programming of new music that doesn't assume that everything I'm interested in sounds like everything else I'm interested in.

[Walksallover]

Payday used to mean a b-line straight to the record store for me. I've since curtailed my CD spending only buying them at shows to help the touring bands put gas in their tanks. I'm not a huge audiophile but do miss the tangible aspect of physical media when I purchase downloads, often driving me to purchase the same title on vinyl if its available, which still lets me roam the aisles at Amoeba.