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WHY we still do not have a decent lossless store? - Page 3

post #31 of 43
2/13/10 at 2:12am
Yep I was overestimating.

If Apple did swap over to ALAC, no doubt itunes would have an automatic FLAC>ALAC conversion feature as it does currently with wma files, even though it doesn't play them.
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post #32 of 43
2/13/10 at 2:56am
Anyone ever use Music Giants?
HDGIANTS - MusicGiants - Music Collections

Their files are in WMA Lossless and they clearly mark albums that are DRM free. You just have to use Windows Media Player 10 or 11 for their service. Its not as expansive as say itunes, but you can't beat them in terms of quality.

I've also come across several sites that sell 320kbps and flac files but usually its in a niche market like electronica, but I think HD Giants is probably the closes we have right now to a big lossless store with a range of music genres and artists.
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post #33 of 43
2/13/10 at 6:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdupiano View Post
Anyone ever use Music Giants?
HDGIANTS - MusicGiants - Music Collections

Their files are in WMA Lossless and they clearly mark albums that are DRM free. You just have to use Windows Media Player 10 or 11 for their service. Its not as expansive as say itunes, but you can't beat them in terms of quality.

I've also come across several sites that sell 320kbps and flac files but usually its in a niche market like electronica, but I think HD Giants is probably the closes we have right now to a big lossless store with a range of music genres and artists.
Yep, I used it for a while but stopped using it due to DRM. No, MOST of files are still DRM-ridden I believe, and I think DRM-free albums are like less than dozen.
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post #34 of 43
2/13/10 at 7:43pm
Thread Starter 
Oh my ****ing god.

MusicGiants still does not support WMP 12. It does not show up on Windows 7 environment.

Yet another indication that this music store is nothing but fail.


Edit : do some search and find out only way to access MusicGiant in W7 is downgrade to WMP 11, which is just too bothersome to do.
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post #35 of 43
2/13/10 at 8:05pm
4271 album choices:

https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php
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post #36 of 43
2/13/10 at 8:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by immtbiker View Post
Another store I use, but again, nothing really is coming from major label.


I just wish a store with old Phillips Classical available... But guess it is still dream after more than a decade of online music.

Oh, now they are carrying Naxos. That's actually huge thing indeed. *looking at catalog* Now if they can carry Decca (with Deutsche Grammophon and old Phillips) then I would not complain at least on classical...
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post #37 of 43
2/13/10 at 9:47pm
I guess i am lucky with my music. It is mostly available for lossless flac download from the bands themselves or thru other related websites. On top of that much of it is released lossless free but not always soundboard quality/ but sometimes-just varies. I contacted one band that I wanted higher quality than mp3, which is what they offered, and I said by the way if you have 24 bit even better. They gave me 24 bit for the same cost as the 128 mp3s!

If I want classic rock though it is cd only.
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post #38 of 43
2/14/10 at 3:56am
Classic Rock in 88/24 flac:



https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?f...HD011661302426

Something with a little zip (Steve Vai):



Incredible sound in 96/24:



HDTracks has plenty of major labels and every genre. I've spent some decent coin there, sometimes using dBPoweramp
to convert to alac for my iMod.
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post #39 of 43
2/14/10 at 4:17am
Thread Starter 
Ok, what I found is that this **** HDtracks still has not fixed their download manager.

With their stupid download manager which does not properly name the downloaded songs, and some songs of tracks I bought have very similar name ==> download manager goes infinite loop.


I am so tired of such incidents.
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post #40 of 43
2/15/10 at 11:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Juaquin View Post
Apple actually uses 256kbps AAC, ever since they switched off their DRM (essentially making every track an iTunes Plus track). I still don't buy my music there, but it's at least above-average quality and certainly listenable with mid-range gear.

Personally I use a Zune subscription for everyday listening. I have my favorite CDs ripped to FLAC for those times when I really want to listen to something high quality.
tbh, 256kbps AAC is extremely close to lossless. 192kbps AAC is better in quality than 320kbps CBR / VBR -V0 mp3. I highly doubt many, if any, can tell the difference between 256kbps AAC and lossless.

Anyway, the best lossless store is always an used CD store. Always. Biggest range and cheap.

I find wnmnkh's raging funny though
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post #41 of 43
2/22/10 at 2:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chinesekiwi View Post
tbh, 256kbps AAC is extremely close to lossless. 192kbps AAC is better in quality than 320kbps CBR / VBR -V0 mp3. I highly doubt many, if any, can tell the difference between 256kbps AAC and lossless.
Holy Smokes, not this again.
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post #42 of 43
2/22/10 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chinesekiwi View Post
tbh, 256kbps AAC is extremely close to lossless.
Close to lossless?
It is either lossless (100% identical) or lossy (99.999999999...% identical or less).
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post #43 of 43
2/22/10 at 8:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dallan View Post
Holy Smokes, not this again.
As long as the sun rises in the east, and sets in the west....we will have this come up. That, and of course, cables. It's the nature of the beast
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