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Topic: Whats best download service, or buiy CDs? (Read 10561 times) previous topic - next topic
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Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

I've tried Rhapsody as a song browsing/lookup/streaming service, and like it, but not really $10/ month worth. I haven't used it yet to burn any CDs.

Currently I am giving MusicNow a try, due to the 3 free downloads from Mach3 razors. As a browser/streamer I much prefer Rhapsody, which is faster with more tracks. I have downloaded a couple songs free, and they sound OK on the computer, but I haven't burnt them to a CDR so I can easily listen to them in the car or on the hifi.

My main concern is that long term I am going to reject everything with just 128k bitrates, and even at 99 cents a track I don't like to waste money.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #1 –
If you don't like owning compressed audio (128kbps is the preferred bitrate for most download stores) then I would just spend the little extra money and pick up the original CDs.  Which is what I do.  I could save a few bucks buy using iTunes or Napster but the few extra bucks is worth it for the quality to me.

Though if I were to use a download store I would use iTunes since I got some free songs with Pepsi and liked the service and how it worked.  Plus the songs were of pretty good quality worthy of $.99 per song.  Plus there is no $10/month subscription fee with iTunes.

Edit: I read the title of your post again and noticed the "or buy CDs" part so I figured I'd add that I use CD Universe to buy my CDs.  Excellent web site with a great selection and good prices.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #2 –
I'm an album person so I naturally gravitate toward CDs. While you can download whole albums at a discount I'd much rather own a pressed CD. The longevity is superior to any CD-R and you can rip and encode the CD to any format and quality you want.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #3 –
I highly prefer buying a CD when compared to buying it online due to the same reasons that other members have stated. However, the mastering quality of the two media must be considered. Though music downloaded online might be ripped at bad bit-rates, the company that provides you the music (say iTunes) might have obtained the music from sources other than the CD. Hence, the mastering might be better on these files when compared to the CDs. Most of the CDs are mastered badly these days and are too loud. Hence, you must decide yourself. However, I still prefer buying CDs. Bye.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #4 –
I also am an album person and I like owning the actual CD.  Having the best quality of the song I can buy, getting the insert booklet, etc is important to me.  That and just like mithrandir said with the CD I can rip to whatever format and quality I want to without transcoding.
Nero AAC 1.5.1.0: -q0.45

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #5 –
Quote
I've tried Rhapsody as a song browsing/lookup/streaming service, and like it, but not really $10/ month worth. I haven't used it yet to burn any CDs.

Currently I am giving MusicNow a try, due to the 3 free downloads from Mach3 razors. As a browser/streamer I much prefer Rhapsody, which is faster with more tracks. I have downloaded a couple songs free, and they sound OK on the computer, but I haven't burnt them to a CDR so I can easily listen to them in the car or on the hifi.

My main concern is that long term I am going to reject everything with just 128k bitrates, and even at 99 cents a track I don't like to waste money.

Well, looking past the issue of sound quality(that the other members have mentioned).......

I can never recommend the popular music download stores such as ITUNES, at least not in their current form. You don't 'buy' anything. Your license is almost always 'revisable' at any moment, read the details. It's also an additional pain in the butt to have to change the format of every file by using special software or having to burn to cd and rip back again in order to remove the DRM junk, which if you leave intact, will likely be a bunch of headaches in the future. Purchasing a physical CD also affords you the standard rights as allowed in Section 17 of U.S.C., such as resale, etc. Just a reminder.

-Chris

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #6 –
I still heavily prefer vinyls but CDs work decently enough for the damn few new releases that I buy.
edit: Emusic with their LAME APS files had about the only files that met my standards for compressed music, while www.livephish.com is smart and offers FLAC files with downloadable jewel case inserts for the very reasonable price of $12. I have heardly heard Phish and purchased one of their live concerts just because they gave me the lossles option I wanted at a good value and  I wanted to try them out.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #7 –
I just want to echo the cd-buying sentiments and give a second recommendation on CDUniverse. Fluke's Puppy was released in the states at the beginning of the month, and their price was the most affordable of all the online U.S. stores I checked (the Amazon behemoth included).

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #8 –
Quote
edit: Emusic with their LAME APS files had about the only files that met my standards for compressed music, while www.livephish.com is smart and offers FLAC files with downloadable jewel case inserts for the very reasonable price of $12. I have heardly heard Phish and purchased one of their live concerts just because they gave me the lossles option I wanted at a good value and  I wanted to try them out.

Metallica is also offering a FLAC option at www.livemetallica.com + labels @ similar price.

I got at least one bad LAME aps file from emusic. I noticed they use LAME 3.92 - the problem was with the intro to 'Am I Evil' from 'Diamond Nights' by Diamond Head.

