CD player production ends at Linn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8368895.stm

I always thought that if I did have outrageous amounts of money I'd be unsure which to buy.  B&O is better looking but then Linn is top quality sound, if you can afford it.  A friend of mine actually worked for them briefly over a summer.  If you're spending that kind of money though then you want the 'dream system' and to be honest, Linn have it right in this case.  A dream system for me would be digital, access to all my music, preferably with a visual 2-way remote.  Certainly it wouldn't be CD and the only thing albums have going are the arwork which is the reason I go for LPs as my medium of choice.

I guess it's time to get real. In NYC, both Virgin Stores closed. I found some releases, i.e. the new Joss Stone Album not available on CD at Amazon but in Itunes.

What frustrates me is, that neither Itunes or Amazon offer high quality downloads.  I haven't tried Itunes plus to be honest and I know there are other sources for high quality downloads but when it comes to consistent besides mainstream I am not sure where to go.

I think B&O has something with the BS5, yet for me it's not there yet and I am not sure if they have the firepower right now to get that product to the next level or maybe even turn it into a product line.

jk1002:

What frustrates me is, that neither Itunes or Amazon offer high quality downloads.  I haven't tried Itunes plus to be honest and I know there are other sources for high quality downloads but when it comes to consistent besides mainstream I am not sure where to go. 

Really?  I think iTunes downloads are excellent and are by far better than Amazon.  iTunes gives AAC files which can then be changed to Apple Lossless.  I don't think I'll ever be a total download convert because I like having the tangible product in my hand - be it a vinyl album or a CD.

MP3s <from Amazon> sound like cassette tapes.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Kevin:

jk1002:

What frustrates me is, that neither Itunes or Amazon offer high quality downloads.  I haven't tried Itunes plus to be honest and I know there are other sources for high quality downloads but when it comes to consistent besides mainstream I am not sure where to go. 

Really?  I think iTunes downloads are excellent and are by far better than Amazon.  iTunes gives AAC files which can then be changed to Apple Lossless.  I don't think I'll ever be a total download convert because I like having the tangible product in my hand - be it a vinyl album or a CD.

MP3s <from Amazon> sound like cassette tapes.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

 

At lower bite rates (128Kbps) I think aac are definitely superior, at higher bit rates (256Kbps and above) I can't really tell a difference between aac and Mp3). I believe all Amazon are 256Kbps MP3 and most iTunes are 256Kbps aac.

Both could be converted to apple "lossless" although there is no point, you have made a much larger file with the same sound quality - to be truly lossless you need to rip direct from the CD or download in lossless (or better) format, not something available from iTunes or Amazon, although you can from Linn and others.

Regarding ending CD player production - this may well be the thin end of the wedge but to qualify it slightly, Linn are now in the business of selling HD audio downloads, anything they can do to convert their customers to the new format (and buy new HD audio reproduction equipment etc) will be to their immediate benefit. No doubt others will eventually follow but I think, in this case, there is slightly more to it than the impending doom of the conventional CD, and others may take slightly longer to follow.

Woops - I have one of the mysterious "Posts sent for Moderation"!

Edit: Thanks LEE - certainly on the ball there!

i've never rated linn , their gear is hideously ugly , over priced , under specced and over rated

honestly some of their speakers have to be seen to be believed , it's like they won a design a speaker that looks as awful as possible competition

and the boring little boxes with that awful remote control

exc value too....NOT

http://www.linn.co.uk/klimax_movie_system

only £82K  !!!!

and they call bno expensive...

I have hardly any digital music. I'm feeling old fashioned right now.

They could never spell things correctly anyway.......

So how long until B&O's suppliers stop production of their CD mech's?  I would think its not long if the manufactures see profit in other items.  The units must be low?

Calvin:

 

I always thought that if I did have outrageous amounts of money I'd be unsure which to buy.  B&O is better looking but then Linn is top quality sound, if you can afford it.  A friend of mine actually worked for them briefly over a summer.  If you're spending that kind of money though then you want the 'dream system' and to be honest, Linn have it right in this case.  A dream system for me would be digital, access to all my music, preferably with a visual 2-way remote.  Certainly it wouldn't be CD and the only thing albums have going are the arwork which is the reason I go for LPs as my medium of choice.

I would still opt for B&O as design is an important and decisive factor for me.
Also I still have (and use often) my beogram record deck and the other day I was going through some of my record collection just enjoying some of the artwork.

I like some of the artwork so much that I plan to display 12 or so album covers permanently on a wall in my office as a piece of art. I think that would look good and at least be a conversation piece.

So,if downloads are the future of music,will Linn be ceasing production of the even more outmoded Sondek LP12?

Mr10Percent:

They could never spell things correctly anyway.......

Honestly I think linn is among the ugliest stuff out there. No it doesn't ring my bell...

I suppose that I was more making the point that the market is moving towards lossless digital and Linn have seen it.  B&O is a bit different, we're more aesthetic, we appreciate design and craftsmanship in a product, whether it is a tangible album or a nice piece of reproduction equipment