Here’s a list of sites that offer high resolution audio downloads.

Taking advantage of the possibilities of broadband Internet and the advances in high-end audio DACs, these sites offer music in a wide range of genres at higher sound quality than CD can offer.

Note that this list is provided for information and should not be construed as an endorsement of any of the sites listed.

The list will be updated to add new sites and keep the information correct and current.  Please add your comments to let me know of any errors you find or of sites that you think should be on the list.

For those of you less familiar with digital audio, this post discusses Digital Audio Formats.

High Resolution Download Sites

• 2L – The label’s own, mainly classical, recordings available at resolutions from 16/44.1 to 24/352.8 stereo FLAC, DSD64 and DSD128 stereo, and 24/96 and DSD64 multichannel.  2L also sells its music on CD, SACD, Pure Audio Blu-Ray and vinyl.

• Acoustic Sounds Super Hirez – Mainly blues and jazz available in 24/44.1, 24/88.2 and 24/176.4 ALAC and FLAC, and DSD64.  Downloads currently only available in the USA.  Acoustic sounds also sells music on CD, SACD, and vinyl.

• Boomkat – ‘Underground’ electronic music available in Mp3 and FLAC (resolution unknown)

• B&W Society of Sound – Music from London Symphony Orchestra and a few other artistes available in 16/44.1 ALAC and 16/44.1 and 24/48 FLAC.

• classicrecord.at – Austrian classical record download site (in German only) providing titles from a few classical labels available in MP3, AAC, and 16/44.1 and 24/96 FLAC

• Cybele Records –  German classical record label providing its recordings in 16/44.1, 24/44.1, 24/48, 24/96 stereo FLAC; 24/44.1, 24/96 5.0 multichannel FLAC,  24/44.1 5.1 multichannel FLAC; DSD64 stereo, DSD64 5.0and DSD64 5.1 multichannel.

• Downloads NOW! – Music from Blue Coast Records and a few other labels in 16/44.1,  24/48, 24/88.2, 24/96, 24/176.4 and 24/192 WAV, 24/352.8 WAV, and DSD64.

• eClassical – Classical music from a number of labels available in MP3, 16/44.1, 24 bit FLAC up to 96kHz

• Gimell Records – Classical music by The Tallis Scholars available in stereo in MP3; 16/44.1, 24/48, 24/96 ALAC, FLAC and WMA; 24/192 ALAC and FLAC, and 24/48 and 24/96 multichannel FLAC and WMA.

• hd-klassik.com –  German classical record label providing several labels in 16/44.1, 24/44.1, 24/48, 24/96 stereo FLAC; 24/44.1, 24/96 5.0 multichannel FLAC,  24/44.1 5.1 multichannel FLAC; DSD64 stereo, DSD64 5.0and DSD64 5.1 multichannel.

• HD Tracks – Very wide selection of music of all genres from many labels available at resolutions from 16/44.1 to 24/176.4 and 24/192 in AIFF, ALAC, FLAC and WAV formats.

• HifiTrack.com – Classical, jazz, pop and traditional music, mainly by Chinese artistes available in 16/44.1, 24/48 and 24/96 WAV, and 24/48 and 24/96 FLAC (higher resolutions may be upsampled).

• High Definition Tape Transfers – Classical music transferred from reel to reel tape to high resolution digital. Avaliable in stereo in 24/96, 24/192 FLAC, DSD64, DSD128 and 24/352.8 DXD.

• HighResAudio – A range of genres available in stereo in 24/44.1, 24/48, 24/88.2, 24/96, 24/176.4 and 24/192 FLAC, 24/352.8 WAV, and DSD64; and in 24/96 multichannel FLAC.

• Hyperion Records – Classical music on the Hyperion label available in stereo in MP3, and 16/44.1, 24/44.1, 24,88.2, 24/96 ALAC and FLAC.

• iTrax – A range of genres available in MP3, Dolby Digital, DTS, WMA Professional, WMA Lossless and 24/96 FLAC and WAV in stereo and multichannel. (iTrax seems to be currently off line)

• Linn Records – A range of genres in MP3, 16/44.1, 24/44.1, 24/48, 24/88.2, 24/96 and 24/192 ALAC and FLAC.

• Naim Label – A number of genres, mainly jazz and classical, on the Naim label.  Titles are available in in stereo in MP3 320kHz, 16/44.1, 24/96 and 24/192 ALAC, FLAC and WAV,

• Pristine Classical – Restored and remastered classical recordings available in MP3, 16 bit mono FLAC and 16 and 24 bit stereo FLAC.

• Qobuz – French site with music from a range of genres available in 16/44.1, 24/48, 24/88.2 and 24/96 and 24/176.4 (format unclear)

• Unipheye Music – Recording from a range of genres on the Unipheye Music label, available in MP3, 16/44.1 AIFF and WAV,  24/96 FLAC and 24/96 and 32/96 wav.

© Wayne Butcher