At eClassical, we now offer much of our music in three file types:
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MP3 320 kbit/s
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(near CD quality)Free Classical Music Downloads Mp3 Player
16-bit FLAC (CD quality)24-bit FLAC (studio quality).
You can download free test files of each format further down on this page.
You can always contact us with any question at: support@eclassical.com
What is FLAC?New amongst these is the FLAC format. FLAC ('Free Lossless Audio Codec') shrinks audio files to about half their original size without losing any of the information, a so-called lossless compression.
Free Classical Music Downloads Online
In the case of 16-bit FLAC, the resulting files are still about twice as large as top quality MP3 files, but they contain all the audio that you would get if you bought the physical CD in your local record shop. Our 16-bit FLACs are always at a sample rate of 44.1 kHz, so their audio data is compatible with basically all playback hardware.
24-bit FLACs (studio quality) are the highest quality we can offer. They are substantially superior to CD quality, i.e. even closer to the live experience. You will find many recent albums (and many more to come!) in this format.
The sample rate of these files varies, depending on the rate that was used for the recording in question. It ranges up to 192 kHz, which may easily cause the file size for one such album to reach a gigabyte, despite the packing capacity of FLAC. So you need a fast internet connection to download such files, but they're worth it.
Here is useful guide with more info about 24 bit FLAC the-definitive-guide-to-24-bit-flac
How to use FLAC
MP3 has been the most popular format for internet audio for a long time, and MP3 files can be played back by almost any audio soft- or hardware. How does FLAC compare?
Listening on a (more or less portable) media player
You need a media player that supports FLAC. The FLAC homepage hosts a list of media players and keeps it up to date, better than we could. There may also be firmware updates available for your media player that add FLAC support. Any FLAC-compatible player should be able to play our 16-bit FLACs. If your player doesn't have a 24-bit chip, studio quality FLACs may still play, but reduced to whatever quality the player supports (see its manual).
Listening on a computer
For this, you need a playing software that supports FLAC. Neither Windows Media Player nor iTunes currently do this without the need to install additional 'plugins', and even with these, they may only play 16-bit FLACs. If you want to try, here are links for Windows and Macintosh.For a full-featured FLAC playback, we would recommend that you choose a media player software that inherently supports FLAC, such as MediaMonkey, Winamp or Foobar2000 for Windows, and VLC or Play for Macintosh. For further alternatives, please look at this more detailed list of software players.
As opposed to standalone media players, many computers are not primarily built to play music. Their built-in analogue audio outputs are often quite noisy, and 24-bit support is not very common. Generally speaking, you get a much better sound if you let an external D/A converter or AV receiver do the D/A conversion. Send the audio there by digital means such as optical or coaxial S/PDIF lines or the HDMI standard (for which you need a sound or video card with one of these connectors). For studio quality files, please check that your D/A converter supports the resolution of the files you intend to play.
Burning files onto audio CDs
You can easily do this with our 16-bit FLACs, since they're always at audio CD resolution. Some media players can burn CDs straight from the playlist. Standard burning software (such as Nero or Toast) may already have FLAC support or can have it added. And there are a few smaller programs that can burn FLAC compilations too.If you want to have 24-bit audio on a playable disc, you need to burn the 24-bit FLACs onto a DVD. In this case, 'DVD' means either DVD-Audio or DVD-Video, and in both cases, a process called 'authoring' is required. Standard burning programs for data DVDs can't do this, so you need special software.
DVD-Audio supports basically all our 24-bit FLACs (in terms of sample rate), but can only be played back on advanced players. As can be expected, such players have a strong focus on audio quality, which makes DVD-Audio the best choice if your player supports it.
DVD-Video (the most common DVD format) also supports 24-bit audio, but has some restrictions. The possible sample rates are only two: 48 and 96 kHz. If your 24-bit FLAC file has a different sample rate, you must convert it first. (Please note that the final result will depend on how well the conversion process is done). Moreover, many players apparently discard some of the audio data (footnote), so by using DVD-Video, you may lose some of the original file information.
