CD music is all transferred to MP3s (iTunes) but save old CDs or sell them?

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 12:45 pm

I have about 1500 CDs that take up 3 CD racks in my basement and it's all been transferred to iTunes years ago so I never listen to them anymore.
They're all in great shape, always kept in their original jewel cases, never loose in the car or even in those sun visor things and I've found a local music store that'll give me $2 each for whatever they want (other places pay less that $1).

I've sold about 1/2 of my 300 LPs (done with those) but I'm debating if it's wise to sell the CDs in the event that if something were to ever happen with my iTunes, MP3 collection (even though yes, all backed up on several HDDs, PCs), I don't want to be screwed later on.

Sure I'm "old school" on that but I can't help but think that if something destroyed the MP3s, etc, I'd still have my trustworthy CD collection so I'm leary to sell them and at $2 each, it's not like I'll be rich by selling them anyway.

Opinions?

DaMaN · Post by **DaMaN** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 2:30 pm

Sell them individually on eBay or in lots by genre. Shoot me a list, I may have some interest in some of them.

Err · Post by **Err** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 2:38 pm

I have a big collection of LPs and CDs. While they take up a lot of room, I like physical media. I would recommend ripping your CDs to a lossless format if you are considering getting rid of them. This will give you an exact copy of most of your Cds. There are a few CDs that contain pre-tracks and hidden tracks that are very difficult to extract but they're also rare. The main thing when ripping is to make sure your tags are correct.

You won't make too much selling them unless you have a few rarities in your collection and you'll need to sell them on ebay or discogs to get what they're worth. You'll do better on your Vinyl but condition is everything with that. I think you should hold onto them but you can store them out of sight. Get several of the Rubbermade totes and store them in those.

Also, shoot me a list of your CDs and LPs your looking to get rid of. There's still a few pressings and replacements I'm looking for.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 5:45 pm

Yeah I would be interested in the list as well.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:43 pm

It'd take me a long time to compile a list and I'm not really interested in selling just a few. If I'd sell them at all, it'd be all or nothing 'cause being a tad lighter of say a few hundred CDs isn't really solving the storage situation. At the time being, they're not really a problem but as we get older and think a day when maybe we'll move, some things need to go as we've both accumulated lots of stuff over the years.

As for what's left of my LPs, they were stored in our attic for years and many have water marks (considered "water damage" by a record store guy) or are warped. As for that, how warped I couldn't say. I'll just rummage sale those for $1 each.

Losbot · Post by **Losbot** » Wed Nov 04, 2015 12:49 am

I still have a box full of Laser-discs I believe need to go on Ebay or something.
LOL

ZYFER · Post by **ZYFER** » Wed Nov 04, 2015 2:32 am

Well the advantage of having the physical CDs is that they are in an uncompressed format. So down the road you have some options on encoding bitrate or a newer possibly better format down the road.

Also. might just have some rare out of print ones as well. Out of print music like DVDs can sometimes be worth more than you originally paid for it.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Wed Nov 04, 2015 2:03 pm

I was thinking about this more, and what about the issue of "did you buy that music"? I thought the RIAA said you had to be in possession of the original CD if you wanted it copied in another format. Is this not true anymore?

Losbot · Post by **Losbot** » Thu Nov 05, 2015 11:02 am

Executioner wrote:I was thinking about this more, and what about the issue of "do you buy that music"? I thought the RIAA said you had to be in possession of the original CD if you wanted it copied in another format. Is this not true anymore?

I believe that's still the case. Unless you can prove you purchased it on iTunes, you'd have to keep all your physical CDs as proof of purchase. SIGH!

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Thu Nov 05, 2015 1:03 pm

Losbot wrote:I believe that's still the case. Unless you can prove you purchased it on iTunes, you'd have to keep all your physical CDs as proof of purchase. SIGH!

I don't get that. In my case, I copied all of my CDs into iTunes several years ago and have since copied those files onto other PC HDDs and external HDDs too for back-ups. Never has iTunes needed info on the original CDs when making copies and the iTunes MP3s play fine on any device.

Since buying MP3s for all music, the only times I buy CDs is when MP3 versions of an album isn't available, usually older stuff. I almost always buy MP3 albums from Amazon, DL them into iTunes.

Still, as for keeping the old CDs for that "just in case someday......" thing, I do wonder if maybe someday one might need the original CD versions and I'd hate to be screwed as over the years (since the late 80s), I've spend a lot of $$ on the CDs.

If I do opt to get rid of them, I'm in no rush as it's not like I need the space that they're residing in.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Thu Nov 05, 2015 7:19 pm

For proof, what if you were to make a picture copy of each? Jesus, what a hassle for someone doing something legit. I have about 60% of mine in MP3 format, but if I was to get rid of them and keep the digital copy only, I would not use MP3, but FLAC instead. You can always take a FLAC file and convert it to MP3.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 7:14 am

What's wrong with keeping MP3 files in their present format?
I can't hear any differences between CDs and converted MP3 files even if there is anything lost during that process.