I have lost count of how many different digital music file formats there are available to the digital consumer and I doubt the average consumer knows a damn thing about any of them. The average digital consumer probably knows more about their great aunt Matilda's third cousin twice removed than they do about about the files they listen to. And that is precisely why I think the ever continuing parade of "improved" digital formats will never catch on with the masses.
Sometimes for grins I will ask non-audiophile people what type of digital music files they listen to and ask them if they know there are digital formats that have more resolution than CDs. They usually look at me like I'm talking about Big Foot or UFOs. The average non-audiophile who listens to digital music might know there are MP3 files and CDs, but I would bet your paycheck the average non-audiophile couldn't explain what is different about them or even knows there are various versions of MP3s.
And it doesn't help matters any in the audiophile community when you have DCPs (Digital Couch Potatoes) who proclaim that you can't hear any difference between MP3s and hi-rez digital. Given all of that, how in the world is PONO and the new super whiz-bang MQA (which is pretty much vaporware now with regards to available software to download that anyone has ever heard of) ever going to catch on in the marketplace? How many new digital formats can you keep selling to DCPs or people who stream the never ending digital buffet of all you can stand digital music while they are reading a book or Facebook stalking their neighbors? Who besides audiophiles would pay more money for higher quality 'food' on the digital buffet line? No one because people who love buffets are attracted to the cheap price and the "all you can eat" promise and the quality of food they are stuffing themselves with is "good enough."
Outside of the small niche of audiophiles who love digital, I don't see where hi-rez digital stands a chance of succeeding in the market place for the common man/woman.
Sometimes for grins I will ask non-audiophile people what type of digital music files they listen to and ask them if they know there are digital formats that have more resolution than CDs. They usually look at me like I'm talking about Big Foot or UFOs. The average non-audiophile who listens to digital music might know there are MP3 files and CDs, but I would bet your paycheck the average non-audiophile couldn't explain what is different about them or even knows there are various versions of MP3s.
And it doesn't help matters any in the audiophile community when you have DCPs (Digital Couch Potatoes) who proclaim that you can't hear any difference between MP3s and hi-rez digital. Given all of that, how in the world is PONO and the new super whiz-bang MQA (which is pretty much vaporware now with regards to available software to download that anyone has ever heard of) ever going to catch on in the marketplace? How many new digital formats can you keep selling to DCPs or people who stream the never ending digital buffet of all you can stand digital music while they are reading a book or Facebook stalking their neighbors? Who besides audiophiles would pay more money for higher quality 'food' on the digital buffet line? No one because people who love buffets are attracted to the cheap price and the "all you can eat" promise and the quality of food they are stuffing themselves with is "good enough."
Outside of the small niche of audiophiles who love digital, I don't see where hi-rez digital stands a chance of succeeding in the market place for the common man/woman.
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