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Rhapsody ??
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<blockquote data-quote="IvanLasston" data-source="post: 1471446" data-attributes="member: 145676"><p>I started with subscription music when Yahoo had a service. I subsequently moved on to Napster (the legal version) and that was actually quite good. They were always updating and were one of the first to have a iPhone and iPad app. Once they got sold to Rhapsody - I moved over to Spotify. I have been quite pleased with Spotify - both iPhone and iPad apps are available. </p><p></p><p>Most legal internet sources have a quality setting - and most high quality is available only if you have the premium version. Spotify's quoted quality is 160 kbps for normal and 320 kbps for high. <a href="http://www.spotify.com/us/help/faq/tech/codec-quality/" target="_blank">What quality does Spotify stream in? - Spotify - Spotify</a></p><p>Now that is just a sampling rate number and there is more to audio quality than high sampling rate - that being said Spotify sounds fine through my home audio system. I don't have an ultra high end home system though so true audiofiles still may not be pleased.</p><p></p><p>If you get the Spotify premium service - you can use your iOS device to stream to any Airplay enabled device. (Airport Express and Apple TV) - I have several Airport Expresses and Apple TVs peppered throughout the house for just that purpose. You could also Airplay mirror your Mountain Lion machine to any Apple TV. There is a program called Airfoil - which I own which will allow you to stream any audio to any Airplay enabled device.</p><p><a href="http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/" target="_blank">Rogue Amoeba | Airfoil | Select Your Operating System</a></p><p>As well as stream audio from a computer to an iOS device. Pretty handy piece of software.</p><p></p><p>As chas_m puts it - the downside to these streaming sites is you don't own the music. With the premium service you can setup offline playlists and listen to the music even when you aren't connected to the internet. Plus when you play it high quality - you aren't streaming - it is playing the music file from your hard drive or device. This allows you to listen on Planes and in low bandwidth areas without loss of quality or stuttering. Chas_m is right though - if you stop paying you can no longer listen to the downloaded songs. Note - that it isn't quite "poof they are gone" though. I have had my credit card stolen and forgot to update my spotify. I got a warning that I was no longer a premium account member and couldn't play my songs. So I put in my new credit card - and was able to play everything again. The song files were still on my devices - so it isn't like spotify deleted them and I had to re-download - I just lost authorization. Once re-authorized I could play everything again.</p><p></p><p>I know a lot of Audio sites point to a site called hd tracks - which has lossless encoded files available</p><p><a href="https://www.hdtracks.com" target="_blank">https://www.hdtracks.com</a></p><p>But their selection is more limited.</p><p></p><p>I look at it this way - yes I don't own the music - but in 10 years do I really want that Lady Gaga track or Justin Bieber track on my hard drive? I point you to this commercial</p><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ful1YfqUlU8" target="_blank">Ford Focus Michael Bolton Commercial - YouTube</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="IvanLasston, post: 1471446, member: 145676"] I started with subscription music when Yahoo had a service. I subsequently moved on to Napster (the legal version) and that was actually quite good. They were always updating and were one of the first to have a iPhone and iPad app. Once they got sold to Rhapsody - I moved over to Spotify. I have been quite pleased with Spotify - both iPhone and iPad apps are available. Most legal internet sources have a quality setting - and most high quality is available only if you have the premium version. Spotify's quoted quality is 160 kbps for normal and 320 kbps for high. [url=http://www.spotify.com/us/help/faq/tech/codec-quality/]What quality does Spotify stream in? - Spotify - Spotify[/url] Now that is just a sampling rate number and there is more to audio quality than high sampling rate - that being said Spotify sounds fine through my home audio system. I don't have an ultra high end home system though so true audiofiles still may not be pleased. If you get the Spotify premium service - you can use your iOS device to stream to any Airplay enabled device. (Airport Express and Apple TV) - I have several Airport Expresses and Apple TVs peppered throughout the house for just that purpose. You could also Airplay mirror your Mountain Lion machine to any Apple TV. There is a program called Airfoil - which I own which will allow you to stream any audio to any Airplay enabled device. [url=http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/]Rogue Amoeba | Airfoil | Select Your Operating System[/url] As well as stream audio from a computer to an iOS device. Pretty handy piece of software. As chas_m puts it - the downside to these streaming sites is you don't own the music. With the premium service you can setup offline playlists and listen to the music even when you aren't connected to the internet. Plus when you play it high quality - you aren't streaming - it is playing the music file from your hard drive or device. This allows you to listen on Planes and in low bandwidth areas without loss of quality or stuttering. Chas_m is right though - if you stop paying you can no longer listen to the downloaded songs. Note - that it isn't quite "poof they are gone" though. I have had my credit card stolen and forgot to update my spotify. I got a warning that I was no longer a premium account member and couldn't play my songs. So I put in my new credit card - and was able to play everything again. The song files were still on my devices - so it isn't like spotify deleted them and I had to re-download - I just lost authorization. Once re-authorized I could play everything again. I know a lot of Audio sites point to a site called hd tracks - which has lossless encoded files available [url]https://www.hdtracks.com[/url] But their selection is more limited. I look at it this way - yes I don't own the music - but in 10 years do I really want that Lady Gaga track or Justin Bieber track on my hard drive? I point you to this commercial [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ful1YfqUlU8]Ford Focus Michael Bolton Commercial - YouTube[/url] [/QUOTE]
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