What is reasonable price for CDs?

[71 dB]

I have been wondering this question for a long time. What is reasonable CD price? When are CDs overpriced? I try to buy as cheap as possible. I use Amazon.co.uk Marketplace for reasonable delivery costs to Finland. I also buy bargain bin cpo discs from JPC.de with vouchers if possible. I made some calculations: This year I have spend so far 172.44 euros to classical CDs/SACDs. This means 25 physical discs (twofer = two physical CDs etc.). The average cost (delivered) for each physical disc is therefor 6.90 euros. Where is that on the scale of reasonable price? The most expensive CD of these was Bach's cantatas vol. 35 by Suzuki (12.73 euros). The cheapest discs have been 3 Naxos CDs 4.27 euros each.

Now, I have "learned" to pay less than ~9 euros for one disc. Since BIS discs are hard to get cheap I am forced to pay more (up to 14 euros) for those wonderful Bach cantata discs (I will collect them all). Otherwise I avoid discs that cost more than 10 euros unless it is a "must have" item. Unfortunately many so called quality releases that are recommended also here are more expensive, often at least £8 before delivery so they'd cost 13-20 euros to me. 

So, what do you pay for your music and what do you think is reasonable?

[Harry]

I have been wondering this question for a long time. What is reasonable CD price? When are CDs overpriced? I try to buy as cheap as possible. I use Amazon.co.uk Marketplace for reasonable delivery costs to Finland. I also buy bargain bin cpo discs from JPC.de with vouchers if possible. I made some calculations: This year I have spend so far 172.44 euros to classical CDs/SACDs. This means 25 physical discs (twofer = two physical CDs etc.). The average cost (delivered) for each physical disc is therefor 6.90 euros. Where is that on the scale of reasonable price? The most expensive CD of these was Bach's cantatas vol. 35 by Suzuki (12.73 euros). The cheapest discs have been 3 Naxos CDs 4.27 euros each.

Now, I have "learned" to pay less than ~9 euros for one disc. Since BIS discs are hard to get cheap I am forced to pay more (up to 14 euros) for those wonderful Bach cantata discs (I will collect them all). Otherwise I avoid discs that cost more than 10 euros unless it is a "must have" item. Unfortunately many so called quality releases that are recommended also here are more expensive, often at least £8 before delivery so they'd cost 13-20 euros to me. 

So, what do you pay for your music and what do you think is reasonable?

I pay as little as possible Poju, always.

[Que]

I also draw the line at about 10 euros.
For instance I'll be damned if I would buy so called "special offers" at MDT at £9,95 or £10,25 (=€12,68)....
But I do take the bait at £8,50 or £8,75! 

Q

[Pierre]

I'm not an economist, but my guess is that record companies have to recoup the costs of the recording somehow. So unless they have some kind of grant or sponsorship, they have to strike a balance between recouping those costs and finding a price collectors are willing to pay. Which I think explains why there are rather fewer opera recordings* in relation to recordings of any other type of music.

*Yes, there are DVDs, including of operas: but how many collectors out there buy as many classical DVDs as they do CDs?

[Kuhlau]

I'm happiest when paying between £5 and £9 for a single CD. I'll go to £12 for a double if I have to.

FK

[Que]

Which I think explains why there are rather fewer opera recordings* in relation to recordings of any other type of music.

But note the surge in recordings of Baroque operas and HIP Mozart for instance. Commercially, I guess they have the advantage of the lack of competition by earlier recordings. I mean: Wagner by the likes of Kempe or  Knappertbusch can hardly be bettered (especially considering the magnificence of the singers of days now past), but Mozart by René Jacobs? Yes, please!

Q

[71 dB]

I pay as little as possible Poju, always.

I believe that Harry, with the amount you are buying that's pretty important. 

I also draw the line at about 10 euros.
For instance I'll be damned if I would buy so called "special offers" at MDT at £9,95 or £10,25 (=€12,68)....
But I do take the bait at £8,50 or £8,75! 

