Sometimes the choice is made for you. If you want new vinyl mail/web order is usually the only place to find any. This makes those spur of the moment buys impossible. For new CD's I just go to Tower and buy what's on my list. When buying used CD's I just go the store with some money and an open mind.

If Tower is your main source for CD's, you'd better hurry and buy whatever is left on your list. I read recently that shipments from most of the major CD sources have been cut off to them for nonpayment. Given that, they may not be there for long.

It has been a long time since I've bought music anywhere other than MusicDirect and Acoustic Sounds. I buy vinyl issues in preference when they're available, and since acquiring an SACD player have bought a number in that format. It's a mood thing when deciding between SACD and Vinyl, but when it is Vinyl vs. CD, the Vinyl always wins.

cD cONNECTION HAS A GREAT SELECTION OF STUFF ALSO AMAZON BMG music service has some good sales recently, trying to drumb up sales...

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If you are an audiophile who embraces both digital and analog how do you determine which format to choose when purchasing new music? Do you choose based on genre? Price? Ease of availability? etc...

There are still people out there who actually BUY their music??? Those boys over at RIAA must love this forum.

In many recent instances, I have had exceptional luck finding great vinyl at various thrift stores in my city. The way I figure, if I don't have the record and it costs anywhere from 50 cents to one buck, how can I go wrong?
I have come across many real beauties too.

CD for me. The Vinyl is just too much trouble although I still listen to my many many lps. I listen via the music server mostly. Amazon is my usual source since all we have locally is Circuit City and a store in the mall.

Yes, I still buy my music although I do copy music from friends on cd-r occasionally. However, this is no different than the old days when we recorded each others albums on cassette. I have never downloaded and probably don't even know how. From what I have heard of mp3 it doesn't do much for me. Kind of like 1960's AM radio (My server is stored in PCM not mp3).