CD Alive and Well

[macspur]

Well judging by the likes of Exposure, Rotel and now Audiolab with their new all singing all dancing CDP just been released
https://www.whathifi.com/news/audiol...ale+NewsLetter

[Macca]

Could be the candle burning brightest before it goes out. I think we must be into the last few years of new CD player construction. Cars don't come with them anymore, that's always a tell-tale sign. Remember when a tape deck stopped being listed as an option? That's where we are at now with CD I think.

[Marco]

Could be the candle burning brightest before it goes out. I think we must be into the last few years of new CD player construction. Cars don't come with them anymore, that's always a tell-tale sign. Remember when a tape deck stopped being listed as an option? That's where we are at now with CD I think.

I take your point and agree (as CD as a music carrier is defo on its way out), *but* the absence of CD facility on car stereos now has as much to do with cutting costs, as anything else. The fact is, it's cheaper simply to omit it and allow the driver's own smartphone to supply the music instead.

However, if you go into your nearest Halfords (for example), and look at the better quality standalone head units for sale, a lot of them still have CD facility, such as the Kenwood that's fitted in my own car. I wouldn't have bought it otherwise, as I currently down own a smartphone

Marco.

[Macca]

I take your point and agree (as CD as a music carrier is defo on its way out), *but* the absence of CD facility on car stereos now has as much to do with cutting costs, as anything else. The fact is, it's cheaper simply to omit it and allow the driver's own smartphone to supply the music instead.

However, if you go into your nearest Halfords (for example), and look at the better quality standalone head units for sale, a lot of them still have CD facility, such as the Kenwood that's fitted in my own car. I wouldn't have bought it otherwise, as I currently down own a smartphone

Marco.

They did a survey of dealers years ago (can't recall which manufacturer) and asked the sales staff what was the thing the punters asked most about. Overwhelmingly the response was 'cup holders.' They were losing sales because there were either no cup holders or not enough cup holders. It was literally a deal breaker. So I think if enough people still wanted a cd player they would provide them. But I don't think anyone under the age of 35 would care. Under 25 they won't even know what it is.

[Roy S]

I was initially a bit fed up my car didn't have a cd player but I enjoy putting tracks on a memory stick to play in the car, takes me back to making up a mix tape.

[Marco]

They did a survey of dealers years ago (can't recall which manufacturer) and asked the sales staff what was the thing the punters asked most about. Overwhelmingly the response was 'cup holders.' They were losing sales because there were either no cup holders or not enough cup holders. It was literally a deal breaker. So I think if enough people still wanted a cd player they would provide them. But I don't think anyone under the age of 35 would care. Under 25 they won't even know what it is.

Yup, for sure. That's quite funny about the cup holder!

However, there are millions of CDs out there, and still enough folks around who want to listen to their music on them, especially in the car, which is why, to facilitate that, if you're willing to shell out for and fit a quality aftermarket head unit [and which will sound *so* much better than the cheap crap fitted to most modern cars, even expensive ones], there's still plenty of choice available

How long that remains the case, however, remains to be seen...

Marco.

[struth]

They did a survey of dealers years ago (can't recall which manufacturer) and asked the sales staff what was the thing the punters asked most about. Overwhelmingly the response was 'cup holders.' They were losing sales because there were either no cup holders or not enough cup holders. It was literally a deal breaker. So I think if enough people still wanted a cd player they would provide them. But I don't think anyone under the age of 35 would care. Under 25 they won't even know what it is.

Mine has 2 fancy any size cup holders. They even light up. Really handy

[Marco]

Yup, that sounds cool, but you shouldn't be drinking at all when you're driving, and instead have both hands on the wheel at all times

So you can really only use cup holders when you're stationary, or as a passenger.

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

They did a survey of dealers years ago (can't recall which manufacturer) and asked the sales staff what was the thing the punters asked most about. Overwhelmingly the response was 'cup holders.' They were losing sales because there were either no cup holders or not enough cup holders. It was literally a deal breaker. So I think if enough people still wanted a cd player they would provide them. But I don't think anyone under the age of 35 would care. Under 25 they won't even know what it is.

Still plenty of drivers over the age of 35 though.

Agree that cup holders are a handy thing - If I were in charge of designing car interiors, I would certainly stop having them fitted with players that use the 'slot' type loaders and use conventional loading trays as used in domestic players. These could double as cup holders, and you'd be the envy of all your fellow pensioner drivers.

My van has four cup holders, a folding tray to put your butties on or a small jigsaw puzzle (no more than 30 pieces), two bins which are large enough for a flask or 70cl bottle of spirits, and still has space for a CD player. Although the music can be a bit of a distraction when you're pissed and trying to complete a jigsaw.

[Pigmy Pony]

Visited a cousin of mine yesterday, and he's got a brand new car. Looks like a Jaguar - it's got leather seats, it's got a CD player, player, player, player!