Amazon MP3 and CDs

[chris watton]

I have been buying quite a few MP3 albums from Amazon, along with the CDs, because, I have noticed with a lot of downloads, it is actually cheaper to buy the CD and download the MP3 album! For example, a stand-alone MP3 download could cost around £10, but if you buy the physical CD, it could cost £6, plus you get the MP3 download anyway!

Is this a way to keep the physical CD industry going, do you think?

ETA - here is one example - I bought this yesterday and the CD arrived this morning!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Velvet-Underground-Nico-45...

"Buy MP3 Album - £7.99"

"Buy CD Album (includes free MP3 version of this album) - £6.44"

Edited by chris watton on Saturday 26th April 10:55

[DocJock]

I don't know, but it's great isn't it?

I get to keep the CDs in great condition plus I get all the sleeve notes which you don't get with a download.

[nagsheadwarrior]

Daft isn't it, it's been like that for a while.

I recently purchased three autorip albums for a tenner instead of circa £18 just to download, got free post then sold the cds to a colleague for a fiver, bargain!

[robsco]

Amazon are excellent for CD pricing; I for one would never consider a download of an album. Perhaps for single tracks here and there, but nothing beats sitting down with a disc and playing it for the first time with sleeve notes in hand. The download robs one of that pleasure... although I'm sure some people had similar moans when the CD superseded the vinyl record.

[jet_noise]

Dear All,

are the bitrates &/or compression methods of the autorip & separately purchased files the same?

regards,
Jet

[chris watton]

jet_noise said:

Dear All,

are the bitrates &/or compression methods of the autorip & separately purchased files the same?

regards,
Jet

They seem to be, yes - I just checked the bit rates from the CD/MP3 combo and stand alone MP3 and they are the same.

[Digger]

chris watton said:

jet_noise said:

Dear All,

are the bitrates &/or compression methods of the autorip & separately purchased files the same?

regards,
Jet

They seem to be, yes - I just checked the bit rates from the CD/MP3 combo and stand alone MP3 and they are the same.

320kbps?

[probedb]

Digger said:

320kbps?

I don't think this is what amazon uses is it? Not that most people require that anyways.

If you want higher then rip the CD yourself

Also remember not all titles, even bought from amazon, are available with AutoRip.

[chris watton]

Digger said:

chris watton said:

jet_noise said:

Dear All,

are the bitrates &/or compression methods of the autorip & separately purchased files the same?

regards,
Jet

They seem to be, yes - I just checked the bit rates from the CD/MP3 combo and stand alone MP3 and they are the same.

320kbps?

No, around the 256kbps mark - but, as already mentioned, you can also rip the physical CD to a higher bit rate.

However for me, the MP3s are fine for both home and car listening. But I do like a lot of crap...

[GetCarter]

In my day (old fart), we spent all our cash buying the best gear possible, to get the best sound possible. Now it seems the worse, the cheaper, the better. Shame on you young folk!

[chris watton]

GetCarter said:

In my day (old fart), we spent all our cash buying the best gear possible, to get the best sound possible. Now it seems the worse, the cheaper, the better. Shame on you young folk!

I'm 47!

[GetCarter]

chris watton said:

GetCarter said:

In my day (old fart), we spent all our cash buying the best gear possible, to get the best sound possible. Now it seems the worse, the cheaper, the better. Shame on you young folk!

I'm 47!

Just a kid then.

[rover 623gsi]

it amazes me that so many youngsters seems happy to listen to music on devices that have such poor sound quality - but I am pleased that my 17yr old has recently discovered the joy of vinyl

anyway...

[Hub]

robsco said:

Amazon are excellent for CD pricing

Not as good since the VAT loophole was closed! Still, they're probably the only mainstream CD seller now? Play, Zavvi, The Hut etc don't do them anymore, HMV still don't sell online since their administration to my knowledge and were never that great anyway!

[onlynik]

GetCarter said:

In my day (old fart), we spent all our cash buying the best gear possible, to get the best sound possible. Now it seems the worse, the cheaper, the better. Shame on you young folk!

My father was the same, he used to have Quad valve amps and huge speaker which looked like radiators, which were later replaced with some Kef units.

I'd like to replicate it one day, lots of nice specialist equipment.