List Audiophile Quality Download Sites

[James1776]

Am I wrong I noting that a LOT of these sites are simply selling CD quality sound on WAV or FLAC formats...How is that High Resolution??

 

Anyway, another site...

 

http://bluecoastrecords.com/

 

[dsnyder]

Hello James1776,

 

Quote: ...CD quality sound on WAV or FLAC formats...How is that High Resolution??

 

Haha. Good point. Still, lossless redbook is somewhat higher quality (if not higher resolution) than the lossy MP3s that most legal digital download sites offer. Blue Cost does offer 24-bit PCM and DSD downloads too though, so no complaints regarding resolution there, at least not from me. :-)

 

-- David

 

 

[audiozorro]

not universally accepted by everyone.

 

For me high resolution digital is any resolution greater than SACD. Therefore DSD 64, 24/176.4, 24/192, DSD128, DXD and higher are high resolutions.

 

Medium resolution digital is CD quality to just shy of SACD quality. Thus 16/44.1, 24/44.1, 24/48, 24/88.2 and 24/96 are medium resolutions.

 

Low resolution digital is any resolution less than CD, in particular any of the lossy resolutions.

 

As typical with anything else in life, set low standards and that's what you will get. Set high standards and expectations if you want the best. Of course all resolutions are capable of sounding very good. However in general the higher resolutions are theoretically, if not actually, more capable of sounding better.

 

[James1776]

In my world, high resolution is anything above normal, ho-hum 16/44.1 CD....

 

Anything at CD quality is not High Rez...even though it might be a very good recording.

 

[ted_b]

hiRez is generally defined as anything with more resolution than redbook (16/44). Obviously, the higher the sample rate and bit depth, yadayada. Many call stuff like the Beatles USB offering a "stretch" at 24/44 but nonetheless it's 24 bit which is a big jump theoretically. Anyway, I don't think anyone here (except maybe audiozorro now ) calls 24/96 NOT hirez...it is. As one who is dabbling in 32/384 with M2Tech's Young DAC and PD's forthcoming MPS-3 I am not going to change the perspective and say that only the top tier is hirez, cuz there are only handful of selections there anyway. SACD's DSD (and kissin cousin DXD) are also part of the hirez community.

 

My point to James1776 is that you can't blame these download services for choosing FLAC as the format of choice; it's a smaller file/footprint regardless of resolution.

 

[James1776]

Just noting I only use WAV files, and that files in 16/44 are not High Rez.

 

[Russell_L]

I wanted to put in a plug for eClassical.com, which is a new (to me, at least) online site operating out of Sweden. They mainly feature recordings on the BIS label. I've downloaded a couple of 24-bit BIS albums and the download speeds are very fast--much faster than other European sites I've tried (like Linn and The Classical Shop). The prices are also very reasonable.

 

I should note that I was initially alarmed that the 24-bit files I downloaded were only 44.1 kHz, but I then remembered that that's the standard format (24/44.1) that BIS uses, at least for multichannel large-scale orchestral works, and so there was nothing 'wrong'. (If you want the gory details, read the BIS thread over at the SA-CD.net forum.) In any case, it's still better than CD quality, and they sound very fine indeed.

 

Russell

 

[Manelus]

I have downloaded over 60 albums from eClassical so far. I must admit I was a bit reluctant at first because of the 24/44.1 thing, but if I just listen … they are the best sounding recordings I have.

After a period of collector fever, I’m now focused on quality excellence (both media and “hardware”), here is my system:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Show-us-your-equipment-kit#comment-69954

 

I must say that to my ears Linn, 2L and BIS are one step above the others.

 

 

 

[Encore]

"I was a bit reluctant at first because of the 24/44.1 thing, but if I just listen … they are the best sounding recordings I have."

 

IME, 24 bit buys you most of the goodness of hires. I'm still limited to 96 kHz, I may change my mind once I'm capable of playing 192 kHz, but for now 24 bit is enough to make me take out my credit card. Which I'll do now. Thanks for tip!

 

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[Forehaven]

I agree on sev. points:

Hi rez is anything better than 16/44

Way too much classical hi rez and not enough Led Zeppelin!

