It is clear that some of us here have tried/are trying out different ways of listening to recorded music. Some are still using CDs or SACDs (even LPs) while others are streaming or downloading albums or collections.
There seems to be some enthusiasm for so-called hi res audio files, which on good equipment should sound very good. Some CDs can still sound very good - again when played on good equipment. Some will never sound great, for a variety of reasons, such as the original recordings were not good (poor frequency response, incorrect balance, lost masters and poor transfers etc.) so no amount of marketing - putting those recordings into "hi res" containers will give better results.
Streaming seems to me to have possible limitations, though for many of us will probably work quite well. It could deliver good quality audio if the user has a fast internet connection, and the streaming server is suitably capable. It does require a "live" connection - if the remote server goes down then the music will stop - even only temporarily. Also if the service provider decides to remove a particular piece of music from the catalogue than music can become unavailable. In some cases the service provider may cease operations.
Downloads overcome some of the problems with streaming, in that once the user has downloaded the tracks they can be played anywhere, and providing the user takes care, there will be no loss of music if the service provider withdraws the downloads or goes out of business.
CDs of course take up space, but are otherwise quite easy to manage.
One concern about hi res downloads is that they are likely to take quite a while to download, and also to use up very considerable amounts of storage on the user's equipment. I raise this issue, as having noticed some download bargains recently - mostly of earlier Vanguard and Vox recordings, I was able to download a number of collections, but found that managing the storage on my MBP laptop presents significant management issues. The download quality is only mp3, so to have those collections in hi res formats would probably increase the download times and the storage requirements by a factor of at least 2, possibly 3-5.
The time taken to do each download - the equivalent of several CDs - is typically about 5 minutes, and then there is the storage management overhead of backing the files off so that the laptop can still function. Perhaps this is an issue which few really worry about, or encounter (yet?), but it is going to be forced upon consumers as many providers are no longer making physical media versions of music available.
Some people will invest in large storage (disc drives or SSDs) and won't worry about the download times if they can do downloads in the background, or on a very fast connection. Others may not, and will be likely to encounter problems as their download collection builds up.
Streaming avoids most of the storage problems, but relies on continuity of service from a provider, and over a long period of time that is by no means certain.
Perhaps for many of us CDs are still the easiest way at the current time - quality is generally acceptable, the physical storage is not completely unmanageable, though some will be enjoying better audio quality by hi res downloads or streaming. CDs, if available, can usually be obtained within a few days, and if desired can be ripped to a media server - usually within a few minutes - and then stored in a cupboard or store room.
There seems to be some enthusiasm for so-called hi res audio files, which on good equipment should sound very good. Some CDs can still sound very good - again when played on good equipment. Some will never sound great, for a variety of reasons, such as the original recordings were not good (poor frequency response, incorrect balance, lost masters and poor transfers etc.) so no amount of marketing - putting those recordings into "hi res" containers will give better results.
Streaming seems to me to have possible limitations, though for many of us will probably work quite well. It could deliver good quality audio if the user has a fast internet connection, and the streaming server is suitably capable. It does require a "live" connection - if the remote server goes down then the music will stop - even only temporarily. Also if the service provider decides to remove a particular piece of music from the catalogue than music can become unavailable. In some cases the service provider may cease operations.
Downloads overcome some of the problems with streaming, in that once the user has downloaded the tracks they can be played anywhere, and providing the user takes care, there will be no loss of music if the service provider withdraws the downloads or goes out of business.
CDs of course take up space, but are otherwise quite easy to manage.
One concern about hi res downloads is that they are likely to take quite a while to download, and also to use up very considerable amounts of storage on the user's equipment. I raise this issue, as having noticed some download bargains recently - mostly of earlier Vanguard and Vox recordings, I was able to download a number of collections, but found that managing the storage on my MBP laptop presents significant management issues. The download quality is only mp3, so to have those collections in hi res formats would probably increase the download times and the storage requirements by a factor of at least 2, possibly 3-5.
The time taken to do each download - the equivalent of several CDs - is typically about 5 minutes, and then there is the storage management overhead of backing the files off so that the laptop can still function. Perhaps this is an issue which few really worry about, or encounter (yet?), but it is going to be forced upon consumers as many providers are no longer making physical media versions of music available.
Some people will invest in large storage (disc drives or SSDs) and won't worry about the download times if they can do downloads in the background, or on a very fast connection. Others may not, and will be likely to encounter problems as their download collection builds up.
Streaming avoids most of the storage problems, but relies on continuity of service from a provider, and over a long period of time that is by no means certain.
Perhaps for many of us CDs are still the easiest way at the current time - quality is generally acceptable, the physical storage is not completely unmanageable, though some will be enjoying better audio quality by hi res downloads or streaming. CDs, if available, can usually be obtained within a few days, and if desired can be ripped to a media server - usually within a few minutes - and then stored in a cupboard or store room.
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