CD purchasing VS Downloading

[MashadaR]

OK - I KNOW that there has been MANY threads in here regarding the dilema between the two. I'm still having internal conflicts on purchasing vs downloading. I like to download because (1) i like to hear what i'm buying first (2) it's cheaper (3) i don't have to store them. However, I like purchasing cds because (1) it feels like the right thing to do (2) i know i have the highest quality (in my opinion) at the time of purchase.

[ryan]

If the file is 192kbps, generally that's as high as you will need.

Unless you're an audiophile or something.

[dlichterman]

I have found that the itunes music is good quality, but yes CD's are probably better. ALso most CDs have like one or two good tracks and filler so I just buy those ones, but usually I download for free. I only buy them if I support the band.
-Daniel


Hi from knoppix 3.4 c't version!!

[nybergh]

I won't yet pay for anything that's packed in lossy format, exept computers games (most games have packed audio...) and DVD:s with Dolby Digital or DTS-tracks.

Anway, if you uy a track in a lossy format you'll probaly need to convert it to another format sooner or later, so that so called iTunes quality thing will turn into something worse than a 192 kbps 5.1 WMA9 ...
(have you heard those samples Micro$oft provides...?)

[deeder7001]

I like to buy CDs when I can because they sound better in the car stereo than on the computer.

[ryan]

That's because you have terrible computer speakers. Buy nice speakers, get nice sound.

[fwgx]

I have a nice hi-fi and a good sound card and interconnect and mp3's ripped at --alt-preset-insane sound poor in comparison to playing the cd through the hi-fi.

[mark]

<3 well encoded VBR discographys on suprnova

[Bizzeh]

Originally posted by nybergh
I won't yet pay for anything that's packed in lossy format, exept computers games (most games have packed audio...) and DVD:s with Dolby Digital or DTS-tracks.

Anway, if you uy a track in a lossy format you'll probaly need to convert it to another format sooner or later, so that so called iTunes quality thing will turn into something worse than a 192 kbps 5.1 WMA9 ...
(have you heard those samples Micro$oft provides...?)

actualy, i think wma9 is actualy a good format. i found it out because WIMP for pocket pc only plays wma.
so i got Windows Media Encoder and it had a profile for pocket pc on there.
turns out its 64kbps mono.
i there is no difference between that file and the 128kbps stereo mp3 it came from

[nybergh]

ok, wma9 might be good (hell, it IS good ), but still anyone with a bit of sense won't use it becouse it's a quite closed format (I'm sure that you can get another media-playback-program for pocketpc (though not winamp )...). And i don't know what kind of wacko that encoded 5.1 sound in 192 kbps and trying to impress me with that, that won't be good (well, I don't know with vorbis). But anyway 64 kbps mono with no difference to 128 kbps proves nothing but that is at least as good as mp3, wich is, let's face it a quite old format... A bit inexactly explained 128 stero is 2x64 mono... (it ain't exactly explained at all if someone was smart and used joint-stereo in the mp3-codingprocess).

[zootm]

Originally posted by Phily Baby
I have a nice hi-fi and a good sound card and interconnect and mp3's ripped at --alt-preset-insane sound poor in comparison to playing the cd through the hi-fi.

that shouldn't really happen. chances are that either the interconnects are screwed, or your CD player for your hifi is a lot better than your sound card.

try playing the CD through your computer, through the hifi. assuming that your computer is linked to the hifi, of course.

[fwgx]

My CD player is much better than anything you can get for your pc without spending silly money. Besides, my s/c died last week

[zootm]

bummer dude.

but yes, it's more likely to have been the sound card than the actual encoding.

[Jedi Gemstone]

What i do is download a song or two of the band in question to see if their any good or borrow the cd of a friend.
If I like what I hear I go out and buy it.
Downloadin whole cd's takes too long and its much quicker to just pop down the shops instead of spending weeks downloading each seprate song (depending on wether its qued and your modem speed)

[mark]

<3 70KB/s DSL

[ctn|chrisw]

Originally posted by Nobby Nobbs
<3 70KB/s DSL

<3 10mbit cable :P

[mark]

i have 1/20 of what you have...

