This is precisely the point. In this age of free downloads, everyone knows CD's are not easy to sell. But I am not talking of today's releases. I bought the Tharangini CD's long before the advent of MP3 and prices of CD's were quite high. Quality of many non-Tharangini CD's were quite good. So to me, it was never a question of margins, but more of an inclination towards greed.
There are two markets in this hobby of ours. Mass market products and better products. Whether equipment or sources. The mass market is quite competitive and every consumer looks for value for money spent. However, better products are priced higher and naturally takers will be less. But those products are made better specifically for that kind of customer who can spend a little more and concerned about better quality. That is universal.
Remember, Pioneer made the Kuro TV's as the best in the planet. But with the advent of cheaper LCD's and LED's, they stopped rather than compromising on quality and price.
So what matters is the quality for which some people like me pay.
And finally, just to compete in the market, you don't make shoddy recordings, do you? The recording has to be true, whether done with cheap mics and equipment or not, and the price part of the CD lies more in the quality of the CD material and construction. That is where Tharangini disappointed. I can excuse it if the CD distorts after a few play-on but cannot if the recording is bad right from the beginning.
Purely my opinion, no offence meant to anyone.
Thanks.
murali
