the compact disc (cd) was introduced in 1982. it offered a recording that was, theoretically, completely noiseless and not audibly degraded by repeated playing or slight scuffs and scratches. at first, the much higher prices of cds and cd players limited their target market to affluent early adopters and audiophiles; but prices came down, and by 1988 cds outsold lps. the cd became the top-selling format, over cassettes, in 1992.