PC or CD...need help! Please go easy im a newbie!

[fenderibo]

Hi Guys,

Im new here so please go easy on me, and if you can keep it form being too technical that would be great.

OK...i have all my CD's ripped to a Hard Drive, which is connected to my Eltax Amp and comes through my Eltax speakers. I always rip my CD's to WMA lossless. Im debating whether to get rid of my CD collection and just stick with my hard drive and play music through my above setup.

This would solve a few problems for me, i would have much more space if my CD's were gone...and also they are just gathering dust on my shelves as they are only backups for my hard drive now..i always play my music through my PC into my amp now. I havent owned a CD player for two years so dont see a need to keep the CD's.

However..im a little afraid to get rid of my CD collection as i dont want to sacrifice CD quality..but to be honest i cant tell the difference between my PC and Music played on a CD player, but im unsure whether or not getting rid of my collection is a wise thing to do.

Im planning on selling my CD's and buying a second hard drive for backing up my music.

Also i think that now is agood time to sell CD's because in a couple of years they may be worthless...although yes i know there will be a market for CD's albeit a niche..like vinyl.

Would appreciate your thoughts on this...please?..and please try and keep it not too technical..i know this is a huge deabte so laymans terms would be good.

Cheers and thanks in advance

Pete

 

[pwiles1968]

You are supposed to delete all of your music if you sell the original CD's.

 

[fenderibo]

Yeah right! Noted. OK lets say im gonna store em then. Just for the record (no pun intended) what happens when you download a track but dont have a CD?

 

[dannycanham]

I wouldn't worry too much about CD vs lossless file quality. The CD format isn't that great. However unforseen difficulties such as broken hard drives, swapping music and/or hard drive formats if you say find a mac in the future is quieter than a pc or changing your mind in 5 years time are possibilities. A collection can solve major headaches. I personally wouldn't be too quick to get rid of a cd collection but I would happily put one into storage.

 

[Alec]

I personally wouldn't be too quick to get rid of a cd collection but I would happily put one into storage.

Seconded.

 

[amcluesent]

If space is the main thing, then get the CD sleeves from the Jazz Loft - http://www.jazzloft.com/p-49162-200-sleeves-international-shipping-included.aspx You can keep the same # of CDs in 25% of the shelf space.

I'd hazard a guess that in 5 years, having multi-Gb of ripped music on hard disks @ home will be replaced by 'cloud' stores accessed over t'interweb.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd hazard a guess that in 5 years, having multi-Gb of ripped music on hard disks @ home will be replaced by 'cloud' stores accessed over t'interweb.

I'd hazard a guess that by the time that happens, all current recording industry executives will be dead and buried.

One can only hope that that will be in five years...

 

[The_Lhc]

Yeah right! Noted. OK lets say im gonna store em then. Just for the record (no pun intended) what happens when you download a track but dont have a CD?

You're paying the copyright holder for the privilege of downloading the track. With a CD you've paid for that privilege when you bought the CD, however the right to use the contents of the CD (which currently in the UK does NOT entitle you to make a digital copy, unless the government amends the law as they're thinking about) lapses as soon as you sell the CD on (or even chuck it away), so if you copy the CD then sell it on you're breaking the copyright agreement.

So you can "yeah right!" as much as you want, what you want to do would leave you in breach of copyright, unless you keep the CDs.

 

[fenderibo]

I meant "yeah right" as in i didnt know that..

Also has anyone actually been tried for this?

 

[idc]

Hi, google illegal downloading and you will see there has been some action, but chances are Joe public with a few tracks is not going to be pursued. It is the sites such as Pirate Bay and ISPs that have the most to worry about. But that is not the point.

My CDs are in boxes in the loft.

 

[The_Lhc]

I meant "yeah right" as in i didnt know that..

Also has anyone actually been tried for this?

I worked with a chap who had his entire VHS collection destroyed because he copied one film for a friend (and didn't even charge for it), sent it through the post and the package was opened in transit and the relevant authorities informed. The film in question (an obscure Italian horror) had never been available to buy in the UK (although I believe it is now), so it wasn't like any studio was losing out on revenue.

Knowing that, I expect selling X hundred/thousand CDs on ebay might attract a little attention from the wrong people (or the right ones, depending on your viewpoint).

And before you ask, no, I'm no fun at parties.

 

[fenderibo]

Im beginning to think about a new CD player...phew!
I understand illegal downloading..and im 100% against that. All my CD's are genuine and 9 times out of 10 are bought from Amazon so have all the receipts..

Thanks for your thoughts guys appreciated, right Richer Sounds for a new CD player methinks....

 

[idc]

Top man Pete, please post a new thread for CDP recommendations.

 

[fenderibo]

OK before finally deciding what to do...would a DACMAGIC be a good purchase?, i keep my CD's and play music from my hard drive through the DACMAGIC...anyone have any experience of these?

 

[pwiles1968]

Was not trying to be funny before just pointing out what you may or may not have known as we were discussing on a public forum.

I run my whole collection Via an Apple TV, in to an Audiolb CDQ (DAC and Pre Amp). IMHO It is by far the best way to listen to your music collection, I still buy a lot of CD's but they go no where near the CD tray I rip them and stream them.

Not heard the CA DAC but have heard good things, there will also be some Audiolab DAC's released soon which may be worth a look.