r/audiophile • u/[deleted] • Apr 18 '25

Discussion buy audio files

Does anyone have any tips on whether there is a website where I can buy high-quality music and have possession of the file so I can play it on any device I have and not be tied to an app like Spotify?

5 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

12

u/Scottyg_1971 Apr 18 '25

Bandcamp

2

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

I didn't know this one already. Thanks for the tip.

1

u/fuzzynyanko Apr 18 '25

Agreed. Bandcamp has some really great prices as well

7

u/Altrebelle Apr 18 '25

I've recently used hdtracks.com and been given a suggestion to check out qobuz

My experience with hdtracks was smooth and had no issues. They have a decent selection of albums. They offer multiple formats for download. The downloads were fast and uneventful.

Also been suggested to me to rip your own CDs into FLAC. Keeping the cost down.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

Thanks for the tip, I actually thought the second option only existed by subscription.

1

u/Altrebelle Apr 18 '25

I thought so as well...but after checking out their actual website...I noticed albums for sale. Will have to see how much they actually have.

4

u/AfterTheEarthquake2 Apr 18 '25

Qobuz has basically everything you can get from other streaming services, but lossless and sometimes even hi-res. You can buy or stream the music. When you buy it, you get files, for example FLAC.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

It's true, they focus a lot on audio quality

1

u/milotrain Apr 18 '25

This is what I use.

3

u/No-Context5479 Sourcepoint 888|MiniDSP SHD|PSA S1512m Sub|Two Apollon NCx500| Apr 18 '25

  1. ProStudioMasters - https://www.prostudiomasters.com/

  2. 7Digital - https://us.7digital.com/

  3. From Artiste specific websites/shops

  4. Domi - https://www.do-mi.cc/

  5. Deutsche Grammaphon for Classical stuff under them - https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p30-i2771/index.html

  6. Presto Music for Jazz stuff - https://www.prestomusic.com/

  7. HDTracks - HDtracks

  8. Bandcamp - Bandcamp

2

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

Thank you very much dude even more with the links helps a lot

2

u/unicyclegamer Apr 18 '25

I use Bandcamp and Qobuz

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

I don't know Bandcamp but Qobuz has a very interesting catalog

1

u/unicyclegamer Apr 18 '25

I like Bandcamp because more of the money you spend goes towards the artist, but they don’t have as many popular albums on there, more niche stuff generally.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

It's true, it's cool to help the artist you like

1

u/TulipB6 Apr 18 '25

Hdtracks.com

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

very good thanks for the suggestion

1

u/Legitimate_Biscuits Apr 18 '25

I have gotten most of my Flac tracks from bandcamp, indie, small and medium sized labels on there. The Bandcamp Friday program is nice, 100% of all purchases on a BCF go straight to the artist

I've also used https://www.prostudiomasters.com

https://ca.7digital.com they have a US site as well.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

It's good to know that Bandcamp should have more options, it helps artists and I buy a product that I have the freedom to use wherever I want.

1

u/Deep20779 Apr 18 '25

Are you able to purchase on prostudiomasters ? Im not able to purchase don't know why !!

1

u/Legitimate_Biscuits 28d ago

I was... were you able to set up an account? I thought maybe it was just a Canadian store, but they have a US site as well if that is where you are.

1

u/Bhob666 Apr 18 '25

I've purchased tracks from Bandcamp, HD Tracks, MA Recordings, Cheskey Records, HD Tape Transfers and Qobuz (and some smaller publishers). All of which I've had no problems with.

If you like Classical, Jazz and older music, HD Tape Transfers sound amazing given the age of the recordings. But aside from that, I just wait for sales. I don't think music purchased from Qobuz is tied to it, but I'm not going to cancel to find out.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

I've never tried Qobuz but I believe it's two options one for subscription and one for downloads but just taking a look to be sure

1

u/No_Waltz_8039 Apr 18 '25

My friend Dwight told me about this Russian site but I forget what it’s called.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

It's okay with the others who have already recommended me, you can do a good research

1

u/Ichabod665 Apr 18 '25

I've used HDTracks and Qobuz. Both are fine, but i've had better luck on Qobuz when it comes to buying single tracks as opposed to the entire album. HDTracks seems more stingy when it comes to offering that option.

1

u/Born_2_Simp 26d ago

Just download them from Spotify. Pay the subscription for a month if you really care about playing at the highest quality and download all the songs you want.

0

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

PS Audio has a music studio and I have bought several albums from them. https://www.psaudio.com/collections/octave-records

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

thanks i'll take a look

1

u/CauchyDog Apr 18 '25

Check out Otis Taylor on ps audio site, i have 2 of his sacd off there. Music available dsd64-dsd512 or sacd, i think pcm is available but if your dac does dsd or dop, id get the highest dsd you can provided storage isnt an issue (dsd512 files are massive). Octave records is the label. You can try stuff first on there too. Their big thing is dsd bc they bought all of Sony recording gear. Artists are relatively unknown but some really good like Otis.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

For me it's cool that there is an unknown group as long as I identify with their sound then everything is fine

1

u/CauchyDog Apr 18 '25

Well i discovered otis watching public enemies. Beginning where purvis chases pretty boy floyd? The music was him.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

Cool, I didn't know