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There is a 24 bit download link for those who purchase the "giant" box set. I am not familiar with technical options for hi quality downloads and bearing in mind the extra tracks are only on vinyl (not much good to most of us) it would be good to know that this 24 hi bit download can be converted to a format that can be played on a cd player.

On the PC world, usually they come as flac audio files. There are a number of free tools which can convert them to the .wav audio files compliant with the CD format… R8Brain (a converter), Audacity (an editor) and Foobar2000 (a player) comes to mind, they're all free and all can do that conversion.

(Just a correction: r8brain needs a .wav file, it can't read a flac file. Foobar and Audacity have no issue with flac files.)

I don't understand why you want to convert a studio quality 24 bit audio file to the ordinary CD quality (16 bit 44.1 kHz) when you get the CD in the box set anyway. What I usually do with hi-res downloads is burn them on DVD in the DVD-Audio format and play them on my universal player in my hi-fi system

It might have something to do with the vinyls, I believe…

Vinyl is fun, but not very practical for most of us. I wish I could get them to confirm that the digital download is included with the US release. It's not mentioned under on Amazon's list of what's included.

The high-res download content has only been added to the box set description on the Womad website recently. Perhaps Amazon is still working with the original description.

That's good to know. I just stumbled across the listing a few days ago. I didn't know if it had been up long.

Looks like the 2 bonus tracks from the vinyl will also be available. Not sure it still justifies the price!!

Where else did you see the 2 bonus tracks? I've looked around (on US sites) and none of the pre order track listings for the other versions I've seen mention any of the bonus tracks (at least they didn't a few days ago).

If recent releases are any indication, the US won't be getting the downloads anyway. The CDs for both Scratch My Back and New Blood came with download cards in the UK, but the US versions did not have them.

I didn't know that. I was already concerned. That's really discouraging.

My copy of New Blood in Canada had a download card. Speaking of Canada, Amazon.ca has the So 25 box set for only $100 cdn. http://www.amazon.ca/So-25th-Anniversary-Limited-Box/dp/B008BSPQ3E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346168622&sr=8-1

Good news! Real World responded to my email this morning and confirmed that ALL box copies worldwide will have the download as well! They also indicated the same DVD's are mastered/programed to play everywhere (rather than different region codes for different countries). This makes me happy!

Well, pre ordered the 3CD edition. Hurry up october

If anyone is interested in the deluxe version w/ the vinyl but doesn't want the vinyl and doesn't mind breaking up the box , I'd be willing to buy to just the vinyl from somebody. Let me know!

"If anyone is interested in the deluxe version w/ the vinyl but doesn't want the vinyl and doesn't mind breaking up the box , I'd be willing to buy to just the vinyl from somebody. " We may be able to work that out. I don't even own a turntable anymore and this box is not as limited or expensive as, say, the Scratch My Back set. Are you looking to acquire both vinyl discs?

I am also willing to buy the box but part with the vinyls. Email me at agentsage@gmail.com if anyone is interested. Cheers, Lee

i would advise against breaking up any box set. the value would be diminish considerably.

Agreed if you are buying the box as a collector's item. I feel that way about the Scratch My Back box. But, I'm buying this for the content and have no intention of reselling so the vinyl is up for grabs.