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Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

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Re: Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

#11

Post by likeabatterycar »

konstancja wrote: post #7
Pigalowda wrote: post #6

I couldn’t watch much of that video but what was the answer? I had no idea people were buying retro stuff like that. Is the size for style and lifestyle signaling like the way hipster types used to have type writers and fixie bikes?

TLDR; there's only a few manufacturers making the underlying hardware as these are now niche low volume products. The engineering and manufacturing skill that went into producing Sony's smallest walkmen isn't particularly well reflected in the single design coming out of China right now.

If everyone is using the same low quality Chinese internal mechanism, why would customers pay top dollar for a boutique device when you can get an equivalent unit for $30?

It brings to mind Tom Hanks on SNL in the 90s as the Israeli shopkeeper saying his knockoff products all have 'Sony guts'.

Re: Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

#13

Post by onemoresoop »

vr46 wrote: post #9

It turns out that streamed music isn’t an artefact in neither format nor artistic integrity. The underlying tracks found in streaming are subject to change, and they may also be different to those on the original album. But my 1987 CD will always be 1987 songs. My kid gets this, he hears it, and to my surprise he’s playing all my records. And some he’s bought himself. He doesn’t mind turning a record over, or walking…

Hightly agree but this is far from mainstream opinion. The majority of people flock to streaming for convenience and have no idea nor care what’s superior in quality.

Re: Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

#14

Post by bsder »

Pigalowda wrote: post #6

I couldn’t watch much of that video but what was the answer? I had no idea people were buying retro stuff like that. Is the size for style and lifestyle signaling like the way hipster types used to have type writers and fixie bikes?

Because it would take engineering development project amounts of money.

And these products are merely fashion statement marketing reskins and there isn't enough money available to do that.

Re: Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

#15

Post by vr46 »

onemoresoop wrote: post #13
vr46 wrote: post #9

It turns out that streamed music isn’t an artefact in neither format nor artistic integrity. The underlying tracks found in streaming are subject to change, and they may also be different to those on the original album. But my 1987 CD will always be 1987 songs. My kid gets this, he hears it, and to my surprise he’s playing all my records. And some he’s bought himself. He doesn’t mind turning a record over, or walking…

Hightly agree but this is far from mainstream opinion. The majority of people flock to streaming for convenience and have no idea nor care what’s superior in quality.

Of course, but tapes are niche too, right? I'm kinda optimistic, because the influence of people who care is outsize, they're always being asked what equipment is good by their friends, so maybe more people will start to care.

One problem is finding music that is recorded well-enough to enjoy in better quality. I was listening through my Mojo 2 earlier, and enjoying the last Radiohead album from 2016, it was fabulous in every aspect. But then, on the other hand, put on Arlo Parks Collapsed in Sunbeams, which sounded terrible in comparison. You can't really tell on streaming!

Re: Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

#16

Post by movedx »

m463 wrote: post #5
movedx wrote: post #2

I grew up with cassettes, CDs, and MiniDisc (and floppy discs and using a file splitter to spread large files over multiple disks... risky business!) I never want to go back to that because the impact on the environment is just too high. All that plastic which, eventually, will end up on a landfill. As much as I hate the fact a publisher can pull music from Apple Music in an instant, it's rare and the benefit is inst…

But cassettes, CDs and MiniDiscs replaced expensive traveling musicians, burning petrochemicals to drive a bus from one gig to the next. Sort of how coal mining and oil drilling saved whales from extinction by replacing whale oil.

And how do MP3s and streaming services NOT do that? Putting aide the fact they also don’t require a physical plastic product to be produced and shipped and then eventually end up on a land fill.

Re: Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

#17

Post by movedx »

creer wrote: post #4
movedx wrote: post #2

I grew up with cassettes, CDs, and MiniDisc (and floppy discs and using a file splitter to spread large files over multiple disks... risky business!) I never want to go back to that because the impact on the environment is just too high. All that plastic which, eventually, will end up on a landfill. As much as I hate the fact a publisher can pull music from Apple Music in an instant, it's rare and the benefit is inst…

These supports shouldn't be necessary anymore, no contest - while the reality of it, etc... But why do you think CDs, of all things, are such a high impact on the environment?

Go look at the number of CDs and cassettes that ended up on landfills.

Now show me the number of MP3s that ended up on landfills.

Re: Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

#18

Post by movedx »

likeabatterycar wrote: post #10
movedx wrote: post #2

I grew up with cassettes, CDs, and MiniDisc (and floppy discs and using a file splitter to spread large files over multiple disks... risky business!) I never want to go back to that because the impact on the environment is just too high. All that plastic which, eventually, will end up on a landfill. As much as I hate the fact a publisher can pull music from Apple Music in an instant, it's rare and the benefit is inst…

Little plastic discs are killing the Earth but building massive datacenters which require continuous power, cooling, and other resources, not to mention all the intermediate network transport - whether or not they're being used, all for the sake of convenience - is little impact? A CD requires no power sitting on your shelf unplayed. The same as cups and dishes sitting in a cupboard. If the threat to the environment…

Those DCs and those cables are serving PBs of traffic from music to movies to emails to gaming and way way way way more. Your CD provides access too one form of data in one format and eventually ends up on a landfill.

Are you really this blind?

Re: Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

#19

Post by movedx »

whycome wrote: post #3
movedx wrote: post #2

I grew up with cassettes, CDs, and MiniDisc (and floppy discs and using a file splitter to spread large files over multiple disks... risky business!) I never want to go back to that because the impact on the environment is just too high. All that plastic which, eventually, will end up on a landfill. As much as I hate the fact a publisher can pull music from Apple Music in an instant, it's rare and the benefit is inst…

Rare? It’s subjective. Spotify will keep showing tracks in playlists if they aren’t available. I have quite a few with grey/missing tracks. Sometimes they come back. But it’s incredibly annoying to have tracks you’ve played many times suddenly become unplayable. That’s not possible with a CD.

It’s not possible with an MP3, neither. How many MP3s end up on landfills compared to CDs and cassettes?

Re: Why are cassette and CD players so bulky now? [video]

#20

Post by movedx »

movedx wrote: post #2

I grew up with cassettes, CDs, and MiniDisc (and floppy discs and using a file splitter to spread large files over multiple disks... risky business!) I never want to go back to that because the impact on the environment is just too high. All that plastic which, eventually, will end up on a landfill. As much as I hate the fact a publisher can pull music from Apple Music in an instant, it's rare and the benefit is inst…

I cannot believe the amount of people missing the point entirely, and actually stating that datacenter(s) and the global Internet backbones are worse for the environment than the literal MILLIONS of physical plastic discs that reach landfills every year since inception.

Incredible.

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