Original Sample Rate
What we call 'Original sample rate' is the PCM sample rate of the highest bit rate files we receive from the labels. The highest bit rate download we offer will have the same sample rate. We ask the labels to give us the highest meaningful quality in which they have the recording. If they didn't convert rates during the postproduction, this will be the sample rate in which the album was recorded. But we cannot know each label's signal chain for each album. We trust them that they don't deliver upsampled recordings (contact our support if you think you found a 'black sheep'). Should they send sample rates lower than the original, they obviously have no other choice (at present). Even there, we can't know whether a higher version maybe exists.
We understand that the above may be considered inaccurate for DSD recordings. Of course, there the 'original sample rate' was 2.8224 MHz. And some people will definitely want to have the 'better' DSD originals, no PCM conversions. But since we decided to only deal with PCM files at eClassical (up to now), we write what you will get when you buy the album. Unless looking up each album manually, we won't even know whether it has been DSD once - or maybe just some tracks of it? That information rests with the labels. Therefore, should it be essential for you to know whether a 88.2 or 96 kHz album originates from a DSD recording, we must ask you to check this with the respective label or read in the enclosed booklet. This is what our term 'original' means in detail. We hope you understand that we don't have the possibilities to 'legally bindingly' inform you about the production process of every album we sell, since we don't have access to each label's modus operandi for each specific record.
Conversion / Decoding
Lately, FLAC's popularity has grown rapidly, but software for FLAC audio has not developed at the same pace. If your favourite software doesn't work with FLAC yet, remember that you can always convert FLAC files to another format. The best choice in terms of quality and compatibility is to simply decode FLAC to uncompressed WAV or AIFF. The resulting files may be twice as big and may not support metadata, but they should work universally.
Convert FLAC with e.g. Switch or any of the programs mentioned on the FLAC pages.
Test files
Example 1: Soprano and baroque ensemble
H. Purcell: 'Sweeter than roses' from this album (1536-1)
Carolyn Sampson, Laurence Cummings, Elizabeth Kenny, Anne-Marie Lasla
BIS1536-001-mp3_320.mp3
BIS1536-001-flac_16.flac
BIS1536-001-flac_24.flac
Example 2: Orchestra
C. Debussy: 'II. Jeux de vagues' from 'La Mer' on this album (1447-2)
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Lan Shui
BIS1447-002-mp3_320.mp3
BIS1447-002-flac_16.flac
BIS1447-002-flac_24.flac
The 24-bit FLAC file of the second example is in 88.2 kHz, so that you can test how sample rates over 48 kHz work for you.
Original Sample Rate
What we call 'Original sample rate' is the PCM sample rate of the highest bit rate files we receive from the labels. The highest bit rate download we offer will have the same sample rate. We ask the labels to give us the highest meaningful quality in which they have the recording. If they didn't convert rates during the postproduction, this will be the sample rate in which the album was recorded. But we cannot know each label's signal chain for each album. We trust them that they don't deliver upsampled recordings (contact our support if you think you found a 'black sheep'). Should they send sample rates lower than the original, they obviously have no other choice (at present). Even there, we can't know whether a higher version maybe exists.
We understand that the above may be considered inaccurate for DSD recordings. Of course, there the 'original sample rate' was 2.8224 MHz. And some people will definitely want to have the 'better' DSD originals, no PCM conversions. But since we decided to only deal with PCM files at eClassical (up to now), we write what you will get when you buy the album. Unless looking up each album manually, we won't even know whether it has been DSD once - or maybe just some tracks of it? That information rests with the labels. Therefore, should it be essential for you to know whether a 88.2 or 96 kHz album originates from a DSD recording, we must ask you to check this with the respective label or read in the enclosed booklet. This is what our term 'original' means in detail. We hope you understand that we don't have the possibilities to 'legally bindingly' inform you about the production process of every album we sell, since we don't have access to each label's modus operandi for each specific record.
