What format of music do you prefer?

[Buzzer]

Just being nosey but I was wondering how most people on here listen to music. I've got tons of mp3s and always have my iPod nearby but at home I much prefer my music having a physical presence and so have mainly CDs. Unfortunately, space and racking becomes an issue but I find having them quite re-assuring.

There's also something, for me, quite satisfying about browsing my racks of CDs looking for something to listen to. It's not so easy to get inspiration with iTunes and also I do enjoy reading the sleevenotes on the CD cases. Also, you can't browse an online store in quite the same way as you can with Resident, Rounder or Rough Trade shops but saying that, I do buy a fair bit of minimal techno and electronica from Beatport (not Juno though - dunno why!)

I've also started re-collecting vinyl but have set very strict rules for myself - it has to be brand new, it has to be heavy vinyl and it can't be a random purchase.

I do know of a few serious music lovers on here that are migrating entirely to electronic format. For those that prefer electronic format do you go for lossless formats or high spec mp3s?

 

[Curious Orange]

*writes this listening to Charlie Parker on iTunes at work*

I prefer physical media myself, I am an unabashed CD junkie, although I do have a bit of vinyl, and will occasionally get some old stuff in that format (I bought a record player mainly so I could actually listen to some of my wife's old vinyl - she seems to have a lot of PWEI, Senser and Mega City Four).

 

[Wilko]

All digital now, have not bought anything physical for about 7/8 years. Agree it is not quite the same as pulling a piece of vinyl out a sleeve though, mmmmm.

 

[Bozza]

Voted 'mainly digital' as there wasn't an 'all digital' option.

We literally have no means of playing a CD in the house if you exclude the computers.

 

[alan partridge]

I am mostly digital these days.

wav/lossless or 320kbps mp3 mostly, although I wouldn't turn my nose up at a lower bit rate mp3 for for a casual listen.

 

[Hotchilidog]

I am almost exclusively digital nowadays. I still buy cds but listen to them on the i-pod or computer at home. When I can eventually sell my flat and get somewhere bigger I'd like this to change and get back to vinyl and cd.

 

[fork me]

Vinyl by choice, but from sometime in the 90s I went CD for convenience sake with the disco business I was running.

Now I'm travelling more, I ripped a large proportion of my CD collection to the laptop (with an external backup). In Cyprus all the music I play is via the laptop. I don't even know what format it is, I just ripped through media player.

My huge vinyl and CD collection is currently costing me a fortune sitting in storage. It'll come out if I ever get back to having a permanent base and be shipped to wherever in the world I happen to be at that time.

 

[Albumen]

Mainly vinyl but CD if not. I do download (buy) some but I've cancelled my emusic account due to the lack of choice. The recent Blanck Mass double album was a gorgeous item open, beautiful sleeve and tight vinyl. Mmmm sex.

And I frown upon freeloaders. Theres something to say about those who use to create but those who just collect 1000's of albums without emotion or attachment I have no time for.

 

[Frutos]

Although I have a fair sized CD collection, I can't recall the last time I actually bought one.

Digital all the way.

 

[Silent Bob]

I'd rather pay money for a physical thing if I'm paying for it at all.

 

[Buzzer]

Thanks for the replies. Those people with mainly digital collections – how do you play it then? I’ve always been told that a music system is only as good as its weakest point so I wonder what you use to play your music. If it’s your PC then is there any point getting lossless format?

My mp3s get played via a dedicated home entertainment computer I have hooked up to my Hi-Fi with a decent soundcard and cables but must confess that a lot of my mp3s are 192kb as I struggle to hear a difference between 320 and 192

 

[Bozza]

Thanks for the replies. Those people with mainly digitalcollections – how do you play it then? I’ve always been told that a musicsystem is only as good as its weakest point so I wonder what you use to playyour music. If it’s your PC then is there any point getting lossless format? My mp3s get played via a dedicated home entertainment computer I have hooked upto my Hi-Fi with a decent soundcard and cables but must confess that a lot ofmy mp3s are 192kb as I struggle to hear a difference between 320 and 192

iPod when mobile.

Wirelessly Mac -> AppleTV -> TV when at home. The TV speakers will never be brilliant, I know, but it sounds decent enough to my ears.

 

[Buzzer]

...I suppose I should also have added the option of streaming from Spotify/Bandcamp/Last.fm/Soundcloud etc

 

[1959]

Minidisc

 

[alan partridge]

Minidisc

I loved minidisc!

 

[alan partridge]

Thanks for the replies. Those people with mainly digital collections – how do you play it then? I’ve always been told that a music system is only as good as its weakest point so I wonder what you use to play your music. If it’s your PC then is there any point getting lossless format?

My mp3s get played via a dedicated home entertainment computer I have hooked up to my Hi-Fi with a decent soundcard and cables but must confess that a lot of my mp3s are 192kb as I struggle to hear a difference between 320 and 192

I have an external soundcard and studio reference monitors. A very 'flat' sound which I have grown accustomed to. Really can tell when I listen to something that has the bass boosted or some such.

Not the most expensive you can buy but sounds pretty good.

 

[alan partridge]

oh, and winamp

I have an ipod, and as I'm lazy haven't ever bothered to work out how to sort it out with anything other than iTunes, which, apart from being a shite piece of software, doesn't sound nice either.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

Prefer the physical item. CD or Record. Sleave notes are important to me and I am proud of my collection. I am also a huge supporter of the old fashioned record shop and see its potential demise as something to be fearful of (Soon the high street will be just poundland and tesco/sainsbury mini marts)
Cant see the attraction of having everything 'stored' in some kind of device. Read yesterday that Ford are going to be the first car manufacturer to produce cars with no CD player. All music and radio will be accessed digitally. Sad!

 

[Poyetry In Motion]

The purist in me demands vinyl (played on a Linn LP12). I want to sit down and listen to every note, every movement, every sound. The man-on-the-move in me goes for the convenience of mp3/4 ( played on my Archos 405 ).

 

[clippedgull]

I play my music (high bitrate 320kbps mp3's or lossless through my Kef Speakers or my Shure headphones.