How do you keep and listen to music these days?

[Icy Gull]

I hardly ever listen to my quite large collection of CD's as the vast majority are on my Ipod. I threw away all my cassettes a couple of years ago and my LP's lie gathering value (and dust) smile in the attic. I have got rid of my turntable and stereo system and use a Sony cd/tuner/ipod thing through speakers I have had for years but more but more I find myself just using an ipod and a Bose sound system which is also very portable.

What I am struggling to do is buy online, stick it on the cloud and pay a monthly fee. I can't help thinking about how pissed I would be if I decided against/couldn't afford to keep paying and then lose all my music. One of the reasons I haven't signed up to Spotify.

I'd be interested to hear how NSCers go about this especially the ones who are using all the facilities at the cutting edge. It did take me a year or two each time to change from LPs to Cassettes to mini disk to cd and then to Ipod so am I missing a trick these days?

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

I hardly ever listen to my quite large collection of CD's as the vast majority are on my Ipod. I threw away all my cassettes a couple of years ago and my LP's lie gathering value (and dust) smile in the attic. I have got rid of my turntable and stereo system and use a Sony cd/tuner/ipod thing through speakers I have had for years but more but more I find myself just using an ipod and a Bose sound system which is also very portable.

What I am struggling to do is buy online, stick it on the cloud and pay a monthly fee. I can't help thinking about how pissed I would be if I decided against/couldn't afford to keep paying and then lose all my music. One of the reasons I haven't signed up to Spotify.

I'd be interested to hear how NSCers go about this especially the ones who are using all the facilities at the cutting edge. It did take me a year or two each time to change from LPs to Cassettes to mini disk to cd and then to Ipod so am I missing a trick these days?

For me it's always vinyl. I have 3 turntables in the house and buy all stuff on vinyl including new stuff. Most new stuff comes with a download for your iPod.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

I am still old school and buy cd's through whatever outlet is cheaper. I then download to pc and use one of my ipods to listen to music via bluetooth, either in the car, through a dock or through the tv sound bar. This ownership issue re apple still concerns me, hence keeping my old cd's in boxes!
I have transferred most of my favourite vinyl to digital but, like you, and reluctant to get shot of them. I hear vinyl is on its way back - lucky I bought a turntable to link to pc.

 

[Icy Gull]

For me it's always vinyl. I have 3 turntables in the house and buy all stuff on vinyl including new stuff. Most new stuff comes with a download for your iPod.

So can you get just about anything on vinyl or is it just specialist stuff? Really surprised to hear you say this btw, I thought vinyl was very limited these days

 

[severnside gull]

Spotify.
Never a purist but I can enjoy what I enjoy when and where I wish.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Ipod all the way, in the house, car, tube, work and when walking round NT gardens

 

[Icy Gull]

Spotify.
Never a purist but I can enjoy what I enjoy when and where I wish.

As long as you have an internet connection? What about in the car or on the beach?

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

So can you get just about anything on vinyl or is it just specialist stuff? Really surprised to hear you say this btw, I thought vinyl was very limited these days

It has made a massive comeback and lots of new releases are produced on vinyl as well as cd and download. They have just announced a new vinyl only chart today. It is Record Store Day on Saturday. Go an have a browse

 

[severnside gull]

As long as you have an internet connection? What about in the car or on the beach?

Don't need a connection to play, only to download. With Spotify Premium you can access your playlists (I have about 800 tracks currently) off line . Sound quality depends where you play it obviously but in the car it's excellant and at home I can plug into decent speakers in the lounge or smaller but still decent quality in other rooms so I figure I win all round
Playing on the beach through iPhone or iPad is okay through headphones too

 

[Ludensian Gull]

As long as you have an internet connection? What about in the car or on the beach?

If you download you don't need Internet connection. But as you say if for some reason you find yourself not being able to pay each month you lose everything

 

[Norman Potting]

Spotify.
Never a purist but I can enjoy what I enjoy when and where I wish.

As one who WFH I consider Spotify is one of mankind's greatest achievments - I reckon on around 6hrs a day listening. I have never been one for expensive hi fi equipment as I only have very cheap ears and subscribe to the assertion (from Berry Gordy I think) that Motown singles were designed to sound great even if heard on a cheap MW car radio in an area with poor reception, probably whilst "canoodling" in the back seat.

Last CD was purchased after a concert a few years back, mainly because the artist (Richard Shindell, of whom I instantly became a fan halfway through his first song) signed it for me.

 

[happypig]

My preferred purchase format is a CD from Amazon with autorip then stick the CD away and upload to iphone and ipod.
If I can't do that then I buy the CD & rip it myself.
Last resort (if a physical copy is too expensive) is iTunes download.

I sold most of my vinyl a couple of years back.

I also have a rummage round the charity shops and have bagged a lot of CDs that way

 

[desprateseagull]

Listen on radio, record occasional chart shows off tv channels (for personal use, only!). Haven't bought any CD's / online stuff for ages.

 

[Notters]

Only just discovered Spotify. Don't know how I lived without it! Before I was just a CD man.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I have a decent Mini Hi Fi system, buy CD's generally rip them to my computer and transfer them over to my phone but listen to them on the Hi Fi otherwise.

Also have Spotify on my phone for checking out new bands/albums.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Vinyl - most new albums also come with a free download for PC/IPod enjoyment.
CD - For albums not released on vinyl that I really want.
Spotify - Great for checking things out before purchasing - Premium also comes with a facility for offline listening of your playlists.
Online - Soundcloud, Bandcamp and Mixcloud. Following record labels and bands are great for pointing you in the direction of new releases and saves you having to listen to Radio 1, 2 or 6. Mixcloud is the youtube for radio shows and also other people's playlists - great way of catching up on things.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I'm a collector so it's physical all the way. I have an ipod and a Spotify account for convenience but use it to primarily listen to Stuff I already own as I don't agree with their royalties.

 

[Hungry Joe]

Don't purchase or listen to vinyl and cd as much since going Spotify Premium. However, if something really blows me away I'll still buy it in a format I can keep whatever. I reckon I've saved a lot of money this way. I've got a decent hi-fi and if I want good quality from Spotify or similar I play through my laptop with a USB connector to my DAC box (digital to analogue converter - also great for making cd's sound more 'vinyl'). You can also up the quality of playback on Spotify Premium by changing the settings. I use the Spotify 'recommends' based on my downloads a lot and have discovered loads of new music this way.

 

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

Spotify premium. £10 a month and saving me approx £40pm on CDs. Also trying to declutter the mansion now and it helps not having thousands of CDs lying all over the shop.

Well worth the investment IMHO.

TNBA

TTF

 

[BlockDpete]

Mainly CD's and a few downloads.

Though I have just invested in a record player, so discovering a vinyl habit. Bought the new Public Service Broadcasting album on vinyl. On its first play, I managed to honour the memory of John Peel, by playing it at the wrong speed and not noticing until the 3rd track in.