Has iTunes, etc. impacted your listening habits?


Long before there was MP3, or at least long before I knew about it, my only real choice for music was to pick a disc out of the collection, throw it into my player of choice at that moment, and press play. Want to hear something else? Take the old disc out, put in the new one, etc.

But since I've burned my entire collection (minus non-hybrid SACDs) into my computer, I find it's just so damned EASY to press play and hear it through the mediocre desktop system. No changing discs, file through every range of song, artist, genre, etc.

Now, I don't have those lovely audiophile listening sessions on the big rig quite as often. And when I do, I'm listening to those non-hybrid SACDs that aren't on the computer.

Solution? Upgrades, baby! Get that main system back to where it's just so thoroughly compelling that the little ol' Dell just won't cut it any more.

I suppose I could have invested in wireless solutions to beam those wireless tracks to the big rig, but somehow I'm not covinced that it's a fully matured tachnology/too expensive right now/limited capability/I can't totally give up the 5 1/4" discs/whatever the hell else I'm worried about.

Has anyone else had their listening habits impacted by the MP3/iTunes revolution?

--Brian
thedautch
Copy your files to two external drives (one for back up). Plug a emu 1616m into your laptop, place laptop on a small computer stand near your listening chair. Use EMU's DACs or your DAC of choice and there you go!

Instant highend PC :)

peter
Yes, in a big way, and a good way. My CD players are largely unused. In the house it all goes through my Squeezebox coded in FLAC. On the road it is all coded in MP3, mostly at 320 kbps. I can't wait for someone to produce a player with 200 GBs of storage that plays FLAC.

It is a lot of work upfront, but the results make it all worth it. I have my laptop next to my listening spot and program anything I want on impulse. And no more fumbling and damaging CDs in the car.

Actually, I don't use iTunes. I don't like it at all. To me it is purely a product for those who don't want to take control of their music. Too automated and inflexible.
Wavelength Audio Cosecant owner and it has forever changed the way I listen to my collection...And it sounds better than the G08 I auditioned next to it for two full weeks-in every single way. It made me a believer it computer audio and tubes.

I will never look at a CD for anything other than ripping ever again.