Conversion / Decoding
Lately, FLAC's popularity has grown rapidly, but software for FLAC audio has not developed at the same pace. If your favourite software doesn't work with FLAC yet, remember that you can always convert FLAC files to another format. The best choice in terms of quality and compatibility is to simply decode FLAC to uncompressed WAV or AIFF. The resulting files may be twice as big and may not support metadata, but they should work universally.
Convert FLAC with e.g. Switch or any of the programs mentioned on the FLAC pages.
Test files
Example 1: Soprano and baroque ensemble
H. Purcell: 'Sweeter than roses' from this album (1536-1)
Carolyn Sampson, Laurence Cummings, Elizabeth Kenny, Anne-Marie Lasla
BIS1536-001-mp3_320.mp3
BIS1536-001-flac_16.flac
BIS1536-001-flac_24.flac
Example 2: Orchestra
C. Debussy: 'II. Jeux de vagues' from 'La Mer' on this album (1447-2)
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Lan Shui
BIS1447-002-mp3_320.mp3
BIS1447-002-flac_16.flac
BIS1447-002-flac_24.flac
The 24-bit FLAC file of the second example is in 88.2 kHz, so that you can test how sample rates over 48 kHz work for you.
The CD collection is ripped in 16 Bit / 44.1 kHz, the USB audio server is fully configured, and the connected DAC sounds great. What's missing is that little extra oomph of audiophile high-bit candy to get out that last ounce of dynamics and audio information so that you appreciate the advantages of High Resolution Audio (HiRes) in 24 Bit / 96 kHz or 24 Bit / 192 kHz or better.
In the following, a selection of download links for
- Online Shops for Hi-Res Audio Downloads which offer the download of HD Tracks, and:
- Free HD Audio Downloads - samples, high-resolution tracks and audiophile snippets in FLAC, WAV and more highres file formats
Online Shops and Audiophile Labels for Hi-Res Audio, Hi Res Music and Studiomaster Downloads
- Tip: www.hdtracks.com
HDtracks is the premiere online music store for audiophiles and serious music fans who demand the best sounding music. It is the purpose of HDtracks to provide the largest online library of studio-quality high-resolution music downloads complete with liner notes [whenever available] and it is the only shop that really has all genres. HDtracks provides the highest quality recordings with an online experience not available anywhere else by supplying downloads in 24 Bit with 44.1, 48, 88, 96, or 192 kHz, with the highest resolution they offer being 352 kHz / 24 Bit audio. Hdtracks works with 100s of records labels including the largest major labels and distributors. The store is the first of its kind, and remains the destination where true audiophiles go for their quality audio downloads and exemplary customer service.
Exclusively for 24bit96.com visitors:
Get your HD Music Discount Code for HDtracks.com now!
