Catching up. Are digital discs finally dead?

Discussion in 'Marketplace Discussions' started by KeithH, May 18, 2019.

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  1. KeithH

    KeithH Success With Honor...then and now Thread Starter

    Location:
    Beaver Stadium
    I haven't been active on this site over the past six months or so due to work (heavy business travel) and other interests. Sadly, it seems that I haven't missed much in terms of digital-disc releases. Does MFSL still release SACDs? I have a number of titles on pre-order, but I haven't received one in months. The Best Buy nearby no longer sells CDs. A cursory look on Amazon brought up nothing interesting. Do the record labels still release super deluxe box sets? Earlier this week, I checked CD Japan's web site for the first time in a while and saw no new SACDs other than classical titles.

    Fortunately, there are still a few stores in my area to buy used CDs (plus, of course, eBay). I recently bought the Beatles "White Album" Japanese super deluxe box set (SHM-CD/Blu-Ray) and the Miles Davis Bitches Brew Quadraphonic SACD. Both were released last year. I just don't see anything new to buy. :(
     
  2. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    My observations have been like yours Keith. Sad, but true I'm afraid.
     
    audiomixer likes this.
  3. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    I just got the 2-CD "Egypt Station" from Amazon, so I guess CDs aren't dead for me... :shrug:
     
  4. KeithH

    KeithH Success With Honor...then and now Thread Starter

    Location:
    Beaver Stadium
    Thanks, Dave. If I had taken this sort of hiatus two or three years ago, the list of things I missed would have been extensive. This is very sad.

    I continue to play CDs, but I just don't see much new to buy anymore. :cry:
     
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  5. Gaslight

    Gaslight ⎧⚍⎫⚑

    Location:
    Northeast USA
    There are many new releases on CD, every week. Nothing's really changed (yet).

    SACD is another matter but that's been a niche format for some time now.
     
    Lost In The Flood likes this.
  6. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    Nor do I, but that's because we're old and we only buy albums by old artists! :D
     
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  7. tmtomh

    tmtomh Forum Resident

  8. MFSL is still supposedly releasing SACDs, but the rate has definitely slowed down a great deal. AP is still in the game and Dutton Vocalion keeps putting them out. There's been a smattering of new Japanese SACDs, including Fairground Attraction.

    If you missed Van Morrison's The Healing Game 3-CD deluxe edition, that's on you. Dylan's 14-CD Rolling Thunder Revue tour box set is about to come out.
     
    George P likes this.
  9. Dave S

    Dave S Forum Resident

    Still waiting for AP's Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced? SACD.

    On the other hand, used purchases seem as large as ever.
     
  10. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    From MFSL this year:

    Dylan - Oh Mercy - SACD
    Dylan - Pat Garrett - SACD
    Miles Davis - Porgy and Bess - SACD

    Three titles in six months. :sigh:
     
    SOONERFAN likes this.
  11. mmars982

    mmars982 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    I have been looking, but I have yet to see this in any store that carries CDs since it was released. Some have the original release from last Fall, but no one has the new edition.
     
  12. Bingo Bongo

    Bingo Bongo Music gives me Eargasms

    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
    They ain't dead yet, but they are going the way of the do-do bird and the 8-Track!

    Somehow I doubt they'll make a return like LPs are now.
     
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  13. tmtomh

    tmtomh Forum Resident

    I would love for you to be wrong about CDs not making a big, LP-style comeback. But alas, I believe you are correct.
     
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  14. cdash99

    cdash99 Senior Member

    Location:
    Mass
    I saw something a while back about Sony pulling back on what gets licensed to audiophile labels, which could affect SACD as well. For box sets, we usually see an influx in the early fall for the holiday season. It’s time that we had another round of Doors and CCR reissues, it’s been too long.
     
  15. Crawlin From The Wreckage

    Crawlin From The Wreckage Custom Titled

    Location:
    Canada
    Providing you're not limiting yourself to 40-50 year old music, there are plenty of current releases featuring great music. Always has been and most likely always will be.
     
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  16. BigMikeATL

    BigMikeATL Well-Known Member

    Location:
    USA
    In terms of being mass market, the CD is dying fast. They sold 60.7 million units worldwide in 2018. For comparison, vinyl is growing but "only" sold 9.7 million units during the same time period.