*cries like a baby*

[Timzone8]

For best quality buy CD. For best quality download!

Generally most audio files (for free) that are downloaded are 192Kbs and less, so your going to have a hard time getting that high quality track your after.

Downloading can be a cheap and easy way but how much does the service of your ISP cost VS CD price?

[mark]

I dont pay my ISP, my parents do.
:. downloading is free.

[morgado]

Well, I can't deny. I actually download music. Not excatly music, but videoclips. So, you can say that I can't get every music 'cause not all music has its vidz on the net. So, some of them I get ogg and/or mp3. But, as I'm not that stupid, I actually buy cds when a I have money, especially when I'm a fan of the Band/artist.
For an example, after downloading the entire Linkin Park Hybrid Theory CD, I turned into a huge fan of LP, and bought, actually, the entire collection of their cds (the ones that have here in Brasil).
And many others. In fact, most of music that I have myself or my brother has the cd. I think download is for this. To taste a little, for after buying something, even it being a ticket to the bands concert !

[ryan]

Originally posted by Nobby Nobbs
i have 1/20 of what you have...

*cries like a baby*

<3 3mbit cable

[dlichterman]

<3 6mbit cable

[mark]

<X3 the billion megabit cable in school that is so filtered and blocked its useless...

[drewbar]

Originally posted by Nobby Nobbs
<X3 the billion megabit cable in school that is so filtered and blocked its useless...

I feel your pain.

[mark]

Me and a freind have been working on getting pas the school filtering proxy and to the gateway on the network using knoppix...

not much luck so far...

[deeder7001]

The speakers I use on my computer are actually very nice. 2 Infinities with 8" woofers and 1" tweeters. Powered by the stock Honda stereo from an '88 Civic DX. It sounds very very nice. CDs don't sound that good on my computer no matter the speakers or the program, doesn't sound quite right. The '00 Malibu I drive sometimes has a very nice stock stereo. It just sounds better in the car.

[morgado]

First, I'd like to know WTF is "<3" ...
Second, I have some nice Clone 3 way (1 subwoofer on top of my screen and two Mid-high speakr each side of my monitor). Mp3, Ogg, FLAC, CDS and everthing sounds really nice on them ! And also I have a cable to my broken off (it broke togheter with my tv in the same day and the same time) Sony Stereo, 250 + 250 RMS

I don't think a sound card can ever beat a good stereo system. Even if you play a bought cd on your computer which is linked to your stereo system through the sound card, I think you're losing quality. I don't think a sound card can respond as fast, go deep enough, or sound so bright as a good stereo system does.

[Namelessv1]

Originally posted by morgado
First, I'd like to know WTF is "<3" ...

"<3" = "heart" = "love"

[mark]

or lips, indicading "kiss"

[xzxzzx]

Originally posted by Michgelsen
I don't think a sound card can ever beat a good stereo system. Even if you play a bought cd on your computer which is linked to your stereo system through the sound card, I think you're losing quality. I don't think a sound card can respond as fast, go deep enough, or sound so bright as a good stereo system does.

What? Why not?

[mark]

an audigy will match it.

[fwgx]

Originally posted by xzxzzx
What? Why not?

I don't know but just listen to the difference between a reasonable soundcard (Audigy for example) and a reasonable hi-fi separate CDP (NAD for example), the difference is huge.

[Rocker]

spdif --> uber hifi is perfect quality

audigy is shit(unless you use the spdif and coneect it to your uber expensive hifi)

[xzxzzx]

Ah, I see. You're talking about the analog output of a computer audio card. It's like telling me modems are crappy ways of connecting to the Internet - I immediately think "cable modem", while you're thinking "56K" (I havn't used a phone-based modem in well over 3 years).

At least, if Rocker properly interpreted.

(NAD for example)

That's what I mean. Some decent brand, like NAD or Linn and there are many more.

[Phyltre]

An interesting parallel:

We go to the internet for quality music, without the filler you find on CD's.

But we have to go to the CD's for the high-quality sound, with all the filler music.
~sigh~

I wish the market would catch up with itself.


[on topic: altec lansing atp3's work just fine for me!]