Naim Listing One CD Player - Sign Of The Times ?

[struth]

got 4 spare units at moment, plus 2 in use. none are dedicated cd players tho.

[Marco]

I'm reliably told that Naim separates have stagnated in sales in the UK at least and now, it's all the streaming gear that sells up and down the country by and large.

I'm not surprised, Dave. It simply reflects the current reality. If you go to any hi-fi show now (and I include the recent one at Cranage Hall), you never see a CD player being used. For replaying digital music, it's ALWAYS via some form of network device.

Plenty of T/Ts (and also reel-to-reel players) in evidence now at shows however, as when done properly, discerning audiophiles and music lovers appreciate how good they can sound, so that's why exhibitors will often successfully combine the best of old and new technology - and we should be doing exactly the same at home

Marco.

[walpurgis]

I still own the Meridian 507 CD player I bought new about sixteen years ago and it's still a fine sounding source. Usually employed as a transport these days.

[Ninanina]

Like Geoff, I have no interest in streaming. Like Bev, I am sad to see only a budget Naim offering. Like Marco, I take pleasure in the fact there are high end vintage players out there that will sound better than the current budget Naim and also outlive me

Oh, and then there’s the gazillions of CDs out there selling at boot sales at 5 for a Pound!

Exactly Andy, I also have no interest in streaming everything but I will probably set up my Apple TV for some Spotify again at some point

I spoke to Naim about them only offering the "budget" model and they said something like: "this one player does Naim justice"... well I have to disagree that the Naim CD5Si is representative of what a good Naim cd player can do

However Naim did also say: "We still service/repair and stock parts for products that are over 20 years old" .... so I am hoping that my CD5XS has a fair bit of life left in it

I certainly don't consider myself a dinosaur for wanting to carry on with CD as my main/only source

[Marco]

Exactly Andy, I also have no interest in streaming everything...

You don't need to stream everything, Bev. I stream sometimes, play CDs the other, and vinyl the next. It's good to have CHOICE!

Plus, as I said before, new music will eventually only be released on download or vinyl, so your CD player will be no use for playing anything other than the discs you already have.

So in ten years time, when you hear a song on the radio you really like, you'll just need to resign yourself to never being able to play it a home........ UNLESS you embrace streaming

Marco.

[Ninanina]

You don't need to stream everything, Bev. I stream sometimes, play CDs the other, and vinyl the next. It's good to have CHOICE!

Plus, as I said before, new music will eventually only be released on download or vinyl, so your CD player will be no use for playing anything other than the discs you already have.

So in ten years time, when you hear a song on the radio you really like, you'll just need to resign yourself to never being able to play it a home........ UNLESS you embrace streaming

Marco.

You are probably right Marco....

[Marco]

Just think it's good to keep as many options open as possible

Marco.

[alphaGT]

You don't need to stream everything, Bev. I stream sometimes, play CDs the other, and vinyl the next. It's good to have CHOICE!

Plus, as I said before, new music will eventually only be released on download or vinyl, so your CD player will be no use for playing anything other than the discs you already have.

So in ten years time, when you hear a song on the radio you really like, you'll just need to resign yourself to never being able to play it a home........ UNLESS you embrace streaming

Marco.

As always you make some great points! And as usual I agree.

I see CD following the same path vinyl did so many years ago. When CD came out, manufactures ceased making turntables almost completely! But over the years, a few high end turntable companies remained, for those who refused to give up their extensive vinyl collections. While new CD sales are in the ditch, there are literally billions of existing CD’s in the world that aren’t going away. So while most makers will cease making CD players, I suspect there will be some specialty companies making them for the next 50 years.

But from the high end manufacture’s standpoint, the CD is an antiquated device, riddled with problems that playing back audio files fixes. If you want to pursue better reproduction, you must move forward and away from disc playback. New networked players, whether playing from a file server in your home or off the internet, is the way forward, to push the envelope of reproduction farther than it is now, you must eliminate the mechanical aspect of the machine. That is where pursuit of higher resolution has taken us, the natural path to better things.

Plus, even at lower resolutions, as the world economy has evolved, it’s much better to rent something than it is to sell it. Charging a monthly fee is better than a one time sale.

Russell

[montesquieu]

I don't know about rock, pop, jazz but there is still a thriving scene for new classical CD releases and I don't see that changing any time soon.

Interestingly in contrast to the rock/pop market there are almost no new recording classical LP releases, though there are any number of old recordings being recycled, usually old warhorse versions of the big symphonies and concerti - this of course is not where the bulk of the interest in new releases is, a lot of which is smaller-scale stuff, or works by modern or neglected older composers.

I'm not worried about longevity of CD playback, there are still some decent CD drives being manufactured, though vintage is where the bargains are, especially if (like me) you are happy with Red Book. Turntables never entirely went away though the whole market was reshaped and that's what happening now for CD I suspect.

Streaming, it seems to me, is ultimately a less engaging way to interact with music and it won't satisfy everyone. Indeed it's my view that interest in LP as a format is precisely a reaction to the blue arsed fly (aka playlist) style of listening encouraged by digital formats - physical interaction with carefully chosen, individually 'owned' (and often premium priced) music that you then listen to for a whole side at least (20 minutes) is the polar opposite of the all you can eat (but not very satisfying) buffet offered by streaming. CD actually falls between stools here but in many ways is closer to the LP experience.

[Macca]

But from the high end manufacture’s standpoint, the CD is an antiquated device, riddled with problems that playing back audio files fixes. If you want to pursue better reproduction, you must move forward and away from disc playback. New networked players, whether playing from a file server in your home or off the internet, is the way forward, to push the envelope of reproduction farther than it is now, you must eliminate the mechanical aspect of the machine. That is where pursuit of higher resolution has taken us, the natural path to better things.

I keep seeing people saying this but I've yet to see anyone present a convincing case as to why it might be true?