JunoDownload.com - Can anyone comment on sound quality?

[RobbaDobba]

I see a lot of interesting old disco stuff on there in 256k and 320k, and before I bite the bullet, I wonder if anyone can comment about the sound quality.

I realize it's mp3, so you get what you get...my concern is are they needledrops or from masters? And if they are needledrops what is the quality like? Is the life sucked out of them in the name of "silence"?

[ashley_k]

I've never used JunoDownload or any download service, but I'd take a guess that quality is going to be a lottery, some stuff will be from masters but a lot will be needle-drops, it depends which labels you are buying from and what that labels quality level is.

The overall quality will probably be less than it is for CDs, with possibly less attention paid to sound quality, but it's not going to be much different from buying stuff on CDs, poor needle-drops, heavy handed de-clicking and over compressed mastering, etc., apart from that you have the added factor that you can't take an mp3 back to the shop.

I'd just buy stuff that you're not going to get any other way to start with, and if the sound is not up to it, just bin it as it's not the end of the world.

[RobbaDobba]

I've never used JunoDownload or any download service, but I'd take a guess that quality is going to be a lottery, some stuff will be from masters but a lot will be needle-drops, it depends which labels you are buying from and what that labels quality level is.

The overall quality will probably be less than it is for CDs, with possibly less attention paid to sound quality, but it's not going to be much different from buying stuff on CDs, poor needle-drops, heavy handed de-clicking and over compressed mastering, etc., apart from that you have the added factor that you can't take an mp3 back to the shop.

I'd just buy stuff that you're not going to get any other way to start with, and if the sound is not up to it, just bin it as it's not the end of the world.

Thanks, ashley. Yeah, I'm probably gonna bite on like one track and see, but I figured I'd try to get a consensus first from actual users, if there are any.

[RobbaDobba]

Well...I gotta tell ya. I am pleasantly surprised with JunoDownload.com.

I just purchased [Vincent] Montana's A Dance Fantasy album as a 320k download, and it sounds excellent. It was obviously mastered from the tapes, definitely not a vinyl needledrop.

I own the Goody Goody and I Love Music Atlantic albums on vinyl, but not this one. For 10 bucks I completed my collection without having to search out vinyl, clean it, denoise it, etc. This works for me. I'll be purchasing again.

I hope this isn't viewed as an advertisement...just passing along a good experience.

[FunkyChris]

The quality of the cd rips are ok. The vinyl rips are not that good :icon_confused: I don't know if they rip the vinyl or if they get them from the labels.

Especially for Montana's "A Dance Fantasy..." you should take a look at Traxsource.com - the best House Music WAV and MP3 downloads
They offer the album in lossless WAV and the quality is great. They got the files directly from Phillysoundworks.

Be careful with downloads from the label suss'd. Many 'CD quality' songs are made of mp3 files (it's the label's fault). A year ago I bought such an album of suss'd @ junodownload. They paid the money back after I told them.

[RobbaDobba]

The quality of the cd rips are ok. The vinyl rips are not that good :icon_confused: I don't know if they rip the vinyl or if they get them from the labels.

Especially for Montana's "A Dance Fantasy..." you should take a look at Traxsource.com - the best House Music WAV and MP3 downloads
They offer the album in lossless WAV and the quality is great. They got the files directly from Phillysoundworks.

Be careful with downloads from the label suss'd. Many 'CD quality' songs are made of mp3 files (it's the label's fault). A year ago I bought such an album of suss'd @ junodownload. They paid the money back after I told them.

I discovered Traxsource recently as well, and they do have many wav files. I didn't notice "A Dance Fantasy" available in wav...pretty much all of Vince Montana's stuff is available there as 192 or 320k mp3, but not wav. But the Philly Groove Orchestra stuff I purchased at Amazon as 256k mp3 is on Traxsource as wav, so I may repurchase those.

Otherwise, I stand by my take on junodownload...but as always with downloadable music, buyer beware. If any online service is supplied with crappy sources, the mp3s or wavs they sell will suck. Crap in, crap out, as they say.

Suss'd is a company to avoid at all costs...they had great intentions with their Salsoul comps, but went with crap sources for most of their product. For Salsoul stuff, you're best to stick with the American Bethlehem/Salsoul releases from the mid-90's or the latest round of Unidisc Salsoul product. There are a couple of threads on this active now in the 70's and 80's music forum.

[justified]

256 kb/sec mp3 itself is more than ok sound quality.

The problem can occur if they are "remastered" versions. Sometimes, and quite often actually, mastering engineers do not aim for best quality, but for loudest sound. This way you really can get "life sucked out" effect.

all of the above is imho of course.

I see a lot of interesting old disco stuff on there in 256k and 320k, and before I bite the bullet, I wonder if anyone can comment about the sound quality.

[RobbaDobba]

Wow...this thread is back from the dead, eh?

While I agree that 256k is "more than OK", 320k is SO much better. And, obviously wav or flac is better still.

Now, I use my ears for a living...so I will freely admit I'm gonna hear things the average listener won't. But 256k is the absolute least quality I'll accept for my hard earned cash.

That said, since I posted this inquiry a year ago, I've taken FunkyChris' advice and replaced some of the mp3's I purchased with Juno and Traxsource and replaced them with wav's where available at Traxsource. For me, worth the extra scratch. Your mileage may vary.

Juno and Traxsource are both very good, and Amazon is excellent for mp3 as they predominantly use LAME -V0 mp3 encoding which is very good and occasionally better quality than even 320k at less bitrate.

But again, it's all dependent on the quality of the original mastering. Crap in...crap out (and "crappier out" with mp3).