[JarodL1]

I tried doing the whole EAC thing and I don't have the patience to rip cd's and deal with that.

From what I understand iTunes quality sucks. I know no one out there offers flac, but what is the best alternative. I don't mind paying. It seems like Zune marketplace is my best bet, 192 bit wma.

Oink seems nice but I can't deal with uploading albums.

 

[davidd]

iTunes' uses 128K AAC at the moment, but starting next month they will be offering tracks from EMI at 256K AAC (and DRM Free) for an extra $0.30 (or albums for the normal price)

Though the only online music download services I personally think are worth using at all would be subscription services, and for those I'd recommend Yahoo's or Urge's, as they would work on more portables compared to Zune.

 

[Cowon_1]

Emusic is a great one...they have a monthly fee...bitrates of mostly 192 and higher variable...and there unprotected...so that makes them compatible with any device....I've purchased music from there and the sound is very good.

But if I was you I'd rip my music with a different easier encoder...there's hundreds out there. Your gonna get the best guaranteed sound quality.

Don't spend your money on protected music....especially $1.30 a song. Personally I'd never spend a dime for protected music especially at such a low bitrate.

 

[JarodL1]

So what is a better source 192 wma from zune marketplace or 192 mp3 variable from etunes? Any others out there?

 

[imhungry]

I believe 192 WMA is better / more efficient. Not sure..

I'd take a look at Rhapsody

 

[Dragon Rider]

Don't buy any compressed audio music, unless you can find a lossless format.

My subscription service of choice is URGE-- wma 192Kbps. It is quality compressed encoding; large selection; and easy transfer to an MP3 player. I won't buy music anymore until someone offers it in FLAC or wma lossless for less than a CD would cost

 

[ZARIM]

allofmp3 are better than all others because it's let's you choose the format and bitrate. MusicGiants offer WMA losless with good price.

 

[justin2net]

but MusicGiants is WMA lossless DRMed!

 

[Dragon Rider]

The only way to get the music industry to stop selling music with use restrictions is for all of us to STOP buying it