(this is a major point of annoyance with me...not all audiophiles like classical music. Plain and simple)

Not hi rez these sites selling cd's as wav or flacs...they're still cds

The list of true hi rez sources still is in it's infancy stage, and too much caters to classical.

 

Here's my list:

http://www.highdeftapetransfers.com

http://www.theclassicalshop.net/

http://www.hifitrack.com/en

http://www.hiresmusic.com

http://www.dacapo-records.dk/en/

http://www.lessloss.com samples

http://www.2l.no/

https://magnatune.com

http://www.acousence.de/

http://www.archive.org/

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Society_of_Sound

http://www.cardas.com

http://cedillerecords.org

http://downloadsnow.net/

http://www.dreamstreaming.info/

http://www.itrax.com/

https://www.hdtracks.com/

http://www.linnrecords.com/

http://www.marecordings.com/

http://www.naimlabel.com/

http://www.passionato.com/

http://www.referencerecordings.com/

http://bravurarecords.com/music.html

And now Alan Maher is selling some great music from 16/44 to 24/96 to 24/192. http://www.alanmaherdesigns.com

 

Chris

 

[James1776]

I am still not sure what some of these are offering ...HiFitrack for instance calls the 24/96 selections (upsampled to 24/96). Are they simply upsampling CD quality recordings?

 

[sandyk]

Some companies even upsample recordings to 24/96 , then make new 16/44.1 CD masters from them.

An example of this is the "Best Audiophile Voices" series.

They do sound better than average too.

 

SandyK

 

[PierOz]

The website I use the most is http://www.qobuz.com/

they have a huge selection in cd quality and a growing high-rez section. Unfortunately, depending on your country of residence (the company is French) you won't have access to the entire catalogue, but from my experience many of french independent labels are available worldwide.

 

another I have discovered is http://bandcamp.com/

You have to dig, some artists are giving the music for free. the resolution varies but often you can find high-rez in the download menu of each artists' page under 'audiophiles and nerds' : )

 

Pierre

 

[Bob Stern]

On Bandcamp, be sure to download high-res music in FLAC format. The Apple Lossless downloads are lower resolution.

 

[PierOz]

Hi Bob,

 

thanks for the advice, I didn't know about that.

 

cheers,

 

Pierre

 

[bikemig]

I finally got around to joining Society of Sound. I tried it out for free for a while which allows you to download only 1 file from each CD. Full membership not only gives you two CDs a month (one from the LSO and another selected, I believe, by Peter Gabriel) but it also allows you to download from a reasonable back catalogue. This is a really good deal and the music is excellent.

 

[dsnyder]

Hello,

 

Quote: it also allows you to download from a reasonable back catalogue. This is a really good deal and the music is excellent.

 

I know. It feels a bit like joining Columbia House or BMG back in the day and getting ten albums for a penny. If you join today, it looks like there are thirty albums available now for download, most in 24-bit, 48kHz. Enjoy.

 

-- David

 

 

[Russell_L]

One of my very favorite labels, Channel Classics, has finally started their own download service with 24 titles. Many of them were available via Linn Records and HDtracks, but it's good to get them straight from the source. Unfortunately, prices are a bit on the high side: about $30 for 192/24 files and $26 for 96/24 files.

 

http://www.channelclassics.com/

 

I haven't tried the service yet -- the pricing gives me a little pause, and I've already got several of the titles from Linn -- but it's great to have another quality source for hi-res music!

 

Russell

 

[Manelus]

Files at Channel Classics web site and the ones provided to Linn Records are DSD to PCM software conversions using Weiss software (Done by Jared Sacks, sound Engineer at Channel Classics).

Files at HDTracks are ripped SACDs.

Ear?... They do not sound the same.

I've had the opportunity to compare Mahler 4th 88.2kHz HDTracks and 96kHz Linn Records. There is an audible difference. Also compared 192kHz... even better.

Hope it helps

 

[Kevin_O]

Files at HDtracks are DSD - PCM transfers using Weiss SARACON. There is no difference.

 

[almaatakz]

 

Does anybody know if the above is available in hi-res anywhere? Would appreciate a tip!

 

[Manelus]

The Rolling Stones ones are DSD - PCM transfers using Weiss SARACON at HDTracks.

Regarding Channel Classics my info is accurate, I know for sure.