Personally I d/l from allofmp3.com - beginning to offer lossless.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #9 –
Quote
Personally I d/l from allofmp3.com - beginning to offer lossless.


... technical the best way. But ...
Thx & CU
...::: GermaniX :::...

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #10 –
Buying discs... Amazon.com delivers

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #11 –
Wow! cduniverse.com is amazing! I'll be getting loads of stuff there..

Thanks to those who mentioned it

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #12 –
I am a member of the BMG music club.  While the contractural nature of  the club leaves something to be desired, the flat shipping costs per album are pretty outrageous  ($4) their library is certainly not complete, and the discounts in the catalogs are almost never reflected on the website, you can still get very good deals every few months when they have a "$2.99" per CD or 3 for 1 "Sale".
 
  Their prices on boxed sets can be tremendously good. For instance, I purchased the Ray Charles "Birth  of Soul" 3 disc box set for roughly $23 including shipping from them, more than $10 less than the Amazon & CDUniverse price.

  BMG and used CD stores for me

  I personally would not buy music online to keep unless it was lossless and less expensive than buying a CD.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #13 –
If you're looking for individual tracks, you're best bet is the RealPlayer Music Store.  They offer 192Kbps RealAudio 10 AAC files for the same price as the iTMS.  RealPlayer 10 will burn CD-Text and then read the CD-Text if you need to convert the tracks to MP3.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #14 –
If you want to buy a CD of an indie artist go look at the artist's label website. Almost all non-major labels offer an online mail order with prices around 10-13$ plus shipping.

You can get some/most CDs for a similar price in a big store (on- and offline) but if you buy it directly from the label it's more money for the label and the artist.

Some indie labels sell music downloads as well.

p.s.: with "indie label" I don't necessarly mean "indie rock label"

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #15 –
Quote
If you want to buy a CD of an indie artist go look at the artist's label website. Almost all non-major labels offer an online mail order with prices around 10-13$ plus shipping.

You can get some/most CDs for a similar price in a big store (on- and offline) but if you buy it directly from the label it's more money for the label and the artist.

Some indie labels sell music downloads as well.

p.s.: with "indie label" I don't necessarly mean "indie rock label"

Along the same lines, I'd recommend everyone take a look at www.cdbaby.com and www.magnatune.com (neither of which I've actually used!)...

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #16 –
Thanks everybody, and I think I agree with all of you.

Ah vinyl, I miss it like my Porsche, neither of which my current budget allows. My records are safely stored in boxes, so maybe someday.

Good stuff at home, and mp3 for cars etc.

Right now I find I am frequently keeping three windows open, ebay, allmusic, and either bmg or amazon. I try my best to restrict new cds to just the essentials of artists I like and can't find otherwise.

Thanks

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #17 –
I personally buy all my stuff at a local store, Amoeba (highly recommended for those in driving distance of one of their stores). Great selection of used CDs... most expensive used CD I got was $15 for an Iron Maiden import.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #18 –
The only time I'd consider buying online is for "one hit wonders".

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #19 –
Buying CDs/Vinyl is:
Cheaper, more convenient, sounds better.

IMHO there's zero reason to support any of these major-label sponsored rip off stores.
Just order at your regional indie mailorder or directly from the bands/labels.

http://www.greenhell.de/ <-Green Hell is the German No.1 for Punkrock / Hardcore / Indie / Emo / Ska, damn cheap and fast (nice guys too). Lots of Vinyl.

http://flight13.de/ <- Flight13 is similiar in concept, a little smaller, less complete, but sometimes cheaper.
"To understand me, you'll have to swallow a world." Or maybe your words.

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #20 –
Of course, nothing beats having the original CD. And the best source for OOP CDs (and vinyl) is the GEMM network. I bought from them for some five years and can confirm their motto: If you can't find it here, fuhgeddaboudit!

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #21 –
Quote
Of course, nothing beats having the original CD. And the best source for OOP CDs (and vinyl) is the GEMM network. I bought from them for some five years and can confirm their motto: If you can't find it here, fuhgeddaboudit!

GEMM IS pretty damn sweet... after searching for a while for a few CDs i couldn't even find on all the Amazons, Proxis (which had gotten pretty crappy last i checked), and eBay, i found GEMM after a few hours of googling around. still can't find a few promo only DJ-type singles, but i *suppose* it's fun looking for that kind of stuff *rolls eyes* .. GEMM's star system is pretty nifty, too. haven't been burned .. yet (mainly only bought from 3 to 5 star GEMM covered sellers and 4 or 5 star non-covered)

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #23 –
Try this: CDconnection

Whats best download service, or buiy CDs?

Reply #24 –
I prefer amazon.com because when I buy cds I ussually buy 3 and that goes over $25.00 (USD) which gives me FREE shipping.