Post by Owen Y on Jan 12, 2019 9:27:54 GMT 12
BBC reports that for 2018, CD sales are "plummeting". Same also with Music Downloads. Vinyl record sales are holding their own, slightly increasing. OTOH, Music Streaming (ie on-demand music) is increasing almost exponentially. (PS. I can't believe that Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours' is still one of the top-selling vinyl albums of the year  ) 
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Post by michaelw on Jan 12, 2019 11:35:02 GMT 12
those clueless peeps are not real music lovers 
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Post by sub on Jan 13, 2019 10:42:24 GMT 12
I still haven’t streamed music, but regularly watch you tube via my Oppo br player. Have also just installed a google chrome cast to enable watching tvnz and tv3 on demand.
At a NYr gathering I attended the background music was streamed from Spotify - in my opInion the music sounded fine for party mode (via Sonos system), but not good enough for serious listening. Have yet to hear a seriously expensive streamer.
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Post by colinf on Jan 13, 2019 20:11:13 GMT 12
those clueless peeps are not real music lovers I would have thought that people streaming music can expose themselves to a bigger variety of it than by buying it on any of the other formats...?
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by michaelw on Jan 13, 2019 20:28:38 GMT 12
keyword is "can", more often than not it's a convenient source of background noise. streaming is just the further commoditisation of music. am i too jaded ? 
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Pundit
Post by Skinny Puppy on Jan 13, 2019 22:35:26 GMT 12
For sure... there's a difference between playing music and listening to it.
One is done to give people some company / change a mood in a room etc... the other, to provide insight into the musicians / lyrics etc etc.
Streaming has one big negative in my eyes and it's not quality - it's distraction! It's far to easy to skip tracks or check out links+web sites on your tablet etc.
Roon software is a fantastic streaming solution that you can listen to your local library with OR to Tidal, it provides you with all sorts of useful stats (compression / lyrics etc) but it's more on the gadget lover end of things, not necessarily a music lovers.
Still.
Remember, some of the biggest nay-sayers of streaming are those who are scared of technology and will never move beyond CD or vinyl because they don't know how or are scared to do so. The fact is, all formats sound good - but they all take some work to get the best out of them.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jan 14, 2019 17:08:40 GMT 12
Im with sub on this one, in that most of my friends are big on streaming but as a background music thing to a social gathering, usually via a sonos system which seem to be very popular. Even amongst my friends that have reasonable music collections it is the medium of choice at such occasions. In reply to cartridge:I'm not so much scared of the technology as uninterested in investing as such, particularly when I have large collections on both vinyl and cd to investigate further. I also dont listen to music as a background to doing anything else: if im listening to music im listening to music (OK there might be a magazine in there somewhere but its a very secondary pursuit).
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Post by Citroen on Jan 14, 2019 19:54:52 GMT 12
I stream music a lot these days.
Mainly to evaluate music recommendations. If I like, I then tend to buy it on vinyl.
Also, the music recommendations based on what you've been playing is wicked! opens up a whole new world of music that I would otherwise not have encountered
My Tidal Subscription also allows me to download the music, which I then listen to while walking the dog, etc
And, I have no problems with putting on a playlist as background music during a dinner with friends, or while chilling out on the deck, etc.
If anything, streaming has encouraged me to buy more physical medium!
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Post by deano1974 on Jan 15, 2019 7:19:15 GMT 12
I absolutely agree with Citroen, reviewing music before purchases has opened up my library extensively But for reference then vinyl and cds are a must for me We will most probably see a resurgence of cds at some point, when it becomes retro cool to own them Anyhow cds are cheap as chips at the momemt so im not complaining 😉
Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI
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Post by sub on Jan 15, 2019 19:03:09 GMT 12
Iwould get into streaming if I could do it within a reasonable budget.
I would have to have a streamer I could connect to my present set up via rca to my amp.
Cons re that idea - I would need a new amp as there are no spare inputs on my Plinius 8150. To buy an amp of comparable quality is out of the question right now. Also, a brief look on line for suitable hifi quality streamers, shows prices from $2K to over $9K!
Strangely, even though I am retired from the workforce, there is not enough time in the day to listen to more than one or two LPs/CDs a day.
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Post by Citroen on Jan 15, 2019 19:23:17 GMT 12
If you have an internet connection you can stream.
At the basic level Spotify have a free service. I use Tidal HiFi from various sources which costs me nil for 3 months service.
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Post by sub on Jan 16, 2019 13:32:35 GMT 12
If you have an internet connection you can stream. True, but you also need a device to stream with. My grandson and his friends use their phones with earbuds. No fidelity. The friend I visited on New Year’s Eve, used his phone to play Spotify through his Sonos system. Again no fidelity. i could do something similar to my grandson and listen to Spotify on my iPad or my iMac- again no fidelity. May as well just listen to our portable transistor radio! To get the fidelity I would want would involve the purchase of an expensive streamer and a new amp - not going to happen! Unless I win Lotto. Am happy streaming video (YouTube) via my Oppo br player - and could also stream Netflix via the Oppo if I wanted to pay the monthly sub. Also comfortable streaming TV on demand via my Google Chromecast. So, not put off by the technology, but would only be interested if I could stream through my stereo system with fidelity matching my CD player.
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Post by Citroen on Jan 16, 2019 14:02:08 GMT 12
Secondhnad Bluesound Node2 streamers are appearing for around $400-$500, as a newer version has been released.
Or a squeezebox for about $150 plus a $200 DAC would actually sound quite good.
For me, while I enjoy the fidelity of my streamer/DAC, its the vast library of music that I enjoy the streaming for.
Even on my modest phone, streaming I can easily discern if I like the music enough to want to buy a physical format.
I'm pretty sure you can stream Spotify/Tidal with your Oppo John, so if that's connected to the Plinius, you should get quite good sound.
