Music Aboard

[Jefffriday]

The MP3 format is really crap. memory has gotten so cheap and available that Full Length audio (lossless) format should be the only format today (thanks apple for screwing this up so royally when memory was pricey). I have about 3500 songs on my phone in FLAC format (you would need a FLAC audio player like "jet Audio" for android) the difference can be heard on even the most basic of equipment. The Bluetooth receiver is also not a one size fits all. The Audioengine B1 has incredible sound, admittedly it's about 200$ but big difference (has its own quality D/A converter)> It was a pain burning just under 300 cd's from my collection, but once its done you have it forever, in the original, full format.... Check out Niel Young's rants on MP3 if you have doubts...

[Redline452]

+1 for the Fusion. I had a Sony with external mix combining USB-PC, CD changer, TV and XM (via analog in from a MyFi)nd a cockpit remote. When the head unit died and none of the current models support the accessory bus, I went for a Fusion MS-RA70 with NMEA, Bluetooth and a SiriusXM tuner. Great unit, great sound. Pricey but worth it IMO.

[Goodxcharly]

Sounds! like you have it all figured out pretty good.
I still play dinosaur cds and need a cd stereo though they are not quite in the 8-track category, yet.

[JBP]

Even though I have a built in sound system, I still prefer a portable bluetooth speaker because I can move it around with me and of course the controls are right on it. I also use the bone conduction headphones that do not block your hearing.
My favorite speaker so far is the old Pyle Splash (the 60 or 65, not the new 75). It is waterproof-ish, rugged enough to withstand boat abuse, all day battery life, and has decent enough volume if you are close. I've tried several newer speakers, but they all seem flimsy, sound tinny, and need to be recharged after 5 or 6 hours or even less.

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by Goodxcharly

Sounds! like you have it all figured out pretty good.
I still play dinosaur cds and need a cd stereo though they are not quite in the 8-track category, yet.

You are using the best source you can obtain practically. Full dynamics and massive channel separation.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by shonorow

I'm looking at upgrading my stereo system. Being off-shore and out of reach of the cloud, I'm thinking MP-3 and thumb drives are the best option to play my music aboard. Any better ideas out there? Any agreement?

Of all the preceding posts Benz is closest to my SOP. Selections are obtained free from library CDs and downloaded to my PC where they are available when desired, never while actually sailing. I've found the need for music is not as frequent as it used to be; beyond the normal boat sounds, silence can be quite enjoyable.

[Eric Carnell]

If you are also considering a good off-shore weather reporting system, you might check out packages from Sirius XM for your cruising area. It can give you up to date weather, grib files on your chart plotter and music.

[justlearnin]

Originally Posted by shonorow

Thank you very much for your well thought out answer. I'm slowly getting dragged into the 21st. Century, having recently installed Garmin Bluetooth compatible sonar and radar units. Although I had never heard of either Fusion marine radios, or Raspberry PI, thanks to you, I am educating myself. My problem started with the recent demise of my PC, which took with it all my music and nav software (Garmin Homeport). The only things that survived were my thumb drives. Looking for something bullet proof. Thanks to you, I am definitely going with Bluetooth and USB compatible. My stereo unit is below at my nav station; so, don't see the need to spend the money for Fusion. Thanks again for all the erudite help.

Due to falures I store all important files letters, music and recipies on two external hard drives ... One continuiously connected and one occasionally. When I do connect it I copy all files to it too. It makes for a failure proof setup with Two backups.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

Well...for some boiled Folgers is good enough. Different strokes.

There is a lot more in the music than you would suspect if the high frequency content is included. And if you're upgrading it may not pay off in any way if your source is bad to start with.

Not much point for us old farts, most of whom have mild to severe 'high frequency hearing loss" (especially those who are ex-military)

[MVDarlin]

Sirius is good for news and music. I use it in remote Mexico. No phone or internet service required. Easy installlation.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Jefffriday

The MP3 format is really crap. memory has gotten so cheap and available that Full Length audio (lossless) format should be the only format today (thanks apple for screwing this up so royally when memory was pricey). I have about 3500 songs on my phone in FLAC format (you would need a FLAC audio player like "jet Audio" for android) the difference can be heard on even the most basic of equipment. The Bluetooth receiver is also not a one size fits all. The Audioengine B1 has incredible sound, admittedly it's about 200$ but big difference (has its own quality D/A converter)> It was a pain burning just under 300 cd's from my collection, but once its done you have it forever, in the original, full format.... Check out Niel Young's rants on MP3 if you have doubts...

Totally acknowledge that MP3 is crap compared to FLAC or other lossless formats. But on my system, while I can hear the difference, it does not prevent me from full enjoyment of my MP3 songs.

And aside from space requirement, I collected my music over decades, all legally obtained, and most of it was before we had cheap storage or FLAC format available. Now I have 124 GB of music, 3000 albums and over 31000 songs, all MP3. It would not be possible to re-record any percentage of that music in FLAC.

Finally, I buy 90% of my music from Amazon. I purchase it and download it. MP3 is the only choice unless I want to subscribe to Amazon Music Services. Pure and simple, I subscribe to nothing, so that's out.

But I am completely satisfied with my music, especially the last 5-10 years when we have been able to get 320kbs/sec and 96khz sampling on MP3.

With my system, it sounds pretty good. Not perfect, but pretty good.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

...1. You need to use a streaming service (I prefer Spotify, you choose yours)....

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

iPhone Spotify and a Bluetooth speaker system is all you need

Originally Posted by Eric Carnell

If you are also considering a good off-shore weather reporting system, you might check out packages from Sirius XM for your cruising area. It can give you up to date weather, grib files on your chart plotter and music.

Originally Posted by MVDarlin

Sirius is good for news and music. I use it in remote Mexico. No phone or internet service required. Easy installlation.

Too bad the music is so mundane, I can get the same selection in an elevator.

Originally Posted by Benz

...I don't find the streaming services suitable, since I like to listen to entire works all together, and at best they give random selections, and rarely the best from any piece.

Yes, this ^^^

[s/v Jedi]

High bitrate and sampling and not even experts can tell the difference during blind testing.

That said, FLAC and Apple Lossless are so easy now that there’s no reason to use mo3 other than when it’s the only thing you can get. With Amazon, I buy the CD and get the mp3 included for free…. When the cd arrives, I rip it to lossless and add it to the collection.

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

High bitrate and sampling and not even experts can tell the difference during blind testing.

That said, FLAC and Apple Lossless are so easy now that there’s no reason to use mo3 other than when it’s the only thing you can get. With Amazon, I buy the CD and get the mp3 included for free…. When the cd arrives, I rip it to lossless and add it to the collection.

Amen, that's my MO also!

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

Well...for some boiled Folgers is good enough. Different strokes.



There is a lot more in the music than you would suspect if the high frequency content is included. And if you're upgrading it may not pay off in any way if your source is bad to start with.



I know that listening to music on a great system is a great feeling. I can enjoy music from the small portable speakers but it becomes background in about 3 minutes.

Nothing on a boat will compare to a land based tuned sound system and on most boats I’ve been on you’ll never get the highs and lows

IMHO

Edit unless you use headphones