Q

The math is merciless here. Let's say I am willing to pay 9 euros. Well, that equals to £7.30. The delivery cost of Amazon.co.uk Marketplace to Finland is £1.79. That means the CD itself can cost £7.30 - £1.79 = £5.51. Most of the many many CDs I have in my wishlist are clearly above this. Sony Vivarte has released a new CD of German Baroque Cantatas. It's £9.98. Will it drop someday under 6 pounds or should I buy it away for about 15 euros before it goes OOP?    

[mn dave]

Depends on the CD and how badly I want it.

[Todd]

Depends on the CD and how badly I want it.

Me too.  I believe my average, per-disc cost is around $9-$10 or so, but I've paid up to $30 for a few single discs that I had to have imported.  If possible, I'll buy a good quality used CD. 

For new, domestic releases I think $17-$20 for a new disc is reasonable.  I look back to when I was buying new LPs for $8.44 at Tower over 20 years ago and look at the current price of new CDs, and it's about right.

[Brian]

Over the past couple months I've bought three or four discs for $19 or $20, the most I've ever payed for a single disc. But they are SACD hybrids. Generally, when buying online, I tend to shoot for an average of $4 (!) a CD by ordering mixed of mid-level issues from Supraphon and Naxos and a super-cheap box or two from Brilliant or someone like them.

I would prefer to pay under $15 for a disc, honestly, and I love the budget $7 lines by the likes of EMI.

[imperfection]

I feel sorry for many of you here...from where I used to live, I get German imports (DGG for example) for less than $6USD a disc...Naxos discs are usually around $3 to $4. This is talking about brand new condition, of course.

[Bulldog]

Depends on the CD and how badly I want it.

Exactly.  For me, a Vivaldi disc at $2 would be too much, but I'd happily buy a geat Bach disc for over $20.

[Bunny]

Depends on the CD and how badly I want it.

A dollar is too much for a poor cd, and I've bought into the hype and bought plenty that were awful!  However, that rare, oop cd that I simply cannot live without can really bite deep into the pocketbook.  

In general, I look for the cheapest prices online for anything I'm interested in, and I love the BMG music clubs where I can pick up new cds as well as reissued (and remastered) classics for ridiculously low amounts.  Yourmusic.com is now up to $6.95 per disc (includes shipping but tax is additional), but that is not a bad price for reissued L'Oiseau Lyre titles or the DG Archiv Produktion Al Fresco cds.  I also purchased the Pollini Nocturnes this way and don't regret the cost at all.

[Harry]

And whats even better is, that Harry will open its refusal bin very soon again. Unbeatable prices.

[Opus106]

I feel sorry for many of you here...from where I used to live, I get German imports (DGG for example) for less than $6USD a disc...Naxos discs are usually around $3 to $4. This is talking about brand new condition, of course.

Not quite $6 but, yes, those CDs that are imported by sellers in the US are usually cheaper here, too. But, otherwise, most of the CDs go for a standard price. (Depending on the value of the USD, it can be anywhere from $11 to, as per today's exchange rate, a little over $9.) And most two-fers and boxes are priced at the same rate, thus defeating the purpose of such sets. 

The most I've paid for a single CD is $14 (Art of Fugue/Emerson SQ), and I consider that to be on the high side.

[71 dB]

In Finnish cornerstone stores Naxos CDs are 8 euros and full price items are 20-23 euros. I paid those ridiculous prices years ago for some discs but since then I have learned to save money online. Ten years ago I paid 160 mk (= 27 euros) for Elgar's The Apostles (Boult). Now EMI has this 30 CD boxset including this same performance for about 40 euros. It's crazy when you think about it!

[Kuhlau]

Living in the UK, I must be one of the lucky ones where Naxos CDs are concerned. We pay only £5.99 for a single disc release.

FK

[71 dB]

Living in the UK, I must be one of the lucky ones where Naxos CDs are concerned. We pay only £5.99 for a single disc release.

FK

Considering the currency rates £6 equals roughly 8 euros so I am just as lucky over here as you are over there. 

Online shops (jpc & cdon) have Naxos discs for 6 euros but there is always the delivery costs...

[Brian]

And whats even better is, that Harry will open its refusal bin very soon again. Unbeatable prices.

I am glad you have decided to stop using the hammer! 

[imperfection]

The most I've paid for a CD set was $16.99. That was a twofer, too...