[bpfiguer]

I have received in the mail the Bach and Beyond Collegium Japan (Masaaki Suzuki conductor) CD collection from BIS records. Inside the box-set there is a card with a code for free downloading from eClassical.com (a Sweden based company) which website link does not work.
 
Nevertheless, I spent some time at eClassical.com website and I found you can download several BIS and Hanssler Classic files as MP3 320kbits/s, FLAC 16- and 24-bits without DMR at lower prices than CDs (Amazon, Amazon Markeplace or ArchivMusic in the US). The booklets are available as PDF files. eClassical has for downloading the 47 CDs of Bach Cantatas performed by the Bach Collegium Japan and conducted by Masaaki Suzuki, the nine Beethoven Symphonies and the piano concertos No.4 and 5 performed by the Minnesota Orchestra and conducted by Osmo Vänskä. I did not try to buy from them but I am planning to do it in the future.
 
If you have a good experience buying from eClassical or other company please post here.
 
Thanks
 
P.S.
Where do you buy your legal lossless classical music files?
Hyperion, Linn Records, Deutsche Grammophon or other

 

[Henry Flower]

Belated but big thanks for pointing that site out!   I bought a disc of Sally Beamish concertos in FLAC for $7.57; from classicsonline (where I have a streaming account) it would have been $9.99 just for mp3.
 
Things I like:
 
 - availability of 24 bit FLAC.   I tried the samples and couldn't tell the difference, but it's nice to have the option (for some discs) for those who can.
- 16 bit FLAC is the same price as mp3.
 - BIS, one of my favourite labels.
- If your download doesn't complete, you can ask them for authorisation to redownload.  Same if your hard drive crashes.
- Proper ID3 tagging!  Composers in the composer field! (Should be absolutely basic, but no-one else seems to manage it).
 
Things I don't like:
 
- limited catalogue.
- Music by moods page (http://www.eclassical.com/moods/) ; does me no harm, but offends my sensibilities.
 
Things that puzzle me:
 
- if you buy a FLAC download, you get a page of download links for both FLAC and mp3.  Buying an mp3 download puts a differently named item in your shopping cart, but I don't know if you still get the option to download either format.
- the previews include the entire piece, but you have to restart the player every thirty seconds.  I presume this is required for copyright reasons, but it's still a very unsatisfactory experience.
 

 

[stonew508]

 
Have you guys checked out http://www.ariama.com/ ? Its run by sony, and many of the tracks are in FLAC, others are not. You can use their download manager, which automatically converts the files into a format of your choice (such as WMA lossless) upon download. Very nice, I think! A little pricey, which is not surprising.

 

[bpfiguer]

[size=small]List of audiophile quality download sites from the Computer Audiophile website ([size=small]http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/List-Audiophile-Quality-Download-Sites[/size])[/size]
 
[size=small]http://www.highdeftapetransfers.com
http://www.hifitrack.com/en
http://www.hiresmusic.com
http://www.lessloss.com[/size]
[size=small]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.marecordings.com
http://www.naimlabel.com
http://www.referencerecordings.com
http://bravurarecords.com/music.html
http://www.alanmaherdesigns.com[/size]
 
[size=small][size=small]CLASSICAL MUSIC:[/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small][size=small]http://www.passionato.com[/size][/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small]http://www.gimell.com[/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small]http://www.eClassical.com[/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small]www.chandos.net[/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small][size=small]http://www.philorch.org/recentrecordings.html[/size][/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small]http://www.deutschegrammophon.com[/size][/size][/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small]http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small]http://www.dacapo-records.dk/en[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small]http://www.theclassicalshop.net[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size]
[size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small]http://www.linnrecords.com[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size]
 
[size=small][size=small][size=small][size=small]You can add more websites to the list and/or provide your experience, thanks[/size][/size][/size][/size]

 

[Uncle Erik]

There are some free and legal downloads over at archive.org.

 

[Henry Flower]

Public service announcement: eclassical have a 25% discount on all albums over the Easter weekend.   The catalogue isn't the biggest, but there's still a lot of high-quality listening there.

 

[Permagrin]

I've used ClassicsOnline, the only way to get a recording of Valentina Lisitsa's rendition of Beethoven's Appassionata.

...which is not on their website anymore...

 

[Henry Flower]

If you're after some 24-bit goodness, eclassical have 50% discount on two albums each day until Christmas: http://www.eclassical.com/pages/julkalender2011.html/

 

[mrpink44]

Quote:

If you're after some 24-bit goodness, eclassical have 50% discount on two albums each day until Christmas: http://www.eclassical.com/pages/julkalender2011.html/

Henry - thanks for the info. I've noticed your posts in some other threads and was wondering - if you come across any "must have's" that are 50% from the eclassical sale, would you be willing to mention them?? I'm slowly starting to get into classical and would love some recommendations - especially if I could get them for 50% in 24-bit.

 

[Henry Flower]

I'll certainly be keeping an eye on what they have to offer.   I got one of today's recordings (the Nordic flute concertos), but I can't say they're 'must have' repertoire.

 

[Henry Flower]

One of today's, the Brautigam Beethoven sonatas, is well worth picking up.  Two of these are among his best-known sonatas (the Appassionata and the Waldstein), and Brautigam is a fine pianist.  He plays on a period instrument, which might put some people off, but it's not 'tinny' sound--just a bit clearer and less velvety than a modern grand.

 

[mrpink44]

Awesome....thanks for the recommendation Henry! Going to pick this one up.

 

[Henry Flower]

A bit late, but if there's still time, the Wagner disc today would be good for anyone starting with him.  The Wesendoncklieder are a great introduction to his sound world without the commitment of sitting  through the whole Ring cycle!  On the other hand, that is only about 20 minutes of music, and the rest of the disc is filled with bleeding chunks from the operas.  But it's a bargain price, Margiono and the orchestra are beautifully recorded (as always from Pentatone).

 

[mrpink44]

Henry - thanks....I passed on the Wagner disc; not a huge fan of operas or vocals with classical music - just not my fancy.
 
That being said, I did pickup the Brautigam Beethoven sonatas and hope to give it a good listen this weekend!! Still looking for any other recommendations as this sale goes on. Thanks again for your thoughts on these - it's nice to get some guided advice for a novice like myself!!

 

[kryten123]

Didnt see this one mentioned. I tend to do a lot of music surfing on bandcamp.com.
The site hosts a huge variety of artists and genres.
You can listen to an album or individual tracks online and then buy it in all types of formats including FLAC.
As a bonus, if the artist has uploaded it, they also support 24 and 32bit files.