iTunes purchased songs format

See below.

Looks like iTunes music purchases are currently locked in at 256kbs, CBR, and AAC format. Lossy music for archiving? No thank you.

Well that explains why I'm having such a hard time finding anyone selling music online in lossless format. I guess I'll stick to importing CDs and wait for someone to offer lossless online.

AAC format surpassed MP3 format. I expect something to eventually surpass AAC format in the future, and if my purchased music collection is in a lossy compressed format, I will never be able to batch convert those music files to the more up-to-date lossy format without taking a hit in sound quality due to different sampling algorithms.

Chris CA wrote:

Lossy music for archiving? No thank you.

iTunes files are for purchasing and listening to. They are not the best/highest quality for archival purposes only.
If a lossy format is the only thing you have, then why wouldn't you archive (make a backup) of them?

I understand iTunes music files are for listening to. The music sounds great. I wish iTunes offered a music format option that is "raw" though. Sort of a choice of: "You can buy the music already compressed for your iPod (AAC format), or you can buy the music unaltered (AIFF) and compress it yourself later to what ever you want).

Lossy is mostly what I have, and I'll keep backing those up. I also have some CD rips. It took me a while to figure out how the algorithms of the compression formats work and to realize what was being sold to me. It also took me a while to realize what having a lossy format means as far as doing anything to that music file later in the future. That's the only reason I have as many lossy files as I do.

Also, thank you all for your help, it's much appreciated!