Up until last week, I only bought music one way. On those shiny objects called CD's. I detest DRM on purchase music and don't like the bitrate of the music available via MP3's from Amazon, iTunes or Zune. So I have been stuck buying CD's and ripping the music to my home media server at a lossless bit rate. That works well at home, but when copied to an iPod, I always feel like the bottom and top end of the music is missing. (For example yesterday in my car trip, the White Stripes were lacking in the bass department in a huge way.)
Last week, I was introduced to HDTracks.com, which is founded by David and Norman Chesky of the audiophile record label Chesky Records, featuring thousands of artists, including Smokey Robinson, Joe Jackson, Bob James, Buddy Guy, Nina Simone, Earl Wild, Zubin Mehta, The Kinks, Of Montreal, Yo La Tengo and Jerry Garcia, from 60 independent labels around the world.
They are offering the The HDtracks Ultimate Download Experience for the month of June for FREE. After listening to these in my iPod connected to the car, there truly is a difference that is HUGE. I could actually make out the bass lines and the highs sounded just like the CD copies I used as a reference.
The download includes:
Our Turn to Dance - Livingston Taylor
Well, I've Been to Memphis - David Johansen and the Harry Smiths
Mexican Hat Dance - Earl Wild
Larger Than Life - Holly Cole
Rumble - Mike Garson
Can't Let Go - Koko Taylor
Baba Yaga - The Minnesota Orchestra/Eiji Oue
Una tarde de verano - Brio
Music can be downloaded in high definition uncompressed AIFF or lossless FLAC format files for playback on home audio systems, including PCs, Macs or music servers, or as 320kbps mp3 files that far exceed the quality of standard mp3 files for playback on iPods and other portables.
Furthermore, in the coming months HDtracks will offer select titles in ultra-high resolution 96kHz/24-bit files that provide DVD-Audio sound quality for music enthusiasts who seek the very finest audio quality available.
They have a TON of labels working with them, including some of my favorites and covering all genres of music.
HDTracks does not employ DRM as the company believes that once its customers purchase music from its site, they have the right to play it wherever they wish on any device they choose. (SWEET!!!) Which means that at $11.98 or so for a full album WITH liner notes, they will be getting my business.