- www.acousense.de
Small but classy download shop for classical music in high resolution. - acousticoasis.com
Only acoustic recordings are offered by the label Acoustic Oasis by David 'Dawg' Grisman. - store.acousticsounds.com
Acoustic Sounds Super HiRez launched in 2013, becoming the first music download service to offer mainstream albums in Direct Stream Digital (DSD), the audio format used to produce Super Audio CDs (SACD). Super HiRez also sells FLAC and ALAC files in hi-res. Acousticsounds has deals with all the major labels and many independent independents, and music from all genres. And you can purchase Vinyl LPs and Audio-Equipment as well. - www.analekta.com
Analekta is the largest independent classical recording company in Canada. The HighRes-Download-Shop offers Analekta's entire catalogue in physical CD, MP3 and two types of FLAC formats: 44.1kHz or 88.2kHz (check each title for actual details). Customers can also preview all pieces in full length for free, purchase pre-paid packages or pay as you go. Analekta has a loyalty points system that offers free recordings after a number of purchases. Deliveries are offered world-wide. - www.atmaclassique.com
ATMA Classique is a real highlight for lovers of classical music, no geographic restrictions for purchases. - www.bandcamp.com
This is a great place to discover new music from artists you never heard before and support them directly. Bandcamp offers all styles, except classical music. HD Downloads in FLAC and ALAC. - www.bleep.com
Bleep.com was launched in January 2004 by independent music and film company Warp, and have since cemented a reputation as the best download boutique store catering for passionate music fans. Being the first download store to offer DRM-free high quality format music made Bleep one of the first companies to put their faith in the integrity and intelligence of their customers. As well as Warp, they work closely with such key independent labels as Domino, Hyperdub, Stones Throw, XL, Ninja Tune, One Little Indian, k7, Planet Mu, Rough Trade, Kompakt as well as leaders and distributors of independent film, literature and publishing. Having this relationship allows Bleep to filter through the music and bring the highest quality from the four corners of the globe through various spectrums and styles of music and art to you. - www.boomkat.com
This is the 'Independent Music Specialist' offering a huge range of excellent and exciting tracks. - www.bravurarecords.com
With the slogan 'Real Talent in Real Time', BRAVURA records distributes its always live recorded Hi-Res recordings via download and on Blu-ray as a 24/192 WAV file. - www.burningshed.com
Burning Shed is an online label and store specializing in Singer-Songwriter, Progressive, Ambient/Electronica and Art Rock music. Burning Shed hosts the official online shops for Porcupine Tree, Panegyric (King Crimson), Kscope, Ape (Andy Partridge/XTC), No-Man, Jethro Tull, Thomas Dolby, Medium Productions (Jansen, Barbieri and Karn), Peaceville and Hatfield and the North, amongst others. All rights remain with the artists whose music Burning Shed releases and more profits go directly to the artists than with sales generated elsewhere. Burning Shed 24 - https://www.burningshed.com/store/24 - sells the 24 bit downloads available from Burning Shed. Titles include albums by Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree, Anathema and others. - www.bowers-wilkins.com
Bowers & Wilkins is now offering its own high-bit music in excellent quality. - www.carpediem-records.de
From this label you can truly expect extraordinary music: early music, jazz and improvised and stylistic experiments. In addition to MP3 downloads, there are also some high-resolution FLAC downloads. - www.cedillerecords.org
Old-fashioned-looking store of the label Cedille, but very easy to use. Many of the HD Music files are available in FLAC 24-bit (Studio Quality). - www.chandos.net
chandos.net offers the complete Chandos catalogue in CD/SACD format as well as a variety of download formats (320kbps MP3s, lossless downloads in FLAC and ALAC, and now Studio Master Albums in 24bit/96Khz FLAC, both in Stereo and Surround), for over 60 world class classical labels along with complete electronic booklets and front cover images. Designed for the classical music enthusiast this online shop is one of the world’s premium DRM-free download stores dedicated to classical music. As a classical music devotee, you have access to thousands of tracks from the world’s leading independent labels, with free sampling of any track. Every classical genre is supported, from early music to contemporary, and everything in-between. - www.channelclassics.com
You love classical music - this is your shop! Sometimes free samples available. - www.dacapo-records.dk
Only Danish Music - recordings available as exclusive lossless hi-res files. - www.eclassical.com
At eClassical you can download albums in FLAC 16 and 24 bit with sample rates up to 192kHz. Their pricing is per second. You can pre-listen to a whole track in 30 second segments. Download booklets in pdf for most albums. If you don't like the music you purchase, just let them know and they will send you the money back. No questions asked. Their guarantee covers all downloadable music at eClassical.com. At the moment, the labels offered by eClassical are focused on the independent sector – so currently the emphasis is on labels like BIS, Harmonia Mundi, Accent, Atma, Chandos, Danacord, Glossa, Hänssler Classic, Ondine, Opera Rara, Pentatone, Profil, Signum and Tudor (and about 200 others!).
