[simon ess]

I'd be interested to hear about anyone's experience of allflac.com or any other lossless download sites.

Cheers

[JDCFH]

Ive bought stuff from Boomkat but it specialises in drum and bass and dub step style releases.

Very high quality and only slightly more expensive than their MP3 320kbps versions.

[coruja]

Why do they charge different prices for digital formats?

There should be a fixed price for a track and the choice should be there for it to be downloaded at any format. I can't believe they are charging for extra bandwidth for the download, if so then it's a rip off

People eventually got fed up of the music industry ripping people off with the price of CDs &etc and now the download rip off starts. If anything, the user is already paying extra in funding the storage for lossless formats.

[jpdsam]

This is Junodownload.com's "explanation" for the price difference:

On Juno Download, each retail price is determined by the record label or digital distributor. Generally the larger sized (less compressed) formats such as 320kbps MP3s and WAVs are offered at a higher price reflecting the higher quality of the file. This is a commercial decision taken by our suppliers and Juno is unable to alter this.

I mention them because I recently asked them if I could re-download mp3s I had previously purchased as lossless (paying the difference obviously). They, perhaps unsuprisingly, said no.

I'm also keen to hear of peoples recommendations for lossless download sites, as I'm still buying cds and fast running out of storage space.

[rednotdead]

I use HDTracks - quite an eclectic selection with not much mainstream stuff. Especially good for classical and jazz if that floats your boats. About $16-18 per album for flac. They also do a lot of 96/24 stuff which is even better.

[manticore]

Red how do you use HD tracks I thought It Was only available to The USA

[rednotdead]

I pay via paypal and not had a problem so far.

[Custom-Cable]

Originally Posted by rednotdead

I pay via paypal and not had a problem so far.

Agreed I just purchased Raising Sand album from HDTracks with no problem using paypal. It opens a Java Downloader and away you go.

Regards

Phil @ Custom Cable

[simon ess]

Thanks for the responses so far. Perhaps we could compile a list of lossless download sites, if there isn't one already.

As far as Allflac is concerned, I'm slightly suspicious of their low prices. 3.61 dollars for Thriller in flac format. Same for Buddha Bar compilations.The cds are about 26 quid on Amazon.

So, the question is, are they reliable and legit?

[rednotdead]

Originally Posted by little chap

Thanks for the responses so far. Perhaps we could compile a list of lossless download sites, if there isn't one already.

As far as Allflac is concerned, I'm slightly suspicious of their low prices. 3.61 dollars for Thriller in flac format. Same for Buddha Bar compilations.The cds are about 26 quid on Amazon.

So, the question is, are they reliable and legit?

Dunno. Had a look today, they're obviously based in Russia, similar to the old allofmp3 site I suppose. All depends if you're happy handing over credit card details? I never had a problem with allofmp3 but as you say, the prices are very cheap so I suspect not completely legal.

[simon ess]

Originally Posted by rednotdead

Dunno. Had a look today, they're obviously based in Russia, similar to the old allofmp3 site I suppose. All depends if you're happy handing over credit card details? I never had a problem with allofmp3 but as you say, the prices are very cheap so I suspect not completely legal.

Hmm, interesting!

My apologies if I'm missing something obvious here, but how could you tell it's based in Russia?

[rednotdead]

This kind of gives it away: link -

Also found some dodgy reviews of allflac which seems to suggest their servers are in Russia......

[simon ess]

Yep, that kinda does it.

I think it's a risk I'll not be taking. Thanks for checking.

[rednotdead]

Originally Posted by little chap

I think it's a risk I'll not be taking.

That was the conclusion I arrived at too.....

Post up here if you find any good legit sites though

[a8ch]

As well as using Hd tracks I also use Linn Records, relatively obscure artists but some great music to be had imo.

[formbypc]

I took a look at allflac and for a couple of artists that I follow, their albums were there with no corresponding mention on any bulletin board, official website, etc etc - which left me with the impression that someone behind the scenes at allflac is basically ripping the CD to flac then charging for it. And I can rip it to flac myself.......

[trailer]

Naim and B&W also do high res downloads too, but maybe not to everyones taste.
Surely it costs more (server and network use) to provide a 20Mb hi-res download than it does to provide a 1Mb 128k?

[Ed Selley]

Originally Posted by trailer

Naim and B&W also do high res downloads too, but maybe not to everyones taste.

Of the British companies offering lossless/high res downloads, the Naim choices are probably nearer the mainstream than most for me.

[rileytomo]

Hey guys!
If your still unsure where to download music from then
id suggest http://www.mp3obs.com/ its an mp3 download comparison site. The site lists the latest releases in the charts, all new hot additions and have full bio’s on each and every artist you can think of :-) Not to mention the variety of genres like pop, dance, jazz, comedy, classical, easy listening, country, electronic and lot more. Hope this helps :-)

[ch3rub]

I just couldn't resist to have a quick look and surprisingly this Russian looking site is hosted.... in Berkshire!
www.allflac.com sits at 92.48.78.161

Server is hosted by company called Poundhost, I have no doubt they have no idea they're hosting illegitimate site.

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descr: Poundhost customer server
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[Loaded1me]

I've downloaded from allflac and I wouldn't recommend them. Really poor quality, including files without any music (album art only). Live albums that are 1 track only. It would seem that they have a team working behind the scenes ripping CD's to post on the site. They do give a report supposedly of the quality. I think it's probably the EAC report, however I don't think it can be accessed without being on the site, but it didn't seem to mean much.
I used to use the old allofmp3 (and it is the same people) and the 320k downloads were fine, I still listen to many of them. I don't think I use allflac again though.

[ozzzy189]

Originally Posted by CFH

Ive bought stuff from Boomkat but it specialises in drum and bass and dub step style releases.

Very high quality and only slightly more expensive than their MP3 320kbps versions.

Awesome avatar pic. Saw rob zombie at Leeds earlier this year. Amazing stuff.
Nin. Com have studio masters of the slip for free. Ghosts at 320kbps is also free. I wish ghosts was lossless, the slip is nowhere near as good.
Hdtracks have a few rock albums, including a rush album.