How do you primarily consume your music?

[Todd Anderson]

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about the state of the music industry. You can read it by clicking here.

For the first time ever, paid streaming services accounted for more than 50% of the industry's revenues. Both physical disc and digital downloads are on the decline.

So, pretty simple question... where do you predominately source your music? The poll is set to "one answer," so pick the one you use most frequently. If you select "other," please explain.

For me, when I listen to music in my theater room, it's CD and Hi-Res download... but the rest of my listening primarily comes from digital downloads on a mobile device and unpaid streaming. I'd hazard to guess that unpaid streaming accounts for the majority of listening time.

 

[Tony V.]

I listen to CD in my home theater space and buy CDs most of the time. I rip them to High bit-rate mp3 so that the files are compatible with all devices I use when in other areas like the car, work and on my motorcycle.

 

[JBrax]

The majority of my music is acquired via digital downloads. I also have a growing collection of Blu-ray music which is sonic bliss.

 

[Jack]

I burn cd's to my music server and also download some high rez music. Playback is via the music server unless I am listening to an SACD or DVD Audio. Hmm, think I need me some Good Bye Yellow Brick Road on SACD. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[Leonard Caillouet]

The majority of my listening is casual, Pandora or Slacker. I use most of the rest other than tape as well.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Last year I read about a group of hardcore videophiles that will only watch certain Direct to Video movies on VHS because that's the way they're released.

I wonder if there are any cassette tape audiophiles out there? Can't imagine there are.

I will say, though, making a mix tape for a friend back in the 1980s was an experience...almost an art form!

 

[1_sufferin_mind]

Well, if it's been released on both CD and LP, I'll spring for the vinyl - not because I think it's inherently superior, but because it's been sounding better to me of late. My own vinyl rips sound better (to these ears) than the CD releases, so I transcribe them to 24/96 digital for storage and playback on my PC "server."

I'm leery of purchasing digital downloads until I learn how to tell the genuine hi-res files from the up-sampled ones.

 

[Jack]

Well, if it's been released on both CD and LP, I'll spring for the vinyl - not because I think it's inherently superior, but because it's been sounding better to me of late. My own vinyl rips sound better (to these ears) than the CD releases, so I transcribe them to 24/96 digital for storage and playback on my PC "server."

I'm leery of purchasing digital downloads until I learn how to tell the genuine hi-res files from the up-sampled ones.

This in not the place for me to discuss this really...but I dont think you can reliably tell. We can only trust that the vendor is not hosing us.

 

[1_sufferin_mind]

Jack, you are a pillar of self-control!

 

[Todd Anderson]

I got a wild hair today and subscribed to TIDAL Hi-Res...

Sounded good for a couple of long drives... nice warmth and depth to songs. It's pricey, though: $20/month!!

 

[tesseract]

I got a wild hair today and subscribed to TIDAL Hi-Res...

Sounded good for a couple of long drives... nice warmth and depth to songs. It's pricey, though: $20/month!!

Good call, Todd. There is a $10/320 kbps Tidal option, too.

I enjoy most of my listening through this service, followed by physical media (CD, SACD, DVD-A).

 

[Todd Anderson]

Can you hear a difference between the $10 and $20 options? (or have you done an A/B)?

 

[tesseract]

Hmm, think I need me some Good Bye Yellow Brick Road on SACD. Thanks for reminding me.

My brother brought his copy over for me to listen to. I wouldn't let him take it home until I had my own copy!

 

[Mark C Flick]

My go-to for casual music these days is Pandora. I really like how I can fine tune more of the music and artists that I like. Second on the list are the music stations included with my satellite TV, just because it's convenient. When I've nothing else to do but settle in and enjoy, it's a CD.

 

[Sonnie]

We listen to the paid version of Pandora at the office/shop/store... but at home it's all CD's for the most part. I buy the CD and extract it with Exact Audio or db Power Amp to a USB thumb drive in the .wav format. I can't see paying $20 per month for Tidal at this point. However, it might be something to subscribe to when I feel more confident that I will have some extra time to discover new music.

 

[tesseract]

Can you hear a difference between the $10 and $20 options? (or have you done an A/B)?

Wayne and and I have done some quicky sighted comparisons, feeling we heard a sligbt high frequency difference. That could be a fun project for future testing.

 

[Jack]

My brother brought his copy over for me to listen to. I wouldn't let him take it home until I had my own copy!

You know, by the time I got to the listening room, I forgot about Elton and listened to "Tommy" on multi channel SACD instead, so Thank You Dennis for reminding me, I will go right now with a note to remind me.
I too like this very much, it is so well done.

 

[Peter Loeser]

I had my library of ripped CDs pretty well embedded in the Apple/iTunes ecoshpere by the time Apple Music was released, so I've stuck with it - for better or worse. If I have the chance to just sit and listen, I'll play a CD or LP. I have a few concert DVDs / BDs I'll watch occasionally. This rarely happens these days though. But hey, I have two 4 years olds that love to give free live concerts almost daily

 

[Mluc8]

I use Tidal Hifi and love it. My next step will be to get an MQA compatible device, either processor or DAC.
Does anyone know of a 7.2 pre-pro that is MQA compatible?

 

[Peter Loeser]

I use Tidal Hifi and love it. My next step will be to get an MQA compatible device, either processor or DAC.
Does anyone know of a 7.2 pre-pro that is MQA compatible?

I'm not too familiar with MQA, but I'm curious what the benefit would be in your case. What type of network connection are you using and do you have a data or bandwidth limitation? Looks like most of the MQA compatible devices are handheld media players/streamers.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'm curious about the same thing...

 

[JBrax]

I use Tidal Hifi and love it. My next step will be to get an MQA compatible device, either processor or DAC.
Does anyone know of a 7.2 pre-pro that is MQA compatible?

I think the Pioneer XDP-100R is the only DAC that is MQA compatible but I'm sure more are on the way. As for the pre-pro I don't think there's any yet. Like the DAC's I'm sure there in the works.

 

[Mluc8]

I think finding a pre-pro will be more difficult than a preamp, Dac or streamer. I wish that were not the case.

 

[JBrax]

I think finding a pre-pro will be more difficult than a preamp, Dac or streamer. I wish that were not the case.

I'm not sure how much that DAC is selling for but I believe it's north of $500. You can bet the AVR's and pre-pros will be in the premium pricing range as well. We just need more offerings to drive the price down.

 

[JBrax]

Well, looks like it's right around $300 now.