Perhaps it’s an anomaly, but perhaps it’s a sign of things to come: Scottish high-end audio gear maker Linn has announced that, as of 2010, it will no longer manufacturer CD players. Instead, the company will focus its efforts on digital streaming systems that focus on “Studio Master Quality” downloadable material, which can be offered at substantially higher bitrates and resolutions than the CD-standard 16-bit, 44.1KHz samples used in compact discs.
The company will continue to support its existing CD players and audio systems, so current customers need not worry. And that’s probably a good thing, since the company’s current CD player has a retail price in the neighborhood $6,600.
