Needles & Grooves

@dhodo in terms of units cds still outsell vinyl by a fair bit, vinyl just passed them this year in terms of revenue but as we know it’s far more expensive per unit. It’s a format that’s still dropping in sales but it’s far from obsolete yet.

Doubt it @Mather I think a cost decision was made based on the fact no one was using it for that purpose. If anything I’d imagine the rationale would be stronger for the PS5 a few more years down the track.

@Mather - So does that track ‘Hallelujah’ sound poor on this VMP pressing???

@NathanRicaud yeah I'm not sure with this one. The pops are one thing, that could just be scratches, but the noise on every quiet section sounds like a worn stamper or just a shoddy pressing. But if others are saying theirs are dead quiet then maybe it's just a few copies...

@NathanRicaud I mean the music itself sounds fine, but any song with quiet sections, like pretty much all of Hallelujah, just sound like I'm listening to a bargain bin copy.

Yeah, I also remember seeing people posting that their Jeff Buckley pressing was dead quiet! I just really hope you get a replacement because it’s a great album and I know you love that album. But like you said, there’s more audiophile pressings like the 2xLP pressings out there!

@dhodo I'd argue that it's hipster to fetishize a format. I've got some music coming my way on CD and cassette from a so-far little-known metal band from SLC that has no music on vinyl, but they've got physical media in other formats. It's about keeping doors open, not closing them, IMO.

For what it's worth, I got this Legacy pressing real cheap a while ago and it's flat, quiet and enjoyable. While I would love the 2LP 45RPM, I'm not willing to spend that kind of coin on it.

@High Rant District Hey I get it. I'm just not interested in dropping the cash for a decent CD player at the moment. Don't think my old Discman or $20 stereo from when I was a kid will sound as good as my record player or just hooking up my phone.

@Joe Mac I think it's obsolete because you can just download the same quality and there is no longer a need for spinning discs. Obviously there is the same mastering concerns as with vinyl, but they're no longer needed otherwise.

It's about keeping doors open, not closing them, IMO

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While I do agree with this comment, at this point I'm about one physical media and I've chosen vinyl. If a good pressing isn't available, I'm streaming it. I don't want more then one physical media to buy and store..............all my personal opinion of course

You hipsters are so ridiculous with your CD talk. I'm off to go watch the original Star Wars Trilogy on laserdisc.

@AnthonyI - I am exactly like you! I just want to buy vinyl. I’m not interested in buying CD’s or Cassettes etc. If there is no vinyl release of if the only vinyl pressing is said to be ‘poor’, then I’m just streaming!

@dhodo strongly disagree. Ownership v rental for one. User friendliness is another, my dad buys and plays cds happily and I never ever want to explain streaming services to someone who refuses to learn how to text. And finally there still isn’t sufficient penetration of high speed internet outside of urban areas.

@dhodo obsolete to me means no longer in use or at least no longer supported. Neither is even close to being true yet for cds.

@Joe Mac I wasn't talking about streaming though. I agree with your points about streaming.

Let's be honest, everyone's personal opinion, situation, experience, availability, expense and on and on, is going to play into this. There will never be one right answer........as they say, YMMV with any choice. That being said, I have SOME CD's still and occasionally think about pulling out the 'ole Yamaha 6 Disc Magazine changer, but the thought of hooking up another piece of equipment makes me itchy, lol

@dhodo i think the concerns for downloads are largely the same as for steaming. You still only have a licence to the file, not a physical ownership, you still need a computer interface rather than popping something in a player and downloading something that big with a lower speed connection is a complete non starter. There still life there, just not for you

I gotta admit though, when I bought my new car (2018) with the fancy spancy head unit that did like everything, but there was NO CD player to be found, it was a little weird.

@AnthonyI Yeah that's my backup backup. I've known about that pressing but I wanted a limited good pressing because generally I buy for quality but also something that will keep or gain in value. Can't do the ORG at that price... We'll see if they have a replacement... But I'm very doubtful.