    Vinyl Sales Continued To Grow In 2018, Report Says

    I think physical media will become increasingly niche. Digital is simply too convenient and "good enough" that there's little reason for consumers to consider physical media.
     
    black sheriff likes this.
  17. sberger

    sberger Dream Baby Dream

    Weird, I'm buying new cd's, and stuff that's new but from a few years ago a lot, all though I'd rather buy vinyl. I'm not really interested in hi-res, so I'm talking strictly red book. Mostly classical and newer jazz and avant garde, but some indy rock stuff, too. Lots of stuff being issued. I suppose unless you're just looking for hi-res and/or reissues, etc., there seems to be plenty of new stuff being released.
     
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  18. I think this thread says it all:

    Anyone Bought Commercially Released CDs That Seem to BE CD-Rs?

    I recently bought a newly released soundtrack by Philip Glass "Jane" from Amazon that turned out to be a burned CD-r, on the Sony label. That means it's likely there was no factory pressed edition. I'm not spending my hard earned $ on burned media so for me that spells the end right there. From now on, unless I know it to be otherwise, I would need to see the actual disc first or no sale which is impractical if not impossible so, no sale. It's been a good long run and I can always buy used back catalog discs to round out my collection - but it just ain't the same is it?

    -s1m0n-
     
  19. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    :agree: I'm with you @SimonSaysCake There's no way I'm spending my hard earned money on a CD-R legal or not.
     
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  20. evilcat

    evilcat Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter

    Location:
    Yellow Springs, OH
    You have to be careful with Amazon. The page will say the disc is pressed on demand, under license from the copyright holder. The ones I've seen tend to have a light blue border around the image of the artwork. I also refuse to pay for these CD-R's.

    Are discs dead? I've bought 35 CDs this year, and 18 digital releases. The ratio is definitely shifting, when I can buy (somewhat more) direct from Bandcamp and instantly get a digital copy to go along with the hard copy, be it cassette, vinyl or CD. With Roon on my iPads and phones, I'm enjoying digging into my collection again.

    Good second hand CD shops make all the difference. I got a nice haul of 9 CDs for $85 from CDepot in College Park, MD, and that was skewed by the MFSL copies of Cannonball Adderley's 'Somethin' Else' and Billie Holiday's 'Body and Soul', which accounted for $51 of that total. Those discs would have cost much more as new digital copies. Sadly, such stores are few and far between now, and all the 'cool' places just want to sell yet another reissue of 'Rumors' for $35.

    I'm saving for a pair of Kef LS50 Wireless so I am being brutal with my spending this year - if I can get red book quality or greater for significantly less, I buy digital. This also mean only one piece of vinyl in the last six months, but that's fine. I need those speakers!
     
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  21. Christian Hill

    Christian Hill It's all in the mind

    Location:
    Boston
    I'm waiting for the digital compact cassette resurgence!
    [​IMG]
     
  22. tmtomh

    tmtomh Forum Resident

    I agree with you RE secondhand CDs - I've bought about 50 CDs this year, and I don't even know if 10% of them were new. I don't live in MD but I have family there and CDepot is a must-visit when I'm down there - great selection, and they pay quite decently (given today's market conditions) for used CDs if you have some you want to dump for cash or store credit.
     
  23. No Static

    No Static Gain Rider

    Location:
    Heart of Dixie
    Esoteric/Cherry Red is still in the game, Keith.

    Just purchased their Be Bop Deluxe's Sunburst Finish 4-disc box released last year that contains a 5.1 surround mix as well as a remastered 24/96 stereo mix. And it's pretty, too. I'm getting them while I can.
     
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  24. Dillydipper

    Dillydipper Space-Age luddite

    Location:
    Central PA
    I'm actually anticipating an industry slowdown, to help me catch up on what I've been putting off splurging on...my stack of Yet-To-Listen isn't getting any shorter, and I still have far too many of my To Buy list to make it any easier.

    Sadly I've still got some DVD's, Blu Rays, and D-V quad discs on Low-Priority Buy status that's gonna shave yet more of my budget, before I lose a chance to grab 'em all, I fear.

    Thanks god I'm not gonna live forever...:sweating:
     
  25. mpayan

    mpayan A Tad Rolled Off

    What exactly hasnt been released that would need to be? Seems to me just about every title of interest has pretty much been done.

    Its like a drug :laugh:
     
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