Tired of downloading music at compression rates that don’t sound quite as sharp as you’d like when you’re listening to it through speakers instead of headphones?

For those looking to store and select their music on a media center-based system, and be able to download higher-quality music onto it, Niveus Media, Inc. has announced that its its 2007 Windows Vista-based models will carry “HD music” downloads via MusicGiants.

Instead of 128 or 256 kbps compression offered by stores such as iTunes and Wal-Mart, MusicGiants touts its HD music downloads in stereo CD lossless formats at rates up to 1,100 kbps and even “Super HD” 5.1 surround music in re-mastered DVD-A and SACD formats at sample rates up to 11,000 kbps, the company says.

Niveus’ new HD Media Store offers an intuitive media center interface to access MusicGiants’ extensive network of digital downloads from major and independent labels such as EMI, Sony BMG, Universal and Warner. The HD Media Store enables customers to easily browse, purchase and download music from MusicGiants in the Windows Media Audio Lossless (WMA) format store, and seamlessly access this content from within the Windows Media Center ‘Music’ menu, providing a single location for one’s entire music collection, Niveus says.

Niveus’ 2007 Vista-based media servers include the Summit Series, Rainier and Denali Editions, as well as the Pro Series, n7 and n9.

Visit www.niveusmedia.com or www.musicgiants.com for more details.

About the Author:
Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!