Should Sound Quality of Computer Audio be improved

Oh dear PO,

Double speak? Keeping up with this thread? Let's start again.

Double speak: surely we have done the conversation about format. You can listen to any "format" you wish. You will always have them. Computer audio can be any resolution you want. If sound quality is less important than the number of tracks you store, then you have compressed files. If sound quality is important to you, then you can use lossless or non compressed files. These files will be at least CD quality.

No one is forcing you to do anything. There is just a change in the way music is being used, which is much more flexible. If you want CDs you can order them. The question is why bother? They are made from a file anyway.

Keeping up with this thread: since it seems that this thread is either you saying the same thing, or everyone else saying the opposite, I don't feel it's too much of a challenge to keep up. But then again maybe I've been brain washed by various computer manufactures to see one side of the argument? I shall reboot & update myself and check. Please meditate on the fact you can have any format you wish. But most have adopted the next format along. That's all.

So if most have opted for downloads/files as opposed to a physical disk then it's likely they will be better served as they are in the majority & easier to serve. If you want to stay with old school formats it will mean it will be more of a cottage industry. But still available! You choose.

I don't call lowering sound quality down to less than CD
Resolution MP3 as being "Flexible"! I see a historical
trend of dumming down sound quality from Vinyl to CD, and
then from CD to lower Resolution MP3. What will be the
lower resolution Computer Audio of tomorrow, and will it
squeeze out any chance for High Res. anything? This is
flexibility? Eight Track, and Cassettes were flexible-
I don't see them around anymore. Keep the trend of lowering
resolution going, and pretty soon these ancient Formats
would sound better. How about if we cut the resolution of
low res. MP3 in half to really boost flexibility. Keep
cutting it in half again, and again doubling our flexibility everytime. What is your point? Put square tires
on your car to increase flexibility in choice of tires?
There was a time when the idea of a New Format meant an
increase in Sound Quality, not the flexibility of worse
Sound Quality. Where is the flexibility in Music Selection
for High Resolution Downloads? All that I see is a
Computer Audio Format that is 10% High Res. Downloads, and
90%- CD Res. or Lower than CD Res. MP3. Where is the
flexibility in High Res./ High Sound Quality in that?
Don't try to sell me that it is just around the corner, or
"Soon To Be". You might as well be trying to sell me SACD
again. Show me the High Res. Selection first BEFORE we
start eliminating any Formats. You can keep the rest of
that low Res. MP3 Computer crap! Flexibility my butt! I
don't buy "Lemmons", or "Money Pits" for the sake of
flexibility. Do you purposely shop for rotten vegetables
at the local market, lower quality for the sake of
flexibility- I THINK NOT! You would have me special order
my rotten vegetables through the mail- ain't that special.
You can still buy the freshest vegetables at the local
market, unless the demand for rotten vegetables is so high
that rotten vegetables is the only thing that they stock on the shelf. The stench would be horrendous, you know that- who are you trying to kid? That is what really stinks about this whole Computer Audio Downloading Format-
the idea that lower than CD Res. isn't just acceptable, it
is encouraged by you as a "Flexible" alternative. Cans and
String are cheap/ flexible too! What is your point? "Soon
all new music will only be available via cans and string"?
Euuuwww- I am blown away by the flexibility here. You want
flexibility try Yoga. You want low res. flexibility, try
Yoga in Sewage Treatment Plant. Shoot me for trying to
aspire to non-flexible higher Sound Quality. I am just "Nuts", "Paranoid", and "On Drugs"! Raw Sewage,
Rotten Vegetable, Low Resolution Audio Formats just don't
appeal to me. Shove it down my throat, you go ahead and try!

Realistically everyone is using 16/44.1 or higher. I really don't think ANYONE is using MP3 for their main listening....why do you keep bringing MP3 into the conversaton. same ole lame arguments, can you say anything productive?
These arguments are just plain stupid.
Please just use your 8 track tapes or what ever you do and leave us computer guys alone. Man this is tiresome.

PO I have no idea what you are talking about? You download at CD quality or whichever is the highest quality available. Surely you understand that?

Now if you want to take your music with you in the car or whatever, as you import your library or favourite play list to another limited memory device I.e a phone or iPad etc. you can do the transfer at a lower bandwidth than your main library to save space while leaving your proper Hifi library as is.(full bandwidth non compressed)

Therefore you can fit more music on your portable device to enjoy when out. This is the flexibility. That format could be mp3 as it doesn't need to be full bandwidth for the car or phone or whatever(unless you want to) & the file will be read by anything. But your main library for your system WILL be at full bandwidth and waiting for you when you get home. Is this difficult to understand?

No one is talking about lowering down sound quality. You have a choice.

You just copy for flexibility on the move and compress if you wish. Sewage? What are you on about?

Pristine audio is what I'm on about with the possibility to take it anywhere. 21st century lifestyle.

Listen, I am onto Manufacturers selling us SACD selection-
then leaving us holding the bag. I am onto Manufacturers
selling us 16 Bit/ 44.1 CD- then leave us holding the bag
with 12-14 Bit CDs. I am onto Manufacturers selling us
DVD-Audio/MLP selection- then leaving us holding the bag on
that one. I am old, and cynical from my experience with
New Formats. If you don't hold Manufacturers feet to the fire of actually delivering larger selection of High Res.
Downloads- it will never happen. There is just too much
Profit temptation to offer the Public a cheaper lower Res.
Format via Computer Downloading. If that happens, and
lower Res. becomes "Soon all new Music will only be
available via low Res. Downloads", we do not have an
alternative in a single Format Market. Low Res. will be
the Manufacturers version of "This is not Burger King,
you take it our way or you don't get the S.O.B.". If the
Public clamors for cheaper low Res. Downloads in a single
Format Market, you no longer have any leverage to demand
any High Res. anything. I don't think that this Market
Strategy escapes these Manufacturers. They will be able to charge anything they want for low Res., and you will pay
for it dearly without any alternative. High Res. Downloading Market Share today is just a blip on the
Radar Screen. It can easily disappear permanently- like
SACD, like DVD-Audio. It is at the same stage with low
selection. Crazy me trying to preserve High Res. the third
time around by demanding a higher standard/ higher selection for Computer Audio Downloads. Eliminating other
alternatives without larger slection of High Res. Downloads
available- is the quickest way of pulling out the rug from
anything High Res. Monopoly will dictate our future of
lower sound quality. Sorry that everyone can't see it.
You can't possibly be oblivious to what happened to SACD, DVD-Audio. History WILL repeat itself if you are not careful with Computer Audio. Do what you will. This is my
final word on this. This Zombie isn't going to be Ressurected for a second time- Hell is just going to have to let me in, crowded or not! I still enjoy High Res.
Downloads, even if they do have a life span of SACD/DVD-Audio. It would be a damn shame, and a third strike for
High Res. I would be careful at what I was swinging at!