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Post by Citroen on Jan 16, 2019 14:11:57 GMT 12
Maybe not Spotify. But you could connect your ipad to your Oppo via HDMI.
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 16, 2019 14:16:02 GMT 12
How about cellphone + external DAC? As Citroen uses sometimes (AQ Dragonfly Red).
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Post by Citroen on Jan 16, 2019 14:46:58 GMT 12
Or ipad, with (dragonfly or similar, or Oppo) DAC, connected to stereo with RCA cables and then controlled by iphone for speaker listening.
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Post by sub on Jan 16, 2019 21:42:36 GMT 12
Hmm ,thanks Cliff, options to explore. I know the Oppo 103 doesn’t do tidal or Spotify, but it does have a spare USB input on the front panel. There might be a spare hdmi in on the back as well - will have have a look. Had forgotten about that connectivity option.
iPhone/Android not an option - my cell phone is a $25 prepay job that I only carry when travelling, but I believe I can use my iPad instead.
My iPad doesn’t have an hdmi nor USB out, but I believe you can use an app to control things wirelessly.
My iMac is not really an option either. It sits unloved in another room since we both got iPads, and the keyboard has frozen up through lack of use!
Must check out something that appears to be loaded on the Oppo, a link to a German classical music site - just spotted it today. It used to connect to pandora as well, but that service is now defunct.
Although spare cash is being saved at moment for some mods to the Valhalla power supply to enable 45rpm play
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Post by Citroen on Jan 16, 2019 21:52:20 GMT 12
You just need an adapter for the ipad out. Lots of third party options available at very decent prices cf genuine Apple adapters (up to $99! cf $20). A cheap Chromecast may be your Spotify solution for an Oppo 103. Is it really worthwhile for the ONE 45rpm album you own!? I did vaguely recall either you or Graham having a dumb phone. Seems like its both of you!
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Post by Graham on Jan 16, 2019 22:26:58 GMT 12
I did vaguely recall either you or Graham having a dumb phone. Seems like its both of you! Excuse Me !!!!!!! I'll have you know I am now the owner of a Samsung smart phone. I had to bow to pressure from wife and kids to join the 21st century and upgrade from my steam powered' dumb' phone. To be honest it is just used as a phone and text device. So shoot me !
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Post by sub on Jan 16, 2019 22:45:38 GMT 12
Is it really worthwhile for the ONE 45rpm album you own!? I have a box full of classic pop era 45rpm singles and extended play. Including some Beatles. Plus I can now buy more!😚
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Post by colinf on Jan 16, 2019 23:45:16 GMT 12
For streaming I use my Denon DNP 720AE internet tuner. Apart from internet radio it has Apple Airplay so you can stream wirelessly off the iPad. It sounds ok but I connect its digital output to my Soekris-based dac for high end sound. I also use the Soekris with the usb input from my computer, much like Rocl is doing.
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by michaelw on Jan 17, 2019 10:08:17 GMT 12
Hmm ,thanks Cliff, options to explore. I know the Oppo 103 doesn’t do tidal or Spotify,
john;
the oppo 103 doesn't do spotify but does have a pre-loaded tidal app.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jan 17, 2019 15:30:55 GMT 12
Somehow it all just seems simpler to put a record on doesnt it ?
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Post by michaelw on Jan 17, 2019 15:39:06 GMT 12
yes !!!
record, cd, cassette or just flick on the radio (who still listens to radio ? - me !)
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Post by Graham on Jan 17, 2019 16:21:34 GMT 12
yes !!! record, cd, cassette or just flick on the radio (who still listens to radio ? - me !) Agreed !!!!!
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 2, 2019 13:08:02 GMT 12
With this (almost) exponential growth of music via streaming services, is it time for people to become nostalgic about the silver disc?....
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Member
Post by luckiestmanalive on Apr 27, 2019 15:58:25 GMT 12
I've been exclusively playing music on either vinyl record or via my iTunes library for about a year now. However, my wife is a Spotify subscriber and I've been trying to integrate my digital sources so I've just pulled the trigger on a Bluesound node 2i. It has USB and optical in for my Mac mini and PS3, plus it will do airplay and bluetooth for streaming from phones and tablets. I'll let you know my impressions and whether it achieves my objectives, which are: 1. wife is happy streaming and can negotiate her way around the Bluesound device, 2. the music sounds as good as through my Chord Mojo DAC.
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 29, 2019 16:44:48 GMT 12
The recent IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) 2019 Global Music Report by Nielson says: " Within [the digital] format, the picture was varied with streaming pushing growth up strongly (increasing by 34.0% to US$8.9 billion), while downloads saw a decline of 21.2%, dropping to 7.7% of the total market. " " Physical format revenue saw continued decline in 2018, dropping by 10.1% and now accounting for around a quarter of the total market (24.7%). " " Revenues from vinyl also sustained their upward trajectory, posting growth for the thirteenth consecutive year, growing 6.0% and maintaining a 3.6% share of the overall market. " 
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 29, 2019 16:52:57 GMT 12
This summarises the key trends: (I haven't read the report in detail, but CD sales numbers are not specifically identified as far as I can see at first glance.) 
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Post by cooksferry on Jun 10, 2019 7:46:21 GMT 12
Dont know if it's the chicken or the egg with physical sales but as a prospective buyer it's very difficult to make an in store purchase when the shops don't carry any stockj. Had a quick look in my local Warehouse yesterday and their cd selection would be down to a couple of hundred items, at least half of which would be dross. There's also about 7 plastic crates filled with varying amounts of vinyl, mostly the same few classic artists (generally over priced)or public domain rubbish.
The once interesting cd racks at JB HiFi in Dn seem to shrink with each visit, both is size and selection.
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