Some 24 bit Flac Downloads for free available as well. - footprintrecords.com
A small but fine selection of the Swedish record label available online as AAC and FLAC Download. Footprint Records was founded in 2003 by Bo Ejeby (musicologist) and Per Sjösten (acoustic and signal processing research) with the mission to produce the ultimate listening experience for everyone. The focus is entirely on acoustic art music, such as jazz, world music, choral, chamber and orchestral music. The majority of the released productions are in 24/44, but since a few years back, all own productions are in 24/96 or higher, up to DXD and DSD256, in stereo and surround. - www.gimell.com
The award-winning Gimell label features audiophile recordings by The Tallis Scholars available to download in Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound formats at resolutions up to 192kHz/24bit. FLAC, Apple Lossless (ALAC) and WMA file formats are available. The Tallis Scholars are the world's finest and busiest vocal ensemble specializing in sacred music of the Renaissance era. - www.gubemusic.com
Another small, classy store. Some of the musicians blog here, too. - www.hd-klassik.com
HD-Klassik.com (= Cybele Records GmbH) offers 'first classical music downloads' of several audiophile classical music labels as high-resolution FLAC and DSD Downloads as well as USB flash drives, as SACD and CDs and more - all this means timeless fascinating music in highresolution. - www.hifitrack.com
HiFiTrack was first launched in 2008 in Hong Kong targeting the CAS (Computer as Source) and mass audience. We are now partnering with over 40 local and international, major and independent music labels to offer HD digital music files pay-per-download service to our users from all over the world. They also carry DSD files as High Resolution Music Downloads.
HiFiTrack is the first Hi Res Music download site in Greater China, and it is one of the firsts in the world. - www.highdeftapetransfers.com
Music from ancient reel-to-reel-tapes in high-bit quality (DSD / Flac). One of the first companies to offer High Resolution Downloads since 2006. Also offering downloads from private labels. - www.highresaudio.com
HIGHRESAUDIO is founded by a team of experienced, visionary and enthusiastic music specialists in Germany. They embrace the transformation brought by technologies to the music industry and audiophiles in the pursuit of the ultrasonic music experience. HIGHRESAUDIO develops innovative services and applications, business models and shape new commercial opportunities for record labels, artists and manufacturers of digital audio products. The shop has currently signed 109 labels including Warner, Universal and Sony and offer close to +6300 albums and offers only native and original digital 24-bit 'Studio Masters' in FLAC, ALAC, DXD from 44.1kHz to 352.8 kHz as wells DSD 2.8 MHz (DSD64). - www.hyperion-records.co.uk
Hyperion Records is an independent classical label in the UK. They make 75 new recordings each year and our web site is offering albums in Studio Master FLAC & ALAC of all of our recordings released over the past three years and we adding new titles on a monthly basis. These are 24-bit files and at whatever sampling frequency (44.1 kHz, 88.2 kHz or 96 kHz) was used by the recording engineer at the time of recording. Our metadata is peerless. - www.melbarecordings.com.au
This is a small Australian label with only classical music. All the lossless files are available as Studio Master Quality Downloads - www.marecordings.com
Insiders' tip for DSD and HiRez Downloads. - www.mofi.com
Unfortunately, this music shop does not offer direct high-res downloads, but they offer all the Rock, Pop, Blues, Soul, and Jazz recordings you've always liked to hear on Ultradisc UHR ™ SACD. - www.mora.jp
Extensive shop with all genres, unfortunately only available in Japanese. - www.nativedsd.com
NativeDSD.com provides listeners a top quality resource for DSD, DXD and Analog-to-DSD Music in Stereo & Multichannel channel configurations, directly from record labels and engineers making these recordings. Getting you as close to the actual performance as possible. - www.nugs.net
Exclusively live music as HiRes download, stream and video. - www.ninjatune.net
Jazz-heavy independent record label from England with some awesome 'album covers' offers hi-res downloads and vinyl. - oclassica.com
