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What am I missing?

When discussing streaming we often hear the quality achieved by streaming compared to "cd quality". "Cd quality" seems often to be the standard by which streaming is favorably compared while cds have at the same widely fallen into disfavor as a medium. If "cd quality" continues to be a quality standard by which we judge streaming services -which it appears to be- why exactly do we hold cds in such disfavor? More sophisticated dacs can always be employed with cd transports as they are with streaming. I understand the convenience and storage issues with cds but I also understand that with streaming you will never own the music which you do with cds. This becomes even more unclear to me when considering the resurgence of vinyl and the storage and convenience issues involved with this medium. I don't believe the music industry ever wanted us to own the music we listen to but rather preferred we only rent and pay for that music each time.

pmiller115

Showing 3 responses by clearthinker

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

@whart 

Agree with all you say.  But

"At the same time, we are still enjoying a hi-fi renaissance in our little corner of the universe- more vinyl, turntables, tonearms, cartridges, etc. than ever."

No.  Not more than ever.  in the 50s 60s 70s everyone had a vinyl player and vinyl.  But certainly the most since CDs got embedded in the late 80s.

It is strange the biggest growth in vinyl sales is in the 20-30 age bracket, who spend their lives glued to their handphones, yet many want to listen via a near 100 year old technology.

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
@sandthemall 
"Why own a single property when you can subscribe to many more."

Because here in Europe time-share was the most widespread property scam ever, that's why.

Did you suffer the same scams in the US?

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

@sandthemall 

Thanks.  I'm right there with you.  I prefer physical media too. And ownership in preference to renting, sharing etc.

Many suggest that the availability of 1,000,000s of recordings is advantageous because you get to hear a lot of different stuff.  I don't really see that; you get to hear mostly stuff that is a waste of your valuable time.  To source music I haven't previously heard I prefer to consult favoured critics and publications whose ears chime with mine.  This filters out a lot of the time-wasting dross (of which there is uncountable quantity today when anyone can record to the internet at nil cost or streaming at close to nil regardless of lack of talent or even anything to say).

I chucked my TV more than 30 years ago because of mainly vaccuous content.  Today we have hundreds of channels (if not thousands) and finding any worthwhile content would take longer than watching it.

Ho hum.  Is the world really a better place now?

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