Is Streaming Killing Music? What’s Your Preferred Format for Listening?

byFrankB-1

6.5K followers

Updated 2 months ago

(Title image by DALL-E 3)

Hi WA Friends!

Today, I want to talk about the way people access and listen to music and how that relates to digital streaming.

Music lovers have many options when it comes to how they enjoy their favorite tunes, but everyone has their go-to format. It’s all about what makes music feel special to you.

Digital Streaming

Digital streaming is easily the most convenient option out there. With just a phone and an internet connection, you can access millions of songs instantly, anytime, anywhere. This kind of instant gratification is hard to beat, especially when discovering new artists on the go!

The problem with digital streaming is that the sound is usually sampled (explained in the next section) AND compressed, so it loses auditory clarity! The compressed audio makes it easier to stream over the internet. This compression can result in a loss of detail, making the sound a bit flatter compared to a CD.

The same thing happens when an image file is compressed. Compare the difference in the detail and clarity of a .PNG versus a .JPG image file, and you will see what I'm talking about.

My mother had a CD player that could also play MP3 (streamable format) music files. One year I burned her a blank CD that had over 100 Christmas songs on it in MP3 format. What can a regular CD disk hold in its native format, 8 to 12 songs on the average? It demonstrates the file size difference between the two music formats and you can hear the difference!

CDs

Compact Discs (CDs) are still loved by plenty of music lovers. CDs offer clean, reliable sound quality that surpasses streaming in terms of depth and clarity, largely because CDs can have a higher sampling bitrate (44,100 samples per second), greater dynamic range, and less data loss due to their uncompressed format.

This means that CDs capture more of the nuances and detail of a recording, which makes for a richer listening experience compared to the over-compressed audio files used in streaming.

And let’s face it, owning a CD collection gives you a tangible connection to your favorite music, something that streaming simply can’t replicate.

Cassette Tapes

There are still plenty of people out there who are sticking with cassette tapes. They built a collection of their favorite artists and love that old-school vibe that only a cassette can deliver - rewinding and all!

Cassettes also have the added advantage of being recorded in an all-analog format, like old vinyl records. This means that, like vinyl, cassettes capture the full sound wave, offering that warm, rich analog sound that many listeners find more authentic compared to digital recordings. More on this in the next section.

Vinyl Records

Older vinyl records have that warm, authentic sound and a nostalgic charm that draws people in. Some say vinyl just feels more natural - almost like being transported back in time, with every crackle and pop adding to the experience.

One of the key reasons older vinyl albums (and cassette tapes) sound different is because they are recorded in analog format. Analog recordings capture the entire recorded wave, which many argue gives vinyl its depth and warmth.

In contrast, digital formats, like those used in streaming or CDs, are sampled. This means the original sound is broken down into thousands of tiny bits, each representing a moment in time. The sampling process uses certain parts of the actual sound and ignores others.

Think of it as if you were going to sample six pieces of candy from a box of chocolates that contained ten pieces, and each piece has a different flavor. When you finished eating, you would have only tasted 60% of the flavors! With digital sampling, it's more like hearing 90 to 95% of the music, but there is still some missing! So, some listeners (including me) feel that this process loses a bit of the character found in analog recordings.

It's not just about the sound itself - it's also about the ritual of handling the record, setting it on the turntable, and enjoying the tactile aspect of the music.

The resurgence of vinyl versus old vinyl records.

So, here's the rub: most new music released on vinyl is digitally recorded in the studio. The digital files are then converted to analog before being pressed onto the records people buy. This digital-to-analog transition does not offer the quality of a richer, more immersive listening experience.

So, with new vinyl records, you are essentially getting the worst of both worlds: the sampled sound of a digital recording and the pops and hisses of vinyl! Not good, in my book!

Eight-Track Tapes: Remember Those?

And let’s not forget eight-track tapes. Though they’re pretty much extinct now, back in the day, they were a mainstay in cars and home stereo systems. They had a bulky charm and gave listeners a new way to enjoy albums without having to switch sides like with vinyl or cassettes.

They also allowed listeners to instantly select any of four stereo tracks (songs) by pushing a button!

It’s a fun blast from the past that some collectors still appreciate. I have an 8-track tape player set up in my music studio for nostalgic purposes! Lol 😎

Music Is A Physical Experience, Too!

The thing is, music isn't just about sound quality. It’s about the experience. Some people love the ritual of pulling a record out of its sleeve, setting it on a turntable, and watching the needle drop. Others prefer scrolling through a streaming app, making playlists in seconds.

There’s no right or wrong way - it's all about what makes music feel special to you.

Your Sound System Can Make All the Difference!

A great sound system can improve your entire listening experience. The quality of your speakers, headphones, earbuds, or amplifiers can significantly impact how you perceive the music.

Investing in better sound equipment can make the difference between just hearing music and truly experiencing it!

Speakers

High-quality speakers can bring out the depth and dynamic range in recordings, allowing you to hear details that might be lost with lower-quality equipment. Whether it's a crisp high note or a deep, rich bass tone, good speakers make a huge difference.

Headphones And Earbuds

Headphones and earbuds are another key part of the listening experience. Over-ear headphones tend to offer better sound quality, especially in terms of bass response and sound isolation, compared to typical earbuds.

Audiophile-grade headphones, especially those with noise-canceling technology, can deliver an incredibly immersive experience, capturing even the most subtle nuances of the recording. I always use high-quality headphones when trying to pick out guitar parts for songs I want to learn.

Earbuds, while convenient, often have limitations in sound quality due to their size and design. However, high-end earbuds can still offer impressive clarity and detail, especially for on-the-go listening.

Amplifiers

Sound quality all starts with the amplifier! Amplifiers are crucial when it comes to getting the best sound. A good amplifier can make music sound fuller and more powerful, providing better volume control and enhancing the audio quality, particularly for high-impedance headphones and larger speakers.

My Ideal Sound System

I favor a separate all-tube (valve) pre-amplifier and all-tube amplifier instead of an integrated (combined pre-amp and amp) unit.

The reason is simple: the sound quality of vacuum tube equipment (and, yes, tubes are still available from China and Russia) tends to be warmer and more natural compared to solid-state (transistor-based) gear. Tubes produce a smooth, rounded sound with a richer harmonic texture, which can make the music feel more lifelike and less sterile.

Transistor equipment, while more efficient and reliable, often produces a cleaner but sometimes harsher sound. They can lack the warmth and character that tubes bring to the table. With a tube amplifier, the music seems to have more depth, and you can often feel the difference in how instruments and vocals are presented.

By using a separate pre-amplifier and amplifier setup, I can tailor the sound more precisely to my liking, ensuring that every detail is reproduced with the full warmth and clarity that only tubes can deliver. To me, this combination of warmth, richness, and flexibility is unbeatable when it comes to experiencing my favorite tunes!

Tell Me What You Think!

So, do you think that streaming is killing music?

How are you listening to your music? Are you streaming it on the go using your mobile device and then switching to something with higher fidelity, like a CD, when you're at home?

Maybe you use different formats depending on your mood or the situation. Streaming might be perfect for discovering new artists while on a walk or commute, whereas CDs or vinyl provide a richer, more immersive experience when you can sit back and truly savor the music.

Or, maybe you think I'm being too picky about the whole thing! Lol 😆

What's Your Preferred Music Listening Format?

• Digital Streaming
• CDs
• Cassette Tapes
• Vinyl Records
• Other

Let me know in the comments, AND ...
Keep On Rocking! 🤘

(Pin by DALL-E 3)

Frank 🎸

~75% Human-written content.