Linn download prices

Posted by: hungryhalibut on 06 May 2016

I bought a couple of Linn downloads today. Previously they were charging £10 for CD quality (£12 for the physical CD) and £18 for studio master. They are now charging £12 for the CD quality and £15 for the studio master, whether 96k or 192k. Whereas before I often just bought the CD quality, because £18 is nearly double and seems an awful lot. But £15 seems much more reasonable, and is only £3 more, so I bought them both in studio master. I suppose Linn get £10 extra off me, but I sort of save £6, and they do sound very fine indeed. Of course, £15 is still a lot, but it's better than £18. Hyperion charge about £13, which is even better.

Posted on: 06 May 2016 by Harry

The last album I didn't buy from Linn cost me six quid less as a DVD-A from Amazon. Same files (plus more material).  Either Linn are a rip off organisation or their suppliers are ripping them off and the punters are picking up the penalty.

I thought they'd narrowed their stuff down to just their own label? And other outlets are selling it cheaper? Ouch!

Posted on: 06 May 2016 by MDS

£15 is still pretty steep in my view.  I'd even hesitate about paying £12 for a CD (vinyl, different matter).  Are the hi-res albums really worth that premium, HH?  I've tried only a handful which I play on my nDAC via a USB but to date I haven't been impressed at the quality. Indeed, I'd be hard-pressed to tell the recordings apart from ordinary CDs, and I think they are behind some of the better reproduced CDs I have.

Maybe I'm missing something somewhere.

 

Posted on: 06 May 2016 by Adam Zielinski

I typically download from the US site of HD Tracks.

Somewhat they don't block Poland's IP adddresses, so I get my fixes at the US prices - typically USD 18 / album. Frequent sales of up to 20% + specials. 

Posted on: 06 May 2016 by hungryhalibut
MDS posted:

£15 is still pretty steep in my view.  I'd even hesitate about paying £12 for a CD (vinyl, different matter).  Are the hi-res albums really worth that premium, HH?  I've tried only a handful which I play on my nDAC via a USB but to date I haven't been impressed at the quality. Indeed, I'd be hard-pressed to tell the recordings apart from ordinary CDs, and I think they are behind some of the better reproduced CDs I have.

Maybe I'm missing something somewhere.

 

I'd say that the Linn releases are worth the premium, when you are talking about new recordings that were done in 96 or 192k. The Claire Martin and Ray Gelato that I got today sounds fantastic. 

Posted on: 07 May 2016 by MDS

Fair enough, HH.  If I could be guaranteed to notch reproduction quality, I'd pay a premium for such CDs, too. Unfortunately it seems to be a gamble these days, though I've had some very useful steers toward quality reproduction from others on the forum 

Posted on: 07 May 2016 by Mike-B

I too noticed the Linn price change,  maybe getting sensible is the new word in downloads.     The others web vendors need to sharpen up  - are you listening Naim - as some others are setting lower prices.     I have just downloaded the new Gregory Porter album from HighResAudio,  24/96 is £14.00.  The same from Qobuz is £17.31 & HDTracks don't have it,  or some of his other stuff either.  

Posted on: 07 May 2016 by ewemon

Linn aren't the only ones. Some of the HDtracks downloads have gone up by 20% or more. Shocking ripoff.

Posted on: 07 May 2016 by Sloop John B

 

Hungryhalibut posted: 

I'd say that the Linn releases are worth the premium, when you are talking about new recordings that were done in 96 or 192k. The Claire Martin and Ray Gelato that I got today sounds fantastic. 

If they are recorded in 96 or 192 surely there is more work involved in down sampling them for CD?  Not to mention the money saved by having no physical media.

I really think all these HD merchants are taking us for fools.

and after CDs being more expensive than vinyl or cassettes all those years ago I'm taking the Who's approach.

 

SJB

 

Posted on: 07 May 2016 by Bert Schurink
Adam Zielinski posted:

I typically download from the US site of HD Tracks.

Somewhat they don't block Poland's IP adddresses, so I get my fixes at the US prices - typically USD 18 / album. Frequent sales of up to 20% + specials. 

If you have Qobuz Sublime you get most stuff for under 10 euros in high res....