-----Original Message----- From: las [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] I'm not sure if it is the compression, so much as the use of digital itself that is causing the artifacts. Try listening to an early CD on an early CD player. I think in many cases you will not be satisfied. -----End Original Message----- My uncle has one of the very old Philip's CD players ... top loading, silver thing (CD-100). It gave up the ghost about 3 years ago not bad for something purchased in 1984. But I believe it also only a 14bit system, shame it no longer works otherwise I'd be critically listening to it. From memory in it wasn't the sound quality that impressed me in 1984 (it sounded kinda sterile, harsh and un-involving) the random track access was fantastic feature and the fact that no amount of playing deteriorated the sound (unlike LP's or Cassette) - not to forget those shiny new discs that looked so high-tech. It is a pity that since CD, the mainstream tolerance for high quality recordings seems to be slipping (not including DAT which is not a "mainstream" format) especial when people think 128Kb MP3's sound great, about the only thing they sound is "free" <i.e = pirated>. Technology has presented scientifically better quality formats (HDCD, SCD, DVD-A) but consumerism rules the roost and I doubt any of these formats will ever have the acceptance of CD. (although this took almost 10 years to be mainstream, so maybe more time is needed). The question is ... where to from here? I have no doubt that solid state media is the way of the future, the only mystery is what format, and what Audio resolution? In a world where digital camera resolution continues to go up, audio resolution continues to go down. :| Just my $0.02 USD (or $0.01 AUD) worth. L8R GuyC ----------------------------------------------------------------- To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]