HDTracks 24-bit / 96 kHz Content Is Here (Plus a little Bonus)

I also got an error when trying to purchase via PayPal.

I guess there are some bugs yet to work out. In my case, the checkout page didn't work correctly with Opera. I had to use Firefox to get it to take my money and in the process I got it to take my money twice. I got a very quick response from Norman Chesky, who promptly refunded the duplicate charge. So even with some rough edges, it's a pleasant place to do business. <br />

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Then, alas, I had trouble with the Java applet in Firefox, which I rarely use on this machine. (is it just me, or do you think maybe Sun's install script should have symlinked the plugin in the right directory?...) <br />

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Which brings me to a useful observation: Once you have the transaction done, you can go back to your account page and start the Java application at your leisure. <br />

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I do like that they use Java for their download manager. I take that as a sign that once they get everything completely in order, they'll be platform independent (insert happy Open Source rant here <br />

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And use Firefox (at least for the time being). <br />

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-Carl<br />

Both HDTracks and 2L offer their high-rez stuff as FLAC files. I'm curious why that is, but whatever the reason, is there a way I can play these on my Mac/iTunes system and retain their high-rez integrity? For example, can I use the Max software program to convert FLAC files to .WAV or AIFF? Then I should be able to play them on the Mac (via Toslink out or USB with the right DAC) so long as I change the Audi Midi settings. Right?<br />

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I'm beginning to wonder if it really makes sense to use the Mac platform for computer audio. Yes, it's very easy and, as a Mac user for 20 years, I hate to think of climbing the Windows learning curve. But does the Mac platform ultimately make it harder to get the best sound quality? As a hard-core, tweaky audiophile, that's what I care most about.

Hi Dan,<br />

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I've been playing high-res FLACs on a Mac with Cog with no problem. Cog is super-simple. You use the file system to handle your music rather than a database as iTunes would. But I don't have tons of high-res files and probably won't for a while. So, I think it's perfectly OK until the time when my music server and its clients are up to the task. There are other methods of playing FLACs on a Mac (quite a few threads if you search this forum), especially if you want to play 16/44.1 material. And transcoding is an option, too.<br />

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I'm no fan of Apple or Microsoft either (as you might guess from the avatar) but IMHO, they are both about equally annoying for audio playback. Linux is even less ready for prime time for high-res on the client end, but is dandy fine for running a server. Again IMHO, your mileage may vary. (That said, as an aside, I do have to say that I think Amarok is way better than iTunes.)<br />

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If you have a paid-for computer that you like, I'd say stick with it. Spend your money on music.<br />

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-Carl<br />

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Hi Dan - I have Mac OS X, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Suse Linux and I always choose OS X as my preferred operating system. I have nothing to gain by using an inferior OS so I consider myself pretty unbiased. In my opinion FLAC is just a compression method similar to Zip files. When I download them I uncompress / unzip the content and go from there.<br />

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So, use Max to convert to AIFF and connect your Mac to a high resolution DAC. Then your all set!

I only registered today to write the following (well, not only for this reason):<br />

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It is a shame, that I can´t download from HDTracks or, for that matter, from MusicGiants SuperHD. I´m living in Germany with a validated PayPal account that needs to be used for something worthy like this. But I can´t. That makes me really sad because I´d die for HD-Music content.<br />

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So please you two companies, improve your efforts. Thanx in advance.<br />

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BTW Chris, love your site. Interesting to read & nicely designed. Keep up the good work :-)

Hi Cavaille - Thanks for your post, even though you had bad luck on HDTracks. On page two of this thread a reader from Europe was able to use Paypal for a purchase. I wonder what went wrong?<br />

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Thanks so much for the kind words about the site!

Hello!<br />

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Thank you very much for the fast note. I did not expect this.<br />

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Anyway, I don´t know what I did wrong... I´m getting a nearly empty page - on top of the page it only says something like "...can´t be resolved...". Maybe I have to go over some proxyserver? I don´t know how the other person from Europe did it... :-(<br />

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Well, I assume I have to wait :-). Luckily I´m a patient person

I've managed to register, purchase and download a couple of albums from HDTracks and I'm in the UK. If I remember rightly, I just registered in the normal way, leaving the country option as US. I pay via PayPal with my verified account. <br />

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Don't know if that helps but at least it lets you know that purchasing from outside of the US is possible with HDTracks.<br />

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Good luck!<br />

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--<br />

djp

Thank you very much for your comment and your help. <br />

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I don´t know, what I did - I did it exactly the way you did. Something I must have been doing was wrong I guess. Thank you all for your help anyway. It is much appreciated

Gentlemen,<br />

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I am also not able to pay using paypal for the 24/96 full albums. Paypal works for the standard resolution recordings. It also works if I buy 24/96 in chunks of individual tracks not exceeding ~10 bucks. I have tried writing to hdtracks, but I do not get any reply.<br />

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The error message I get is as below,,,,<br />

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GetExpressCheckoutDetails API call failed. Detailed Error Message: Express Checkout token was issued for a merchant account other than yours.Short Error Message: You're not authorized to access this info.Error Code: 10409Error Severity Code: Error<br />

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Sanjay

That also is the message I´m always getting. But I did not try downloading individual tracks - and that indeed could be helpful in comparing HDCD-decoded & upsampled (by me) material to the originals. That was the main reason for trying this.<br />

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Of course I would prefer to download complete albums. Hopefully that soon will be possible. Thank you very much for this tip. I´ll try it later.

Hmm... I haven't tried to purchase a 24/96 download from HDTracks, so I'm presuming I'd encounter the same issues. That's a shame. <br />

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--<br />

djp

It actually works! I can download seperate tracks and they are also billed - I just have to make sure that I won´t exceed $ 10,- and that the tracks are separate. A bit sad though, because buying separate tracks is more expensive than buying the whole album.<br />

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Anyway, it works. )

Morning: I am new to the Forums here. I am glad this Promo code is available. This forum will expand my audio knowledge, thanks and keep up the good work. audioAl

Paypal payment works now for the purchase of 24/96 albums!!!

It appears to be gone now.

code still available? I cant see it anywhere.

It's long gone :~(

It's gone already

Friends:<br />

I just download another great 24/96 album from HD Tracks--Jen Chapin's reVisions, songs of Stevie Wonder. The tracks, comprised of vocals, bass, and sax, sound simply stunning in their sonics and sound staging. This could be David and Norman's best release to-date in the 24/96 format. I'd encourage you to have a listen.<br />

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Tom

thanks...

Sorry for the confusion. I stated in the article, "David is a great person to work with and he has provided the registered Computer Audiophile readers a special 20% off code that is good until 10/15/2008." I should probably put that in big red letters so people know :~)