Thread: high quality download

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Post by PENTATONE April 2, 2014 (1 of 91)
For us from PENTATONE the feedback of high quality music listeners is very important, since that helps us to develop our label. After evaluating our customer survey 2013 - which was also widely discussed here - we could turn first things into action. From now on our catalog will be available as high quality download directly from our website, offering 3 different levels:

- high quality: stereo 44.1kH 16-bit file WAV
- premium quality: MCH 96kHz 24-bit FLAC (stereo/surround)
- master quality: DSD

Looking forward to hear your opinions on these developments.

Post by steviev April 2, 2014 (2 of 91)
Pentatone dares to charge extra for a bucket of bits sans booklet and durable physical medium? No thanks, chaps.

Post by porpielee April 2, 2014 (3 of 91)
hd surround track download is very encouraging.

Post by Wilhelm—Xu Zhong-Rui April 2, 2014 (4 of 91)
PENTATONE said:

After evaluating our customer survey 2013 - which was also widely discussed here - we could turn first things into action.

You're referring to /showthread/106722//y?page=first ?

If so (your "widely" may not be an apt word), I note that Pentatone Classics made his 1 and only comment... Are you he, this the follow-up ? It's best to be transparent as to who's speaking for the Pentatone label.

I trust the majority "opinion" of readers will be for you to continue with producing physical SA-CD discs for releases. Some outspoken writers, not an accurate overall representation, will congratulate your "[download] developments" ; other writers will want answers to their concerns for the physical...

Will you commit yourself to be henceforth available for continual replying ?

Post by Kal Rubinson April 2, 2014 (5 of 91)
PENTATONE said:

For us from PENTATONE the feedback of high quality music listeners is very important, since that helps us to develop our label. After evaluating our customer survey 2013 - which was also widely discussed here - we could turn first things into action. From now on our catalog will be available as high quality download directly from our website, offering 3 different levels:

- high quality: stereo 44.1kH 16-bit file WAV
- premium quality: MCH 96kHz 24-bit FLAC (stereo/surround)
- master quality: DSD

Looking forward to hear your opinions on these developments.

I think it is a reasonable compromise since you are actually offering the 4 options that will suit most download users:
- high quality: stereo 44.1kH 16-bit file WAV
- premium quality: MCH 96kHz 24-bit FLAC (stereo)
- premium quality: MCH 96kHz 24-bit FLAC (surround)
- master quality: DSD (ISO with stereo+surround)

Post by PENTATONE April 2, 2014 (6 of 91)
Also for us the physical CD is still the most important medium to deliver high quality music, and well definitely will continue to publish on SA-CD as long as possible.
Our main goal is to deliver high quality music to the listener, beeing aware that any medium will have an expiration date.
We are definitely convinced of the advantages of SA-CD, but definitely also see the demand for digital files.

Simon / Pentatone

Post by PENTATONE April 2, 2014 (7 of 91)
Also for us the physical CD is still the most important medium to deliver high quality music, and well definitely will continue to publish on SA-CD as long as possible.
Our main goal is to deliver high quality music to the listener, beeing aware that any medium will have an expiration date.
We are definitely convinced of the advantages of SA-CD, but definitely also see the demand for digital files.

Simon / Pentatone

Post by Johnno April 2, 2014 (8 of 91)
Simon, I love the sound of your SACDs, both RQR and new recordings, even though I have a stereo-only system and am unlikely to have anything else. I have started to download some music files but the best broadband in New Zealand is hardly electrifying and it seems to take forever to download an album of 24-bit/96kHz, let alone 24-bit/192 kHz. We are promised faster speeds, but at what cost?

I will definitely continue to support your physical medium.

Post by Jonalogic April 3, 2014 (9 of 91)
Hmmm. Progress, but still looks too expensive. Take an illustrative example - the fine recording of Shostakovich 1 and 6/Jurowski.

All figures converted to UKP, for convenience, and presented in descending price-order:

Stereo 24/96 download from Pentatone - £20 (and why the VAT?!)
Stereo 24/96 download from a well-known UK vendor - £16
Stereo 24/88 (?) download from a well-known Swedish vendor - £13
SACD from Amazon France - £13
SACD (stereo and MCH) from Amazon UK - £12
Stereo 24/96 download from a well-known US vendor - £11
SACD (stereo and MCH) from Amazon US - £8
SACD (stereo and MCH) from Amazon Canada - £8
SACD from Amazon Germany - £7 (!)

Make of this what you will...

But I would note:

1) As usual, US prices tend to be cheap for both the physical disc and download. But the cheapest SACD of all was from Amazon DE - a one-off anomaly?

2) Most download vendors are still ripping us off.

3) As a result, physical discs remain better value for many/most listeners

4) At this moment in time, download only wins for (i) hires repertoire unavailable on SACD or other hires medium (ii) mobile or multi-platform applications (iii) when the absolute maximum SQ is sought - and then only if comparing like to like in resolution and format.

And i write this as a frequent downloader; however, all my recordings are now - and will from henceforth - be purchased on the basis of criteria 4(i) - (iii) above. That still gives me plenty to choose from!

Post by Pentatone Classics April 3, 2014 (10 of 91)
Thanks for your input. Prices are of course definitely a very sensitive case. As a label it is very hard to cope with price dumping from f.i. on amazon etc.

If I may speak very honestly: the price policy of amazon is definitely dangerous for a small classical label like we are - especially in a market where the price competition is very high but recording and producing costs are not going down. (especially for high quality recordings)
If only amazon (who's main interest definitely isn't high quality music) would be selling our products, we would not be able to survive or finance new recordings.

About your currency aspect: that is definitely one of our upcoming goals to offer our products in different currencies to be more competitive.

Simon

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