Hi Res tracks for download

[SteveR750]

Now that HD tracks has practically closed, where else can you download remastered hi res albums? I have found itrax, but that's got what, all of four guitar albums....

I know about and am browsing Linn, but I'm not a huge classical fan, and the jazz albums leave me cold - I listened to a bit of Claire Martin and it's not my cup of tea. Blues would be another thing of course, but haven't found any yet (Martin Taylor great guitarist, but too much like Django for me).

 

[tino]

What about ... http://www.naimlabel.com/

 

[SteveR750]

Thanks Tino, I'll give that a try. Just bought a John Verity album from Linn 24/48 bit expensive at £18 but I like his playing anyway.

I've yet to a try a 24/192 which I'd like to even if it is to find out it's sounds no better to my ears than other 24 bit tracks.

 

[Overdose]

Now that HD tracks has practically closed, where else can you download remastered hi res albums? I have found itrax, but that's got what, all of four guitar albums....

Have you considered ripping DVD Audio discs? I don't know what your music tastes are, but it's worth having a look at the bay or Amazon.

I've just picked up a Belle & Sebastian DVD-A for less than £3 delivered.

 

[paulsue38]

This might be a daft question but will an 'ordinary' CD player play 24 bit tracks?

Paul

 

[CnoEvil]

This might be a daft question but will an 'ordinary' CD player play 24 bit tracks?

Paul

Paul, I'm afraid an ordinary CDP only handles Redbook Standard, which is 16 bit. For Hi-Res (24 bit), you need a player that can handle SACD/DVD-A, or a streamer/Dac that can do so.....with the highest available rate being 24/192.

 

[Tim2010]

Will HDtracks shut down?

 

[SteveR750]

Will HDtracks shut down?

Unlikely. It was never licensed to sell outrside of the US, and payapl was a loophole that's now been closed. Let's hope there will be a European version sometime soon...

Have you considered ripping DVD Audio discs? I don't know what your music tastes are, but it's worth having a look at the bay or Amazon.

I've just picked up a Belle & Sebastian DVD-A for less than £3 delivered.

No! I hadn't and thank you, great idea, unless they are 5.1 in which case that's no use....but I suspect (haven't even googled dvd-a) it's 2 channel audio as opposed to just DVD.....

 

[Overdose]

No! I hadn't and thank you, great idea, unless they are 5.1 in which case that's no use....but I suspect (haven't even googled dvd-a) it's 2 channel audio as opposed to just DVD.....

Check before you buy, some of the DTS discs appear to be 5.1, but there are stereo discs also.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD-Audio

I don't know what happens if you try to play a 5.1 soundtrack in stereo however.

SACD cannot be ripped in the usual sense, but it can be captured as a WAV file and converted with an ADC to 24bit, you need an audio interface and software to do this though.

 

[SteveR750]

According to wiki there is also an anti copying encryption to prevent copying to PCs.....

 

[Overdose]

According to wiki there is also an anti copying encryption to prevent copying to PCs.....

how to rip DVD-Audio has been covered by a computer audiophile website. I don't know that I am allowed to post the link.

 

[SteveR750]

Try it, worst that can happen is it will be removed.

 

[John Duncan]

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/How-Rip-DVD-Audio-DVD-Video-Audio-And-HDAD-Discs

It's illegal, of course, but then so is ripping CDs so I'm not sure it makes any difference.

 

[SteveR750]

I thought you were allowed to make a copy of a CD providing you own the CD - wasn't this the basis that home taping wasn't killing music any more?

 

[John Duncan]

No, not in this country. However, nobody's going to do you for it and the government accept the recommendations of the Hargreaves report to allow 'format shifting', so shouldn't be long now...