Classical and Classical for children as FLAC Download in 24/96. - onclassical.com
Independent label for solo virtuosos and chamber music - www.onkyomusic.com
From running hi-res download stores in Japan since 2005, Onkyo have built a reputation as pioneers in the field. Their onkyomusic stores include an expansive catalogue of music in 16-bit / 44 kHz and a large selection in 24-bit / 192 kHz. Onkyomusic is available to users in The United States, The UK, Germany and Japan (called e-onkyo in Japan). - www.opus3records.com
Only as a hybrid SACD with DSD you can purchase jazz and classical recordings as well as some very good sampler. - www.ototoy.jp
Do you speak Japanese? If so you'll find extraordinary Hi-Res recordings here. - www.pentatonemusic.com
Offer only classical music, but in extremely good quality, partly as box sets. - www.prestoclassical.co.uk
Presto Classical offers one of the widest ranges of downloadable classical music available today, with over 8,000 classical albums available in Hi-Res and almost 120,000 in standard-res. And with a powerful search tool that is the envy of the industry, you'll have no trouble finding your favorite composers, works and artists quickly and easily - www.pristineclassical.com
Very good selection of classical music available as FLAC in highresolution. - www.prostudiomasters.com
Small but nice selection of HD Music Downloads. - www.qobuz.com - Download Store
HiRes Downloads of all genres. - www.rarenoiserecords.com
This English label stands for crossover and cross-border music that can also be listened to online. Top! RareNoise’s mission is to detect and amplify contemporary trends in progressive music, by highlighting their relation to the history of the art-form, while choosing not to be bound by pre-conceptions of genre. It seeks to become a guiding light for all those enamoured by exciting, adventurous and progressive sounds. RareNoise releases are always available in multiple formats, CD, Heavyweight Vinyl, standard and High Definition Downloads. - www.rhino.com
THE shop for classic rock and R&B. Alas, few downloads, but good own-combinations. - www.soundliaison.com
Soundliaison offers High-Resolution Audio Downloads and original Studio Masters in PCM, DSD and FLAC. - www.spiritofturtle.com
The Spirit of Turtle offers its - mostly classic - recordings as Quad DSD and 352.8 kHz FLAC both stereo and 5.1 surround (hybrid SACDs). - www.subradar.no
Great Site from Norway for independent, non-profit, very modern music. You can choose to download the music in 24bit/96kHz high definition audio.
Free HD Music Downloads
- For DSD newbies DSD Guide is an excellent source with a lot of information about the DSD format, offering music in DSD quality as well
- You can find more free DSD Downloads at OPPO Digital
- One of the best-known sources is surely Label 2l.no where you can download sample FLAC and WAV in 24 Bit / 96 kHz & 24 Bit / 192 kHz files
- Bluecoastrecords where you can pick up very good acoustic recorded HighRes-Files in 16 Bit and 24 Bit as WAV or DSD from its range of products, songs could be downloaded at downloadsnow.net as well
- You can find very interesting High Resolution Audiophile Recordings on the Less Loss site
- A cool idea also is the Sound Library (in German) from HifiStatement Netmagazine, this features various downloadable examples of music as it would sound through different audio
- A goo mix of styles and instruments can be downloaded as Studio Master Recordings of the label Bravura Records
- A real insider tip is archive.org: In addition to brilliant live recordings, NetLabels, and quirky recordings, you'll find all kinds of 24 bit Flac Files
- Last but not least go to soundkeeperrecordings.com to load hi-res files in various sample-rates and resolution
- And of course 24bit96 offers High Definition Audio Test Files as well
Warning: Please note - Pirated Copies!
When searching with the usual search engines for '24/96 downloads' etc., you will get a huge number of hits for very attractive and freebie download offers from privately digitalized records or compact cassette rips. There surely is nothing to say against digitalizing your own vinyl collection with an A/D Converter - however, to upload or download these is quite another matter.