Post #540493 by Baron von Tiki on Fri, Jul 2, 2010 7:11 PM

On 2010-07-02 09:52, TikiHardBop wrote:
Some download services allow you to purchase CD-quality (or higher) downloads. I import them into MP3 format for use on my portable devices, but the base music server still broadcasts the higher quality versions.

Many online music services also stream CD-quality music.

I didn't say it was impossible to have CD-quality in downloadables. It is. The free online compilation album Hymns From The House of Horror is encoded at 320kbps. It's a 150MB download and as a result would be approximately three times more expensive in downloading expenses if it were offered for sale on the most popular downloading service.

It's just more cost-effective to sell downloadables in 128kbps or 192kbps. Since most people listen to their music on crappy earbuds anyway, they don't notice the difference in sound quality or don't care. Since people are buying them as they are, there's no real reason for a business to increase its expenses.