Has the changes in popular music has an effect in how we buy audio equipment today?

[E-Stat]

There are few standards being produced today.

I have a different take on the nature of the changes. Simply put, there are far more choices available today - both musically and for our entertainment time in general. I see that as a positive change. As for *popular* music, you are correct that it is by and large junk. I feel the same way about network television. I watch zero. None. Having said that, there are countless sources of good music and video that are not the *mainstream* product. The variety available for either pursuit is mind boggling - you just have to look. You are still thinking in a three channel television world when it is now a 200 channel broadband High Def video world. I love science based programs. Where there was once only Nova on PBS, now there is The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery Health, Discovery Times, etc. There's no reason to limit yourself.

Ipod I have read is inferior in quality to CD's...

You're comparing apples and oranges. An iPod is a player and Redbook CD is a format. iPods can store music in an equal fidelity lossless format. That is yet another choice you can make based upon your preferences. Which do you prefer? Greater storage or greater fidelity? Take your pick.

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