[ManchestrMorgue]

I wasn't sure how to title this thread, but I think this title gets the spirit of it.

Today I picked up some of The Beatles' remasters.

Usually, when I buy a CD I rip it to itunes and listen to it either through the computer speakers, or on my iPhone (either through headphones or through an Aux jack in my car stereo).

However, there has been so much discussion and hyperbole about these new Beatles remasters that I thought I would sit down on a lounge and put the CD in my stereo and just listen to it. Rather than have it playing as an mp3 while I am driving, or playing the mp3 whilst I am doing other things on my computer.

Now I have a pretty decent stereo system. However, I could literally count the number of times I have listened to a CD through this system in the last year on the fingers of one hand.

Listening to Abbey Road first, and then Let It Be, I lamented what had become of my listening habits.

I was hearing clarity, depth, warmth, and complexity that I had literally forgotten was present in music. I cranked it up, loud, and it sounded even more amazing. It enveloped me and I felt the resonance of the music.

In some ways it is sad that most of my listening will continue to be mp3's through shitty car speakers, or mp3's through shitty computer speakers. The convenience of thousands of songs without having to find/swap discs is hard to pass up. Especially when doing other things like driving/gaming/word processing.

However, I am going to make it my business to sit down and listen to an album (CD) through a real stereo system at least once a week.

So how do others listen to their music? Has anyone else had a similar experience to mine? Are there people who have not been taken in by the whole mp3 thing?