Actually, the differences between MP3 & CD are easily heard on very modest equipment.
Hi-Rez 24/96 files can sound amazingly real. Coming soon are 24/192 downloads.
I have all the Beatles albums on CDRs burned direct from the master tapes. I expect Apple Corp are determining the best vehicle for Hi-Rez 24/96 downloads and simply delaying decision on the iTunes MP3 format.
If you say so. I can’t hear it.
I think the final format release of all of these back catalogs (not just the Beatles) will be multitrack digital versions, where some “new” soundboard device can be used to bring up or bring down the mix.
Basically “Guitar Hero” replaced by “Recording Engineer 2.0”. Make your own custom mixes. Bring up the vocals. Drop the vocal tracks and use it for karaoke games at home. Listen for the odd background clatter that is lost in the “true” mix... etc.
And there is no reason these would have to be $15 releases, they could be $75, $150, or even $1000.
Prince had an offer where for something like $1000 you could buy usage of his back catalog for sampling purposes, the ad was at the end of one of his DVDs. That was not just for a single cut, that was for the whole thing.