How long until FLAC online music purchases?

[mordantmonkey]

The only reason i don't buy my music online. MP3's are ok for the gym or bus, but for home listening on nice floor speakers i want some actual fidelity.
when is this going to happen? never?

 

[mercanucaribe]

Never. The vast majority doesn't even mind if it's 128kbps mp3, so why would music sellers bother with FLAC?

 

[MrBond]

You can buy FLAC performances from Metallica of most (maybe all) of their live shows from their last tour. $13 for a double CD.

 

[Noema]

I'll never buy online music until lossless is available for purchase. For my style of music (Jazz, Classical), the difference is quite noticeable.

 

[yosuke188]

If you want FLAC, I'm afraid you are going to have to buy/borrow the CD. Lossless means larger files which mean larger traffic for online sellers. They are just not going to mess with that.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Believe there are a few non-mainstream music stores that sell FLAC already.

 

[Ika]

A few years, maybe. As long as storage keeps getting cheaper, bitrates will get higher. I've noticed a trend in bitrates of music that I download. In the past, most stuff was 128kbps, but now almost everything is at least 192.

 

[keeleysam]

They Might Be Giants sell their albums in FLAC. It is $11.99 an album instead of $9.99 for LAME MP3s.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: yosuke188
Lossless means larger files which mean larger traffic for online sellers. They are just not going to mess with that.

The few stores that already offer this option simply charge a higher rate.

Relatively simple concept.