SteveR750 said:
Finally the website's allowing me to post (wouldn't let me respond yesterday for some reason)...
Steve, apologies, my original comment should have been clearer. When I mentioned dross CD's, I wasn't really referring to the mastering quality. I was just trying to say that in the past (before streaming services arrived), I'd occasionally purchase albums on CD that I just didn't like. Or maybe there was just one track that was decent. At least with a streaming subscription if you start listening to something you don't like you just move on with no money wasted.
This is another thing that puts me off downloads. It must be gutting to visit Linn or Naim and pay £17 for a hi-res download only to find you don't like the album. You can't even sell it on, or even take it to a charity shop. I guess you just delete it! The more I think about hi-res downloads, the more value a £20 Tidal subscription seems to offer.
Skipping tracks is obviously useful and I doubt anyone would want to do without it but it can also be a hindrance on occasions.
When using spotify I of course use it but it is also why I love my vinyl (even stuff I bought 'blind' from charity shops or ebay impulse purchases). You can't skip stuff (well, my SL-6 is actually programmable but that's another story). I listen to it from beginning to end. I once did an analogy between snacking and going to a nice restaurant, you sit through from beginning to end, savouring everything.
Not every artist is trying to tell a whole story with an album but some do and I did on many occasions discover tracks which grew on me, tracks which I could have otherwise skipped.
Not just that but many CD's can be picked up cheap these days (except much of the jazz I buy :-( ) so the odd undesired track doesn't really matter to much.
Other than that I love streaming services, in particular Spotify. I mostly use it as a tool to find music to buy but quite often use it as main source too.
Tempted by Tidal. Must try it soon but much depends on usability which is great on spotify.