Dopers: Do you prefer to buy CD's, or purchase downloads?

[Nava]

I prefer to buy CDs because

1. any cop can look at the CD case and see it’s a legal copy. Not all know how to tell that my download was legit.

2. I’ve had problems with legit downloads and changing computers. With the CD I only pay for it once.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@Fionn

I buy CDs when I’m reasonably sure I’ll enjoy an entire album… For everything else, I buy single songs off iTunes.

Seconded. I also buy CDs for music (often from my misspent youth) that isn’t available on iTunes. I also get a lot of CDs from our excellent local public library and rip selected songs from them.

[RealityChuck]

Both. If the CD is about the same price as the download, I’ll go with the CD for the album art.

[Khadaji]

If I buy it is always on CD.

[Cazzle]

After the 2005 Sony Rootkit Scandal, I vowed never to buy a CD again. Since then, I’ve amended my stance slightly to make an exception for CDs released by unsigned, independent artists (ok, specifically this guy, who used to play at the local pub).

I buy all my (other) music through iTunes. I don’t mind paying a little extra for DRM-free versions.

[Thudlow_Boink]

CD’s, definitely. For numerous reasons:

1. I like the “documentation” that comes with them: artwork, photos, lyrics, credits, etc.

2. Sound quality: I know I’m not losing anything die to compression.

3. They’re easier to play: just take one out of its case, put it in the CD player, and press Play. No hunting through menus to play an album even if it’s already on my hard drive or portable device—and there’s no way I could begin to fit my entire music collection on any one storage device.

4. If I decide I don’t want it any more, a CD can be sold or traded (e.g on www.SwapaCD.com).

5. I don’t need the instant gratification of being able to download music on demand, and I enjoy getting CDs in the mail.

6. Often, especially when they’re available used, physical CDs are cheaper than downloads.

7. Sheer force of habit: I’ve been collecting CDs since long before I even heard of MP3s.

8. CDs make good gifts. You can’t wrap up an MP3 file and put it under the Christmas tree.

9. If I own the CD, I can easily rip it to whatever file format and bit rate works best for me if I want to.

[dwc1970]

I prefer to buy CDs for the same reasons many others have listed in this thread. I like having a physical, tangible copy of my music, plus you get the artwork and liner notes with a CD. Having a CD that you can show your friends that you have in your collection is quite satisfying. I like looking at all the CDs that I have. Having a long list of MP3s is fine, too, but it isn’t the same as actually being able to see, feel and touch your collection of music.

[Sunspace]

Re: Sony Rootkit Scandal: ISTR that Phillips did not allow Sony to use the “Compact Disc” designation on their audio discs because they did not conform to the CD standard. So if you looked real close, the packaging did not have the Compact Disc logo…

[Cat_Whisperer]

@Sublight

Still purchasing CDs only, although I haven’t bought music of any kind in a long time. After buying a CD, I usually transfer the files to my hard drive immediately and don’t touch it again.

I don’t purchase downloads for a combination of reasons, but mainly it’s a matter of greater permanence.

1. Anything stored on a computer is ephemeral: files get deleted, files get corrupted, files get lost, etc. My CDs tend toward 10-20 years old and still work.
2. Anything electronic is ephemeral: computers get toasted, iPods get dropped, moving parts (like hard drives) just tend to wear out and die. My CD player will eventually die, but the disc can still be used.
3. The goodwill of a corporation toward its customers is ephemeral: Sony has released harmful DRMs, Apple is just generally flaky, and Microsoft has just announced that “As of August 31, 2008, we will no longer be able to support the retrieval of license keys for the songs you purchased from MSN Music or the authorization of additional computers.” Once I purchase a CD and take it home, I know that the store can’t do anything that will change how it plays on my stereo.

You’re right about electronic storage being ephemeral, but I burned my entire 4000 song iTunes library to four dvds and am storing them in our house safe. I can also rip another set and store them somewhere else (even a bank vault, if I wanted to get that nuts about it). Electronic storage definitely has its pluses and minuses.

[NinetyWt]

@Sunspace

I listen to a lot of netradio these days. If the resulting music is available on CD, I make a note to buy it, but buying CDs is a ways down The List, and other things like food tend to get in the way.

Me, too. Also, I don’t have a portable MP3 player and neither does my car (not that I listen to very much music in the car anyway).

How much music one listens to plays a big part in this question, IMO. If I’m working I like to listen to netradio. If I’m not working I’m not listening to music, even in the car (usually). An exception is if I’m driving on a long trip (over an hour).

[shy_guy]

I don’t remember the last time I bought a CD. Maybe my senior year of high school (2002)? And it was a rare occurance even by then.

I spend a lot of money on the iTunes store. I also recently discovered eMusic, and I love it.

[Antinor01]

I’ve only bought one album via Itunes, everything else in my collection is CD’s.

[NinjaChick]

Download, the burn to CD. Best of both worlds. You get your instant music, it’s cheaper, and if the download is crippled with DRM, just rip the CD and replace the original files. Ta-da, wholly unprotected MP3s.

I’ve purchased one CD in the past 5 years or so, and that was only because it was marked down, I really wanted it, and couldn’t find it anywhere online.

[Autumn_Almanac]

@FreeByAnyMeans

I myself an avid music fan and somewhat of an audiophile, so I always purchase CDs. Besides quality and having a backup copy, I take great pride in having a physical collection, and I like having the artwork and liner notes. Downloads just seem to take away some of the charm in buying music.

Same here.

[control-z]

Definitely downloads. Hate swapping CDs.

Back when the first MP3-compatible CD player was released (Aiwa CDC-MP3) I was at Circuit City the day it was released and never looked back. 150 songs on a CD.

I have a very large CD collection, but I never touch it any more. Can’t stand listening to music ~12 songs at a time. I ripped it all to MP3s and most of my listening is my iPod in my car (or out on the riding mower) or my computer or PS3 at home.

[squeegee]

@Lilacs

I will very probably never buy another CD.

Ditto. Screw CDs, they’re done, they’re over. Width downloads, I can purchase only the songs I like, not some compilation that someone else thought was appropriate. Its my money, my choices on what music to spend it on. Ala carte is the only way to go.

[Tastes_of_Chocolate]

CDs. We have hundreds.
We also rip them to a computer, for most every day use.

1. If the file gets corrupted, I can just re-rip it.
2. If Sony decides I’ve been illegally copying their music, I’ve got the disc to prove otherwise
3. Who knows what file format will be in use in 10 years. If I downloaded the music in one format, to discover that a newer/better/fancier format becomes available in 10 years, I end up paying for it again. On CD, I just rerip it in the new format.
4. I actually find a lot of songs I like on a CD, outside the 2 marketed songs. If I only bought the songs I knew, I’d have missed a lot of these.

[control-z]

Yeah I don’t buy by the song, I buy albums. But I just don’t like messing with CDs any more, and they’re way overpriced. You can download albums on Amazon.com for $9.00.

[Magiver]

Nobody answered my question about downloading in the original CD format so after a bit of searching it doesn’t look like anyone sells PCM downloads. So I doubt I will ever download MP3 unless it is the only way I can get a particular piece of music.

[control-z]

@Magiver

Nobody answered my question about downloading in the original CD format so after a bit of searching it doesn’t look like anyone sells PCM downloads. So I doubt I will ever download MP3 unless it is the only way I can get a particular piece of music.

If the MP3 is 192k or better, I highly doubt you can hear the sound difference between the MP3 and the CD track.