The 49 Year Old Virgin!

[garym]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

Thanks garym. I haven't downloaded much lossless, but my impression so far is similar to what you say, that often you can't verify the downloads. So we just have to trust the vendors with integrity and also the little info they give about sources.

This may force us to actually start using our ears to determine sound quality...

I don't download much, but I haven't had any problems. I recall reading about some Quoboz flac downloads that had playing problems, but they were solved by simply converting from FLAC to FLAC. Was something related to an odd header in the file.

[evasv]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

Thanks garym. I haven't downloaded much lossless, but my impression so far is similar to what you say, that often you can't verify the downloads. So we just have to trust the vendors with integrity and also the little info they give about sources.

This may force us to actually start using our ears to determine sound quality...

[Dat Ei]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

Here is an example of the download options for a buy in CD quality.



And here an example for a hires download.




Dat Ei

[garym]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

This leads me to a related topic - how can you verify the source and integrity of downloaded lossless files? Are they usually, or not, accompanied by some sort of documentation? The few I have purchased didn't include anything of the sort, except some vague info in the tags.

usually no in my experience

Are lossless 16/44 downloads actually ripped from CD's or do they come straight from the masters? In the case of ripping, who does that - the vendors themselves?

probably some of both.

Can 16/44 downloads be identified and thus verified by the accurate rip database?

On some (most) of mine, they can't be verified by AR database. I suspect these are ones that were not ripped, but created from some other direct source. I suspect this has something to do with CD offsets, etc.

[evasv]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

This leads me to a related topic - how can you verify the source and integrity of downloaded lossless files? Are they usually, or not, accompanied by some sort of documentation? The few I have purchased didn't include anything of the sort, except some vague info in the tags.

Are lossless 16/44 downloads actually ripped from CD's or do they come straight from the masters? In the case of ripping, who does that - the vendors themselves?

Can 16/44 downloads be identified and thus verified by the accurate rip database?

I just want to add that it was not my intention to dismiss lossless downloads - if it so appeared. I'm just interested in the topics of their sources and their verification, if anyone knows anything about it.

[evasv]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

You misunderstand me. an mp3 is a LOSSY file. So converting it to LOSSLESS (like FLAC) is a waste of space. The Quobuz files are LOSSLESS files (either FLAC, or ALAC, or WAV). There is nothing wrong with converting from one LOSSLESS format to another LOSSLESS format.

True. In this case if there's only one lossless option, should it be ALAC or WAV it's perfectly ok to convert it to FLAC.

But given a choice, FLAC is a better download option because you can verify the checksums. Which of course, when it comes to downloads, only tells you that the FLAC file itself is ok - potential errors before the compression are likely unknown.


This leads me to a related topic - how can you verify the source and integrity of downloaded lossless files? Are they usually, or not, accompanied by some sort of documentation? The few I have purchased didn't include anything of the sort, except some vague info in the tags.

Are lossless 16/44 downloads actually ripped from CD's or do they come straight from the masters? In the case of ripping, who does that - the vendors themselves?

Can 16/44 downloads be identified and thus verified by the accurate rip database?

[Jailhouse]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

Per the Quboz site, you can get pretty much any lossless format you desire. Click here.

[Dat Ei]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

Do you not think that 'qobuz' site should state which file types the d/ls are?; whether they be: FLAC, ALAC, or WAV.

They do!


Dat Ei

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

You misunderstand me. an mp3 is a LOSSY file. So converting it to LOSSLESS (like FLAC) is a waste of space. The Quobuz files are LOSSLESS files (either FLAC, or ALAC, or WAV). There is nothing wrong with converting from one LOSSLESS format to another LOSSLESS format.

Gary,

Do you not think that 'qobuz' site should state which file types the d/ls are?; whether they be: FLAC, ALAC, or WAV.

Paul

[garym]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

Gary,

If I purchased a d/l copy - whether it be mp3 or otherwise - I would leave it as it is. As you say, it's a waste of space.

I have emailed qobuz to see what they say about the file format ...

Paul

You misunderstand me. an mp3 is a LOSSY file. So converting it to LOSSLESS (like FLAC) is a waste of space. The Quobuz files are LOSSLESS files (either FLAC, or ALAC, or WAV). There is nothing wrong with converting from one LOSSLESS format to another LOSSLESS format.

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

I'm a qobuz customer for more than 2 years now. Yes, qobuz does stream and offer downloads in CD and even hi-res quality. Especially if you are interested in jazz (like I'm), qobuz is a good address.

Hi Dat Ei,

It was the only reputable site I could find "Miles On The Corner" COMPLETE on, at a sensible price.

I would not be 'streaming' though, only purchasing a d/l.

Paul

[Dat Ei]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

I'm a qobuz customer for more than 2 years now. Yes, qobuz does stream and offer downloads in CD and even hi-res quality. Especially if you are interested in jazz (like I'm), qobuz is a good address.


Dat Ei

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

says it is lossless. I think I've read that Quobuz does FLAC downloads. But even if not FLAC, because it is lossless, it is trivial to convert the downloaded files to FLAC with dbpa converter.

Gary,

If I purchased a d/l copy - whether it be mp3 or otherwise - I would leave it as it is. As you say, it's a waste of space.

I have emailed qobuz to see what they say about the file format ...

Paul

[garym]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

Hi,

Is this a FLAC format d/l? - would anyone know for sure - please:

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/th.../0886970623926

It says it is: "16 bit CD Quality", but that is all I can see?

Thanks,

Paul

says it is lossless. I think I've read that Quobuz does FLAC downloads. But even if not FLAC, because it is lossless, it is trivial to convert the downloaded files to FLAC with dbpa converter.

[monsterjazzlick]

Re: The 49 Year Old Virgin!

Hi,

Is this a FLAC format d/l? - would anyone know for sure - please:

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/th.../0886970623926

It says it is: "16 bit CD Quality", but that is all I can see?

Thanks,

Paul