Are CD players dead

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with you PO. Popping in a cd is obviously easier than setting up a server/dac system. You have to admit thought, things sure look like they will go the computer/dac route....right?

hi taters:

what is your real concern ?

is it that you will be forced into using a computer or server as a transport ?

or is it that the availability of cd players will decline over time ?

or is there another concern ?

i think the question you raise has no definitive answer.

Well, given that you can still purchase thousands (if not millions of CDs) and that probably 98% of albums are still released on the medium, I'd say the CD player is far from dead. It is not the future, that's true, but that's a much different thing. Even though I'm good with computers, I will continue to use mine as my CDs aren't going anywhere and it's what I'm used to. Plus, it sounds great!

Fusion10: In my opinion, the sales of cds don't necessarily mean that the sales of cd PLAYERS will continue. Think about it. When you have a hard drive based system you're putting the music into your computer by either downloading from the net, or burning from cds. You still need to get that music into your computer. So, many people with computers as their source are still purchasing cds.

I think Pettyofficer and Fusion10 bring up good points; CD sources may not be the future but, the future of computer sourced audio is not quite here yet. We will know when it gets here because;
1. source material will be readily available by download,
2. there will be a convenient, quick, uniform, and somewhat idiot-proof method of accessing the source material, that includes easy access to the metadata, and
3. playback will sonically surpass that from good CD players.

I understand that you can't go from 0 to 100 mph in an instant, so I do appreciate that there are folks who are committed to making the computer thing work and that they are the ones working through the learning curve and moving the industry forward. I simply don't have the time or inclination to be involved at that level, yet. Therefore, when computer based sources become as easy as finding and playing a CD from my collection, and/or when the playback methods sonically exceed what I hear from my players, I will be ready to make the switch.