Best download sites currently available

[admin_exported]

I'm away to purchase a Samsung P2 mp3 player since Sony decided to shut down their SonicStage download service and my 4 year old player needs replacing; I always used SonicStage for downloading so don't know what other sites are for best for downloading; can anyone recommend a decent (i.e. well stocked) download site? Napster, Emusic and play.com have all been recommended, but don't know much more about them - are they as good as people say? I don't think the P2 is compatible with Napster anyway. Are there any better one's out there?

Cheers - md

 

[Anonymous]

Be warned I am not a commercial bunny, but here is where I download my music from. I would suggest just buy the cd though and rip lossless.

 

[Anonymous]

I use Emusic. Decent quality and fast downloads. Only has music from independent labels but there is a pretty good selection of alternative, indie, etc. They usually have a free trial period so it might be worth checking it out. Not sure what the current subscription rates are as I have had mine for a while. Think I pay £12.99 for 90 downloads a month.

Have used Play once for downloads. Again not bad with decent quality downloads. Cheaper than Apple.

 

[Anonymous]

Just had a look at Emusic ianmcg, it doesn't say anything about bitrates though. Do you know the bitrate of the files you download? Is there a lossless option?

 

[Anonymous]

If memory serves the downloads are 160kbps mp3's only.

 

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't use a download site until they use lossless formats: they are making money out of an inferior merchandise. As previously mentioned buy/rent the CD and RIPto a lossless format.

 

[Alsone]

It would be helpful to know something of your musical taste as some of the best sites out there are highly specialised ones.

 

[Anonymous]

Definitely agree that buying the CD's and ripping to lossless is a better bet than downloading low-bitrtate mp3s. Worth pointing out that ripping CDs that you have 'rented' is technically illegal so shouldn't be encouraged! Also a bit dodgy to buy CDs, rip them then flog them on!

All viable options though depending on your moral standpoint.

 

[John Duncan]

Get an iPod and use the iTunes store. If you want higher bitrates, buy the CD from Amazon and wait a day or two. Will save you a lot of hassle in the long run (for starters, it won't close any time soon, like every other site I've used).

 

[Anonymous]

I use Emusic mainly for evaluation purposes. I get about 8 albums a month for 12 quid which is, I think, a great deal and if I really like them I buy them on vinyl (if available) or cd.

I used to buy albums recommended by reviews, John Peel or because they were on a certain label and have shelves full of rubbish (thank god for Ebay selling). Found that by doing it this way I have saved a fortune.

 

[fatboyslimfast]

For exactly that reason I use Napster (the modern legal version). for £10 a month I can download and listen to as much 192kbps WMA as I like, just cannot transfer it anywhere. It's helped me numerous time weeding out partially-lame albums rather than wasting a tenner on each one.

Then, if I like the album, I buy the CD, as I prefer it ripped in Apple lossless rather than WMA, and still prefer having the album artwork and inlays.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice guys; I was planning to keep buying CD's and rippin' them, but will need a site for those hard-to-find tracks. I'll look into it a bit more, but it looks like play or napster are going to win the day for what I need them for.

Cheers - md

 

[Anonymous]

I recently bought one of the new Sony WMA Walkmans after they closed the Connect Store. I find that MSN Music downloads very conveniently to Windows Media Player. Downloads are generally 192kbps and the quality seems fine. Another good site is 7 Digital which has a lot of non DRM stuff at 256kbps and also WMA at the same bit rates as MSN Music.

 

[Anonymous]

Don't worry, it won't be too long until Apple release their lossless service. Then the world will be conquered. By this time everyone will expect lossless. Until the next round of hacking establishes a way of undetectable file sharing....