Why redbook over SACD?

@soix You appear to have more up to date information than me on CD sales.  The last thing I read was earlier this year which showed cd sales increasing from their nadir in 2000.  There is no debate that they are well down from their peak.  RIAA promises new data early in the coming year.  It is fair to say that CD sales were growing modestly at least through 2024 and there had been price increases reflective of a modest increase in demand.  It is all a bit of a tempest in a teapot compared to the streaming phenomenon of course.  There is a small segment of the music consuming market that still persistently prefers physical media.  I am heavy consumer of both vinyl and cds.  My streamer gathers dust. Sort of a flat earther type I guess.  Take care.

@billstevenson  I neglected to mention the stats I cited including the 22% decline in CD sales was through the first half of 2025, and in all likelihood this will continue and whatever rebound was what we call in the investment world a “dead cat bounce.”  CDs will be nothing more than a declining niche going forward, and it’s likely only a matter of time before the larger manufacturers stop producing them altogether as it makes no financial sense to do so although I expect some boutique brands will soldier on.  Hell if they still make cassette tapes…

@billstevenson 

I am heavy consumer of both vinyl and cds.  My streamer gathers dust. Sort of a flat earther type I guess.

You are not alone. 

@billstevenson  @stuartk 

Guys, I was the same way.  Vinyl, SACD, & CD.... , but, this year I upgraded my front end for streaming - both my ethernet, streamer, cables, etc....  Then, the game changer was subscribing to Qobuz.  Within a few months, I had a 1000 song playlist that was different from my 10,000+ songs coming form SACD & CD.  I have all my CDs & SACDs ripped (.wav & .dsf files) and I now stream my new Qobuz playlist and also play my .wav & .dsf files at the same session. Qobuz has lots of Hi-Rez  and CD quality songs that sound fantastic.  It really was a game changer for me, and I do not think I can do a blind A/B test and tell the difference between Qobuz Streaming and a CD of the same resolution. 

I’ve also noticed lately a number of Jazz albums only being available as a download, no CD or LP and not available for streaming … I do worry about the financial effects of streaming on non mainstream artists and music forms …