Choice of format when purchasing music Options

[SebastianG]

I voted earlier for CD-DA but it finally started buying (high quality) MP3s and FLACs online (already 4 albums).
It's saving money (around 50%) and time (no need to rip/encode/tag for my portable).

Sebastian

[Gow]

CDs, for the most part.

Yet I also have some of the new classical stuff in SACD as well as Vinyl. My Vinyl collection is a mix of 60s-70s Rock, classical, John Denver, and some other stuff that my Dad collected.

Its a tradition, father passes down Audio collection down to son...its why the musical taste ranges.

The only online store I buy from is Magnatune, because they offer FLAC downloads, give 50% of their income to the artists and sell their music with no DRM (they even encourage you to share it).

Do they throw in a cue sheet with that FLAC? Also, you might want to try http://cdbaby.com/, all the money made on a CD goes directly to the artist. Plus a huge repository of artists at the moment, independent people mostly...all genres.

- Gow

This post has been edited by Gow: Jul 4 2006, 18:22

[Madman2003]

Only audio cd's without copy protection is what i buy, not about to spend money or copy protection or lossy with drm. If lossless music becomes significantly cheaper than cd's, i might consider it, but pressed media and packaging do have their advantages.

This post has been edited by Madman2003: Jul 22 2006, 10:13

[Mitch A]

Still CD-Audio for me, it can be used with so many devices

[audioaficionado]

I still mostly have over 95% CDA music with a few vinyl and cassette albums that haven't seen the light of day in years. I get most of my CDs at the local pawn shops for 5/$20 or at swap meets. I don't by new albums much anymore due to fiscal constraints. I never do P2P as it's not worth the risk.

I also acquire online streaming music through ShoutCast/StreamRipper32 and some free Shorten (.shn) audio compression format live album downloads from relatively unknown but good artists and lots of live concerts from more well known artists. You better have broadband to grab any lossless .shn files.

This post has been edited by audioaficionado: Jul 23 2006, 03:40

[Fuchal]

Hybrid 5.1 SACD.

[landy]

A mix of Vinyl and CDs. Most of my albums are on CD, but in the hardcore/screamo genre lots of bands do Vinyl-only releases (mostly 7"s + 10", sometimes splits with other bands). If a release is available in both formats I usually go for the one with the better layout (or more songs).
I'm currently looking into buying a new/better turntable and finally rip my stack of vinyl for consumption on my iRiver.

And: Colored Vinyl is just sexier than any CD could ever be. Check out Viva La Vinyl.org for all your collector needs.

sorry for the late reply but doesnt colourd vinyl wear out faster and picture disc have shit sound/ fast wear? i much prefere cd for ease of use as i end up only listening stuff on vinyl once a week or so simply beacuse its a lot more hassle than transfering rips of a cd to my xbox/xbmc and playing them with that.

one thing i have been doing though is get good examples of each type of vinyl pressing (pic disc, locked grooves, inside out, etched) but with decent audio on them as well although the locked grooves one is exempt from having good audio as 500x1.8sec plus the fact you cant really find a good groove again kind of sucks.

just a general question, can the new formats (blueray/hd-dvd) be used for audio and if so how do they compare to SACD/DVD-A?

[dvda-sacd]

Hi everyone!

You can also vote on this poll (you don't need to be a registered member):

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23293

Thanks!

[minisu]

Online all the way! I don't even own another player anymore...

[Artemis3]

CDA, but only standard compliant (non "protected"). According to cdfreaks, no label is using "copy protection" anymore. The Sony fiasco was worth it

PD: I never play them directly, just rip and encode then they go into storage.

This post has been edited by Artemis3: Jan 10 2007, 11:45

[kornchild2002]

My vote went for audio CD as it is my main source for music. I will generally purchase a CD, rip it to my computer, then put it away. My second vote would go towards online though as I use the iTunes Store to purchase those rare tracks/albums that can't really be purchased in the stores anymore. I would just end up purchasing albums from the iTunes store if it wasn't for the damned DRM which is a pain to get around.

[Teqnilogik]

primarily I buy audio CDs, however, recently I've been using the Napster subscription service and like it. Unlimited downloads for $10/mo. For what I spend on CDs a year, $10/mo will save me a lot of money.

[Piffles]

I buy CD-As normally. However, it's not really a choice, it's just about the only thing available. HDCD and SACD are still very, very rare in shops. In any case, CD quality is good enough for me, I see no reason for me to change the format.

I suppose buying lossless online would be a possiblity, but I definitely need something tangible in my hands once I've bought something. And call me old-fashionned, but I like having the CD case, artwork and booklet when it's an album/artist that I really like. Paying just to get a file on my PC is not something I'm likely to do anytime soon.

[And1945]

On CD. I dont really like online purchase, with all that DRM into it. Then it comes in wma or other useless formats. OGG/MPC/APE or high def MP3.

Then I can always convert it into whatever I want.

