Leaving your hi-rez bubble... It hurts.

saisunil · « **Reply #40 on:** 10 Dec 2011, 09:51 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 7 Dec 2011, 10:59 pm

Amazon has a bunch of hirez SACD's for sale for less than $10/disc. Mainly classical and jazz.

I am just trying to find a way of buying high-rez that is more affordable than:
- buying from HD-Tracks etc.

I have some SACDs that I enjoy on my TRL modded SACD player but I find ripping SACDs too much of a task for me ...

Perhaps this is wishful thinking - looking for affordable high rez digital content - not on disk but computer based ... and a way to sell it if I don't like it ... just like CDs / books or other media ...

o well ...

Rclark · « **Reply #41 on:** 10 Dec 2011, 10:06 pm »

I have 800 or so cd's. Even though I'm not set up for hirez and I won't be for a few more months, should I stop buying them now and just go ahead and buy files? Just burn them as cd format for now?

It will break my heart to stop cd's though. The disc, the album cover in my hand, the liner notes, the wierd extras, it will break my heart to go to files.. but if it's better

kingdeezie · « **Reply #42 on:** 10 Dec 2011, 10:16 pm »

Quote from: Rclark on 10 Dec 2011, 10:06 pm

I have 800 or so cd's. Even though I'm not set up for hirez and I won't be for a few more months, should I stop buying them now and just go ahead and buy files? Just burn them as cd format for now?

It will break my heart to stop cd's though. The disc, the album cover in my hand, the liner notes, the wierd extras, it will break my heart to go to files.. but if it's better

There are no suitable options right now for the most part.

Hi-Rez downloads are completely ridiculously priced. If you are a tinker type person, you can figure out how to rip SACDs and Blurays, but it is not very user friendly, no where near as easy as ripping a CD.

For now buying CDs, and ripping them to a computer seems to be the only reliable and decent quality way to get most of the music you want at this point in time.

I do long for the day when hi-res music is quickly and reasonably available.

20 dollars for one album is tough to swallow.

Rclark · « **Reply #43 on:** 10 Dec 2011, 10:53 pm »

Yeah I agree.Especially when there is no physical item to produce and distribution is through the internet

I'd be a buyer at $10 an album tops.

Tyson · « **Reply #44 on:** 10 Dec 2011, 10:55 pm »

I might offer a ripping service for people with SACD's that would like to have personal backups and be able to play them on non DSD systems. I'm still thinking it over, but there's a good chance I'll do it.

vhiner · « **Reply #45 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 12:20 am »

Can someone explain how HDtracks justifies charging a premium for some of their material? I don't recall being charged more than list price for remasters or repacked releases in the past unless they came with all kinds of fancy peripheral material. Is there any evidence that a hi-rez file costs more to produce or that the internet distribution is even close to as expensive as CD distribution? I understand why someone would charge a bit more for a newly pressed audiophile quality LP. The costs of production are obvious. I think we HAVE to support those who produce music but I think the price set for hi-rez is actually curtailing demand. Just my two cents.

wisnon · « **Reply #46 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 01:11 am »

Quote from: ted_b on 9 Dec 2011, 02:43 pm

Wisnon,
Are you really wondering what we are talking about, or is your comment facetious? We are talking about information on the disk that is sometimes 100x the quantity of redbook. Often these higher resolutions offer way more musical information, much more richness, much better tonality than redbook (and sometimes they don't). No one here has said that all redbook is bad. Some of my fave recordings (and 90% of my library) are redbook. But I am surprised that some natively recorded hirez discs don't sound better than redbook on your system. It makes little sense, like saying all 480i DVDs are better than any 1080p BluRay. Yes, some can look great on the right display, but math is math. I'd check other aspects of your system to see what is keeping good hirez from reaching its natural potential.

I agree 100% that the death of redbook is greatly exaggerated, but you going way beyond that and are saying also that nothing is missing from all your rb vs hirez. That I am wondering about.

Ted,

I was being serious. I could be that I am wrong, so I am going to run a test with you to get a definitive answer. Look out for my PM soon.

BTW, when I use AIFF files typically hirez size will be typically only about 5 to a max 10 times the size of rbcd, if I recall correctly. 50megs become like say 250megs for 24/192.

Pez · « **Reply #47 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 01:14 am »

@ Vhiner

They're following the early 2000 model that the music industry did. Charge outrageous prices, then bitch when piracy runs rampant. I'm not encouraging anyone to go out and 'steal' music but I certainly understand why they do it.

As far as artists getting they're cut I'm sure Stevie Wonder will be ecstatic when the check for $.03 cents arrives from my purchase.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #48 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 01:20 am »

Do you know what Stevie Wonder's royalty rate is here?

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #49 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 01:55 am »

Quote from: Pez on 11 Dec 2011, 01:14 am

@ Vhiner

They're following the early 2000 model that the music industry did. Charge outrageous prices, then bitch when piracy runs rampant. I'm not encouraging anyone to go out and 'steal' music but I certainly understand why they do it.

As far as artists getting they're cut I'm sure Stevie Wonder will be ecstatic when the check for $.03 cents arrives from my purchase.

