The production values on most albums today is so shitty that the average ear cannot tell the difference between the CD recording and even a 128kbps mp3. However, I think Yello, being the studio extremists that they are, end up with a CD that is has far superior sound reproduction, as compared to everything else. I, too, freely download mp3s. But I buy the albums of the bands I really like, and the bands I really want to give my money to. Davy