Hi,I've thought for some time why buy music in download format rather than the CD but recently I have got into this. Great if you just want certain tracks or just one track off an album.

Sound quality seems as good as the CD(I have a decent Hi-Fi system)when played back and convenience in not have CD cases all over the place!

I'm also thinking this is now the new way of buying 'singles' ..

Any thoughts from anyone?

Cheers

sorry if this post would be better in the Roadside Hotel?

Cheers.

Better in the tech shed I reckon

I'll shift it

For albums I'll always go physical copy for artwork and the fact I can take with me anywhere and have somewhere to play it easily.

Downloads are fine, but quality can be an issue on hi-fi or car systems. Fine if you're only after ipod or mobile listening. Also good if you want a song now right this minute.

I had to check the date of this post to see if it was an old one from 2007. lol.

I always download these days, I'll only buy a CD if it's something really important; I think I've only bought 3 CD's in the last 4 years.

Music seems to be a lot more transient and disposable now. The download age has brought more new bands and artists to popularity much quicker than in the days of Singles and LP's. Likewise, there have been a lot more one hit wonders who disappear without trace, and cult bands that have a following, but never break into the mainstream. Music changes so fast it's easier just listening to the radio, or internet music channels.

Downloaded singles are for mugs, you pay so much that if the album has more than 3 songs you like, it is usually cheaper to buy the album!!

Personally, I will only buy albums, and I only buy after I have heard and enjoyed enough of the artists tracks that I WANT to buy it. The last two artists THAT happened with were Lucy Kaplansky and Katie Melua; I went out and bought their entire back catalogue.

Of course, the CDs only get played twice, I rip them as FLACs for storage, then again, as a 98kb mp3Pro file, to play on my computers and mp3 players.

I still buy cds as the sound quality is very good....if I have to use download or rip (naughty).....then I use the max settings or wav format at 48hz stereo.

Edited 29 September, 201114 yr by fabdavrav

I only use iTunes now as it's so much easier to get.

I only use iTunes now as it's so much easier to get.

itunes is the new AOL "walled garden", lots of space, but you are still limited to a small fraction of what is out there.

Still, if you are happy only listening to what they decide they want you to listen to.........

CD's, what are CD's Grandad..??

CD's, what are CD's Grandad..??

10 x better sound quality than downloads and "permenant" and don't suffer from Digital Rights Managment "you can't have this" quite so much!!!

P.S. remember seeing a CD player in 1982-3 ish and marveling as the bloke gave me the CD and told me to play with it the box of sand, and then brushing the sand of and playing it perfectly in the player!!!! ....Mind you the CD's are alot thinner these days so don't like it quite so much

Up until recently, i'd rather have vinyl. Unfortunately i had to sell my vinyl collection a couple of years ago though to put money towards a deposit on a house (i miss my records) but even so, i'd rather buy a physical item whether it be cd or vinyl or even cassette rather than some lesser quality invisible music format that i can't touch. I like to get an album and peel the cellophene off the cd box, or a quick rub against my jean clad leg with the edge of a record sleeve to open the shrink film, then take a good look at the artwork, and read the liner notes while the vinyl crackles and pops and delivers its far superior sound to my ears, or sit and read the cd booklets whilst listening to my latest purchase. I do have an ipod for the car as it's just soo convenient, but i will always buy the physical item and rip it myself, i don't think i have anything on my ipod that i don't own the physical item of......

The days of physical media are limited.

I've got boxes of CDs, and DVDs in my garage, i buy them, rip them, and they go in the garage. Im now seeing that as a waste.

I very rarely get to listen to music on anything other than headphones these days (unless nursery rhymes count), so i really can't tell the difference between an iTunes purchase, and a CD, or lossless digital file. Even with good equipment, the differences aren't too bad.

The only reason i buy things on physical media these days, is because its cheaper, or unavailable on itunes.

One big thing that annoys me personally, is MP3 is sh#t, and yet seems to be the standard for online purchases of Music. While i have no objection to a 256kb itunes file, a similar MP3 sounds rubbish to me. Which generally limits me to itunes for purchase. Luckily iTunes seems like the biggest digital music store. If that ever changes, i'll be most unhappy.

I buy music from iTunes gernerally. Occasionally I will buy a compilation album from Tesco if it is cheaper or not available on iTunes. iTunes is also easier as it goes straight to my iPhone too.

I do but I brought a media unit for my car so it dosent have a cd player, just connect to iPod, much better without those CDs, digital ftw