Seems like every topic about music sources devolves into yet another discussion about streaming platforms, but I think any audiophile forum should have a topic about downloadable music that you can listen to with any player you want. Didn’t think to create the topic myself until now because I was all set with the sources I had: between Bandcamp and Google Play Music I could buy 99.9% of everything I wanted in 320 kbps MP3 or better.
But now that GPM is gone I’m only left with Bandcamp, and most artists still aren’t on there.
I think Apple still sells music, but I’m not sure if it’s still DRM-free, and anyway I hate Apple with a passion and would not want them getting any of my money whatsoever.
Next big option would be Amazon… if I was in a country with its own Amazon website or had a credit card with a billing address in such a country. But I don’t. And Revolut also doesn’t work for this. So Amazon is also out.
What else is there? HDTracks? Says it has DRM-free files and accepts PayPal, and not all are in the stupidest storage-devouring “hi-res” formats (just looked at one album that’s in 24/44.1, I could live with that).
7 Digital is one other to try. They’re not hi res snobs so most of the content is available in 16/44 and it’s cheaper.
Bandcamp is by far my favorite though because the artists make the bulk of the purchase price because the artist owns the production company not a record company. That’s usually how it goes there.
With Qobuz you can choose in the app whether you want to import (only playable via the Qobuz app) or download (playable with all apps). You can also download the tracks directly via the browser and save them on your smartphone / computer. To play the tracks I use USB Audio Player Pro.
In addition, when downloading you can choose the quality in which you want to download the album and if there is a Hi-Res album for sale, it is also a little cheaper in CD quality to buy.
“Not available in your country”, too bad they don’t want my money.
Also got that country exclusivity BS going on, no bueno. (Though TBH HDTracks also say in their FAQ that some releases might not be available everywhere because of licensing BS. At least they don’t close down their whole service by country, and the first album I was looking for actually is available to me.)
He got a point there. Honestly, that is the reason why I took that route. I live in Indonesia and my options are very limited. Qobuz and Tidal are not available in my country and my local CD stores had ran out of business. So, my option is pretty much to go to public or private trackers.
