CD players and such just don't have the luxury of selling in the millions like they used to and don't have the benefit of scale of economy anymore. That has been taken over by servers, phones, ipods and the like. So the price has to go up. Eventually some companies find it's not worth it to make them all.
Is computer audio pushing up the price of CDPs?
Having heard several times, computer audio accessed via an I-PAD, I-POD and I-phones, I have to say I was impressed by the purity and ease of the sound. However, I did NOT go out and junk MY CD player and other related components
However, I am curious if the so-called purity of computer audio has set the bar higher in terms of sound quality for CDs and especially players. As evidence of this, the average price of a used player on AG seems to have increased dramatically. Many used players seem to begin at about $1500 to a range of $2000, and begin a new level that starts at $2500 and vigorously moves forward to upper $3000; then, jumps again from $4500 up several at $7000 to $9000, and a few $10,000 to $11,000 plus. These are not necessarily two piece units of separate DAC and Transport, but integrated CDP which specify the high quality of the inboard DAC, and flexibility of the player digital inputs.
I have to conclude, that consumers over the last 2-3 years, reluctant to jump into computer audio, just went out and spent 2 or 3 times more than what they would normally have spent for a CDP, assuming, AND also validating in store the sound quality of these upper tier CDPs. Were they hoping that their way over budget investment outdistanced any server file of digital music??
Would like to hear both pros and cons on the issue or issues I have provided. Thanks
However, I am curious if the so-called purity of computer audio has set the bar higher in terms of sound quality for CDs and especially players. As evidence of this, the average price of a used player on AG seems to have increased dramatically. Many used players seem to begin at about $1500 to a range of $2000, and begin a new level that starts at $2500 and vigorously moves forward to upper $3000; then, jumps again from $4500 up several at $7000 to $9000, and a few $10,000 to $11,000 plus. These are not necessarily two piece units of separate DAC and Transport, but integrated CDP which specify the high quality of the inboard DAC, and flexibility of the player digital inputs.
I have to conclude, that consumers over the last 2-3 years, reluctant to jump into computer audio, just went out and spent 2 or 3 times more than what they would normally have spent for a CDP, assuming, AND also validating in store the sound quality of these upper tier CDPs. Were they hoping that their way over budget investment outdistanced any server file of digital music??
Would like to hear both pros and cons on the issue or issues I have provided. Thanks