Not "steal". Just : steal. It is what it is so let's just call it what it is. If I think an iPhone is outrageously priced for what it actually costs to produce or that Apple is too profitable, can I walk into the Apple Store and boost one? No, because that would be stealing. Not "stealing". Not that I would encourage anyone to "steal" because if the "police" catch them, they could end up in "jail" and leave with a "criminal record".

D.D.

Pez · « **Reply #50 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 01:58 am »

Don't drop the "soap" or get "shived".

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #51 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 01:59 am »

Quote from: Pez on 11 Dec 2011, 01:58 am

Don't drop the "soap"

D.D.

vhiner · « **Reply #52 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 02:02 am »

@ PEZ

I certainly don't want to encourage the idea that music is "free" either. It's not. I have no problem with distributors getting their "cut" but you are correct that many artists see a ridiculously small portion of music sales.

I can't believe I'm the only person who downloads with EXTREME discretion when it comes to hi-rez material. I'd buy twice as much if it were even as high as $15 a download. $24 for a digital file? At that rate, I simply can't afford more than a few a year...and considering I can't sell them "used," it makes even less economic sense. I just don't think HDtracks has thought this through. I'd like to see hi-rez take off but it won't if only a select few can afford the price of admission.

I suppose I could sell some of my equipment and then I could afford to buy several hundred downloads...but I guess that's where my righteous indignation breaks down...LOL. Sigh. I suppose, as Jim Carey says, I'll just bend over and take it up the tail pipe. (Liar, Liar)

Tyson · « **Reply #53 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 02:16 am »

All they have to do is provide additional storage and additional bandwidth for downloads (due to file sizes), that's all. Certainly not worth a $7 to $10 premium! Seriously, that's a pretty flawed business model. Hirez might die because of this type of stupidity. Selling at a premium limits quantity. Selling cheap increases volume. They are no doubt thinking "Those dumb audiophiles will pay $24 for a 40 year old album!". They should be thinking "This sounds so much better, how can we maximize the # of people that will take a chance on it?".

ted_b · « **Reply #54 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 02:55 am »

Quote from: wisnon on 11 Dec 2011, 01:11 am

Ted,

I was being serious. I could be that I am wrong, so I am going to run a test with you to get a definitive answer. Look out for my PM soon.

BTW, when I use AIFF files typically hirez size will be typically only about 5 to a max 10 times the size of rbcd, if I recall correctly. 50megs become like say 250megs for 24/192.

I was being too harsh, sorry. I look forward to your test. I PM'd you back my address and will publicly comment on your redbook stuff. I LOVE rebook. Todd Garfinkle's MA recordings, most ECM stuff, many good Mapleshade recordings...all of these keep up easily with some hirez stuff. But they don't (can't) match up with what Barry Diament is doing with Soundkeeper, or Todd is doing with his hirez MA stuff, at 24/176k and 24/192k native hirez recordings (native, as in actual 24/192 recording).

Anyway, I'd love some great redbook to sing about.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #55 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 03:05 am »

Reading this all makes me see the difference as going from sucking Coke up my nose (Redbook CD) to shooting Heroin (HiRez downloads)
I'll stick with my "lesser of two evils..."

I think playing records is gentler.. like Smoking pot.

Not that I have ever done any of those things...
Well maybe pot in my wild youth...

So I am gonna stay away from HiRez until it is mainstream.. and the only way to buy music..(If I live that long...)
I am happy with my so called mediocre CD playback.
(Yes i know HiRez is better.. So is Heroin if you want to be addicted) LOL

Pez · « **Reply #56 on:** 11 Dec 2011, 03:17 am »

It is addicitng, though I don't think it's quite something you need to abstain from.

Honestly though, that's a little melodrama, hi rez is not an all or nothing game, if you have computer based audio you're pretty much 95% there. Just get some albums and listen to them, doesn't mean you have to rebut your entire collection.

wisnon · « **Reply #57 on:** 16 Dec 2011, 09:42 pm »

Quote from: ted_b on 11 Dec 2011, 02:55 am

I was being too harsh, sorry. I look forward to your test. I PM'd you back my address and will publicly comment on your redbook stuff. I LOVE rebook. Todd Garfinkle's MA recordings, most ECM stuff, many good Mapleshade recordings...all of these keep up easily with some hirez stuff. But they don't (can't) match up with what Barry Diament is doing with Soundkeeper, or Todd is doing with his hirez MA stuff, at 24/176k and 24/192k native hirez recordings (native, as in actual 24/192 recording).

Anyway, I'd love some great redbook to sing about.

MA records did Calamus: The splendor of Al Andalus...superb Southern Spanish/Morroccan Music!

Don_S · « **Reply #58 on:** 16 Dec 2011, 10:25 pm »

Quote from: Pez on 11 Dec 2011, 03:17 am

It is addicitng, though I don't think it's quite something you need to abstain from.

I don't know Pez. It may be hazardous to your wealth.

ted_b · « **Reply #59 on:** 16 Dec 2011, 11:08 pm »

Quote from: wisnon on 16 Dec 2011, 09:42 pm

MA records did Calamus: The splendor of Al Andalus...superb Southern Spanish/Morroccan Music!

Todd has become a friend. He is a great guy.