music streaming service

Who remembers those big, awesome sounding (and expensive) JBL speakers? Sound systems used to be a much bigger deal.

If you are happy, then all is well.

A lot depends upon the style of music to which you listen. Most pop and rap music is not going to benefit much from high streaming rates. I tend to listen to a variety of folk, classical, jazz and neoclassical music that is more likely to benefit from the higher rates. If you are listening on cheap ear buds or Bluetooth speakers, you will never detect the difference. You really need a good DAC, a good amplifier and good speakers to get significant benefit from HD streaming.

Back when digital music was new, audio engineers determined that a recording rate of 44.1 KHz was sufficient. The bit rate such as 16 bits determines the loudness range of the music. The standard 16 bits has a maximum dynamic range of 96 db. Some muisic is recorded in 24 bit depth which can provide a range of 144 db. While there is orchestral music that might challenge the dynamic range of a 16 bit recording (Tychovsky's 1812 Overture, for example, most recordings, nobody needs 24 bits unless you are trying to record the sound of a F-35 fighter jet taking off at full power with afterburners. Even if you had speakers capable of producing that level of loudness, you would have to wear ear protection to prevent permanent ear damage.

Another interesting aspect of recording music is that most recordings are mixed by people who have years of experience in the music industry. That means that their ears are likely to have lost significant sensitivity in higher frequency ranges.

I just use streaming radio stations, mostly found with the "Radio Garden" app.
Favourites these days: "Moon Phase Radio" ( ambient, for shaving), "KLMO Tejano 98.9 FM", "Vintage Obscura Radio", and "Alefamusic" (out of northern Madagascar).

I like the surprise of hearing something unlike anything I've heard before, as opposed to some algorithm steering me back to the same genre.

Who remembers those big, awesome sounding (and expensive) JBL speakers? Sound systems used to be a much bigger deal.

And headphones had 12-foot cords.

I use Spotify, though I also tried Tidal. Actually, I've never heard from anyone that the sound differs in these services. I know such platforms are a bit costly, and I'm not used to it, as I moved from another country, where I would download music from the internet illegally, and it was okay there. I also like Spotify more because I can buy Spotify plays there. Yeah, I create tracks and hope to be popular one day. Wish me luck!