[cologne]

I prefer CD. I rip to lossless, then transcode it to whatever codec of choice, so I'm not locked into any ecosystem from DRM, or worry about what codec my future DAP does or doesn't support.

[Pi Is A Rational]

vinyl vinyl vinyl! I'll buy the album on CD first if the Vinyl isn't available then when it comes out I'll get the vinyl and just sell the CD to a friend or something and make my own vinly rip to a CD. The way a simple needle can totally change your sound is amazing. I'm not saying vinyl is better then CDs (I think it is personally but that's a whole debate in and of itself) but it can be a lot more personal, dunno if anyone knows what I'm trying to say.

EDIT: I did forget to mention that my friend has told me in the past that the reason I may not be as willing to fully jump to CD or not care about the quality may stem from not having a good DAC and whatnot. Then again I'm just not interested. Vinyls you get nice big cover art, usually limited press and all that. Especially for the genre of music I listen to (Screamo, Indie, Expiremental) a lot of it is extremely limited (under 500 usually) different colours, covers (some are silkscreened, handmade, etc.) and even if its not limited some are just straight up amazing. Like the some girls pressing, there's about 1000 or so of each but they all have the lyrics etched onto the B-Side. So it's basically a one-sided 12" (probably could've been a double-sided 7" or 10" if they really wanted). Still pretty neat though. So much more "personal" IMO. Now, I don't understand necessarily people who collect the older stuff like Beatles Mono LPs and whatnot but to each his own...

This post has been edited by Pi Is A Rational: Jun 18 2007, 16:59

[Pi Is A Rational]

On CD. I dont really like online purchase, with all that DRM into it. Then it comes in wma or other useless formats. OGG/MPC/APE or high def MP3.

Then I can always convert it into whatever I want.

I actually use WMA lossless when converting vinyl over to PC. Works fairly well for me. I'm sure there are better formats I just haven't cared that much to mess around with them. WMA Lossless comes with windows so . Hehe.

[Shifty]

I cast my vote for SACD (especially the hybrid ones). I would also go with DVD-A as an equal. I prefer the higher quality myself and find it a shame that more things are not released in these formats. Oh well ... be happy with what you got, right?!

[Nick E]

... I'm not saying vinyl is better then CDs ...

It oughtn't to be, but then in practice many CDs are deliberately mastered badly -- another familiar topic here:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=27691

[Pi Is A Rational]

... I'm not saying vinyl is better then CDs ...

It oughtn't to be, but then in practice many CDs are deliberately mastered badly -- another familiar topic here:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=27691

Yeah, I've tended to notice that too. It seems as if they just sort of halfass it enough to the point where most people deem it acceptable since they're ignorant to the fact that it is possible to have it sound better. I mean, I'm sure all of us wish we could probably be ignorant sometimes like everyone else and find a 128kbps from a p2p network burnt to a CD acceptable. Haha.

Though, some of the bands I listen to have some AMAZING remastered Discography CDs. Neil Perry, Spirit of Versailles and Usurp Synapse had amazing remastered discogs. Saetia's is fairly shitty, you can tell they ripped the vinyls and halfassed no less. You can hear the needle lift off at the end of one of the songs. LoL.

EDIT: Then again, I don't know since I'm not trying to use pseudoscience or claiming anything whatsoever since it's probably impossible or not even worth the trouble to analyze. But like I stated before different needles and everything else can totally change the sound of anything. I haven't messed with CDs and different DACs and all that kind of shit but I'm assuming you can get the same results that each product produces its own unique sound. Nobody listens to the same song the same. Just expirementing with needles themselves can be fun for me personally, I can use a DJ needle if I want to pull more bass out or whatever you know? Good times. Also, cleaning off vinyls improves the sound and can help reduce clicks, pops, etc. so you essentially never listen to it the same twice and there's always that factor to have it sound better then the last time you heard it.

Sounds boring and tedious, but it's sort of fun, getting a vinyl that was in semi bad condition and cleaning the hell out of it and getting that satisfaction of a job well done.

This post has been edited by Pi Is A Rational: Jun 18 2007, 18:03

[exec]

CDs - easy to use, rip or listen to.

But still have some rare or limited stuff on vinyl.

[Barock]

Buy the CD-Audio, and then comes the torture of ripping to a multitude of formats...

[2tec]

anyone still buy cassettes????????

Some people consider cassettes the best analog medium commonly available, and, of course, used tapes and top end decks have never been less expensive.

[Slipstreem]

Well, I'm also buying old good CD-DA!
One of the purposes is this cool explanation from r3mix myths section:

CD doesn't have a low enough signal to noise ratio. The new DVD super audio is a huge improvement.

This was a joke, right?

Why would somebody want a lower signal to noise ratio? Do they prefer noise to signal?

Cheers, Slipstreem.

[macman4hire]

This poll must add the new slotMusic format because it is destined to rule our galaxy and it is the will the will of the evil empire. The dark side is strong! You will all be assimilated into our corporate collective.