[SMH | Text-only index]     Digital distribution is here to stay
Date: November 29 2012  Arne Sjostedt  Though I almost don't
want to accept it, the benefits of global digital music
distribution are becoming blindingly clear. Websites or
applications that let you play just about every song you want to
hear - at the click of a button. It's madness to me. Like having
a key to the music store, and the security code to switch off
the alarm system. Indeed, using these sites does feel a little
like thievery.  If you are an audiophile, there is the question
of sound reproduction. While I still prefer a CD played through
decent hi-fi gear, I haven't really heard the highly lauded
digital to analogue converters perform to be able to judge how
good they are. I have heard, though, that all the high-end hi-fi
speaker makers aren't using CDs for their demos at technology
expos, but hard drives. Which in itself says a lot.  Though they
offer high bit rate streaming, high-end audio probably isn't
what you get into music pr