How do you listen to music?

[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?

[The_Return]

Mostly MP3s over shitty laptop speakers for me...far from ideal, but they get the job done.

[friday13thfan]

Usually during the following:
Driving
Surfing the Web
Laying down
Doing Art Work (homework)
Thinking
Anything

Method:
Car System
Ipod Touch
Ipod nano
Skullcandy Headphones

[darkgoddess95]

Yeah, I totally agree!!!

Originally Posted by friday13thfan

Usually during the following:
Driving
Surfing the Web
Laying down
Doing Art Work (homework)
Thinking
Anything

Method:
Car System
Ipod Touch
Ipod nano
Skullcandy Headphones

[nightmare_of _death]

mainly mp3 through speakers on computer....I have some cd's but they mainly collect dust right now....I have a stero,and sometimes use it for music.

I don't drive right now,so can't really play cds in car.

or I use my mp3 player....I need new headphones...currently borrowing my brothers..cause my old ones crapped out on me.

[ManchestrMorgue]

Originally Posted by nightmare_of _death

mainly mp3 through speakers on computer....I have some cd's but they mainly collect dust right now....I have a stero,and sometimes use it for music.

Sounds like me. Most of my CDs are stored in a cupboard and haven't seen the light of day for ages.

My "stereo" now mainly gets used for home theatre tasks. Which is ok if it is a movie with a good soundtrack, but seems a bit of a waste for watching the news.

[nightmare_of _death]

Yea my stereo is hooked up to my tv, for movies it sorta enhances the sound but my tv is old so it needs it ,but I'm happy that the tv at least works....

[bloody_ribcut]

Stereo connected to laptop, mp3's and wma's when i rip a cd to the hard drive.

[TechnicolorNightmare]

128kbps .mp3 on iPod or Windows Media Player.

[ManchestrMorgue]

Has anyone here tried SACD or DVD-A?

Just wondering how these would sound compared to CDs. I have a player capable of playing them (have done for about 5 years) but have never bought a disc.

They don't seem to be very common in my area.

Also, to get the most out of them you need to hook up the player with 5.1 analogue cables, and since this is my DVD player it is connected with a coax digital cable. But I wouldn't mind getting one of these discs just to see what it can do.