Affordable sites for Hi-Def downloads ? - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Headdie · 06-19-2008, 10:05 PM

Hi,

What are the best/affordable sites for Hi-Def downloads? Sites where you can download 24/96 formats (DTS, FLAC, WAV or others) ?

Thanks,

cconnaker · 06-20-2008, 01:12 PM

Affordable is questionable here, but Linn Records has 24/96 material for about $30 per disc. iTrax has 24/96 downloads. HDtracks will soon have 24/96 downloads and should be much cheaper.

krmathis · 06-20-2008, 02:06 PM

"Affordable" is quite subjective. Some fid $100 to be a lot of money, while others find $1000 to be just pocket money...

Two suggestions:
Linn Records - specialists in Classical, Jazz and Celtic music
High Definition Tape Transfers

gregorio · 06-20-2008, 04:53 PM

Don't get too hung up on high-def, it won't give you any benefit over CD. Also, DTS is not high-def, it's the opposite, it's highly compressed using lossy compression!

cconnaker · 06-20-2008, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by gregorio

Don't get too hung up on high-def, it won't give you any benefit over CD.

I hope your are just pulling our chain here with that statement.

I just got done reviewing the new Reference Recordings HRx albums with a resolution of 24 bit / 176.4 kHz. I've never hard anything sound better in my life. In addition I've ripped several DVD-Audio discs at 24/96 and the sound compared to the 16/44.1 version is so much better I can't even listen to the CD version anymore.

Headdie · 06-21-2008, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by krmathis

Two suggestions:
Linn Records - specialists in Classical, Jazz and Celtic music
High Definition Tape Transfers

These are perfect examples. The Linn promotion is very reasonable. The HDTT has samples that you can download free, if you want to test the difference. Thanks !

nycrob515 · 06-22-2008, 06:50 AM

Hey I don't know what the hell 26/96 means but musicgiants.com has HD audio for about 15$ and album. Can someone explain what 26/96 is bc if its better than HD, i want to hear it lol.

krmathis · 06-22-2008, 08:15 AM

You're welcome Headdie.

thomaspf · 06-22-2008, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by nycrob515

Hey I don't know what the hell 26/96 means but musicgiants.com has HD audio for about 15$ and album. Can someone explain what 26/96 is bc if its better than HD, i want to hear it lol.

I guess the real issue is that this site does not actually tell you what you buy when you pay for HD or even Super HD.

Just that fact would make me not buy from that site.

Cheers

Thomas

nycrob515 · 06-23-2008, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by thomaspf

I guess the real issue is that this site does not actually tell you what you buy when you pay for HD or even Super HD.

Just that fact would make me not buy from that site.

Cheers

Thomas

True, Thomas. I thought the same before buying however the bitrate and file sizes are large and larger. I don't know too much, but it sounds good to me. Do you know what 26/94 means?