Dumb file size question.


I just downloaded my first album from HD Tracks and was a bit shocked at the file size. I downloaded it at 96/24 in ALAC format. It is 1.26 GB! When I rip my CDs in ALAC format they are around 300 MB. What's up here? Is the HD Tracks file just uncompressed? Will iTunes compress it? Sorry for the stupidity just wasn't expecting to have to store and deal with files that large.
n80
n80,

As stated above, do not go for lower resolution just because of memory capacity. With a little luck, you can get 4TB for $100 at major stores. Higher resolution files are frequently worth it in the long run.

In case you are looking for a one-box solution, make sure you can attach it to a different DAC. You have already been playing with those things so you are more likely going to do it again at some point than not. It may not matter right now, but Bluesound Vault 2i does not seem to play DSD which is one of the high-resolution formats many people use. Check other brands, too.
You should be able to choose a compressed but lossless format if you use a pc to play the music. Then you can use FLAC or WMA Lossless and the files will be much smaller.