I'd love to get the Beosound 5 - and probably will, however I have some concerns regarding sound quality;

Customers generally seem to be schizofrenic when it comes to audio/video requirements; On one side, people seem obsessed with picture quality, requiring Full HD, BluRay and now even 3D capabilities, whereas they seem much more relaxed with respect to sound quality when they seem perfectly happy to download the majority of their music libraries from iTunes or other "lossy"/compressed formats.

After all, the sound quality is only going to be as good as the weakest link in the HIFI set-up allows, in these download times being the compressed music files themselves. So why blow fortunes on Beosound 5, Beolab 5 etc. if you are only playing iTunes files? And yes, the difference between a CD and an iTunes track (even in the socalled - but far from - "lossless" format) is clearly audible when played on decent speakers, and not only to audiophiles!

To my knowledge there are currently no download services available in true lossless quality, at least not any with any decent sized music library. So those of us who care about sound quality are forced to keep buying CDs. However, with CD sales dropping fast, CDs may be outfazed before we know it, and buying CDs is obviously more inconvenient and often more expensive because you are forced to buy the whole Cd and cannot just pick the exact songs you like like on a download service. So, the purpose of this posting is actually to ask the Beoworld audience if any of you know any rumours about upcoming lossless download services - surely, there must be a market for it...?

I recall an article how Mr Jobs killed music because of the low quality Itunes offered.

sorenfelden:

So, the purpose of this posting is actually to ask the Beoworld audience if any of you know any rumours about upcoming lossless download services - surely, there must be a market for it...?

Torrents, P2P, newsgroups.

Huge market!

I've had that same thought.

It's just another example of how the content industries don't have their heads wrapped around a new business model. I have a feeling that like me and many of my customers, I buy CDs, mostly used for a few dollars, off Amazon, rip them and throw them into a bin until they get donated. 

What kills me is that Amazon has understood, at least to some extent, that there should be a unique pricing model for MP3s. Most downloads are around $8 per album versus $12-16 for the CD. So there's some premium placed on something existing in the material sphere. So bearing in mind the sheer amount of work and material that goes into mass producing CDs with their packaging, storage, transportation, sales, etc. I can't imagine that it's too difficult to capture a compressed version and a lossless version to offer for sale.

One place where you can get this is Deutsche Grammaphon where FLAC and 320kbps are available.

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

MOD - please Delete this and the following.

Don't know what happened exactly but each time I typed a "space" it seems to have posted a new entry!

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is usually

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is usually a

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is usually a free

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is usually a free track

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is usually a free track or

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is usually a free track or two

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is usually a free track or two or

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is usually a free track or two or a

jk1002:

There are actually a few that offers this. Just depends on where you are and don't expect the same band with as Itunes. Google is your friend.

 

In my opinion there is no reason to panic while some CDs I couldn't find on Amazon only in Itunes CDs will still be around for a bit and I am somewhat sure as storage increases again in Ipods I can't see a reason why Apple, Amazon or Microsoft wouldn't offer it.

For a (limited) range of lossless and Studio Master quality (24bit 88KHz etc) downloads you can try -

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/display.aspx?infid=3550

There is usually a free track or two or a sampler album you can download to see if your ears are up to it!

I think we should deduct at least 10 posts off Puncher on account of his keyboard stuttering ;-D

I was going to mention Linn ... I have bought from their site and imported into iTunes

I also get free downloads via my Last.FM account but they are not high quality

Many years ago I used to use a newsreader robot to sample music newsgroups, listen to the random collection the next day, and then go and buy CDs of the artists I liked ... now days I tend to sample 30 second bites of the iTunes catalogue ... and then buy what I like - either a track or a collection

iTunes & co have focused on ease of use and availability and have made a pretty good job at that. It would be great to see them take it to the next level by offering the same content in multiple versions:

- A reasonable-sized, "compressed mix" for iPod-type listening - sort of what we have today.
- A lossless format, preferably something better than "just" CD quality. This version would not only be lossless, it could also be a different mix with better dynamics for listening on "real" audio systems.

In essense, when purchasing an album multiple versions would be downloaded and stored for various devices to access. This would be automated, and bandwith and storage is quite cheap so it shouldn't be any problems from a technical or ease of use point of view. The labels could probably charge a premium for the service as well, so there should be an incentive even if they don't really care about sound quality..

It should bein B&O's interest to make sure their customers have access to high-quality content. I'm not saying they should enter that line of business, but perhaps use a section in the newsletter and other channels to "evangelize" and also provide links to services that offer high-quality content.

Mattias

Welcome Mattias to Beoworld

A very well said, second post

B&O used to promote good recordings and interesting artists ... let's have some more of that

I would not be surprised if Apple and others have had lossless versions from the beginning.  I thought like you that it was only a matter of time before the lossless versions would be available.  There are at least 2 reasons Apple lossless and others are not available.......most people don't care and if lossless were available, they would have DRM encryption.

I had thought that I would no longer have to buy CDs but I think for those like me who want high quality music, ripping CDs is still the best way.

out there one can find a lot of lossless music.

It doesn't to be WMA lossless or Apple Lossless; one can easely convert other types (f.e. FLAC)