Spotify/digital music files advice needed

[Hfan]

After paying for my kids to have a family Spotify account and looking at the monthly CC charges when paying for it I had a revelation that I should try and use it.

I finally got my 13 year old son to accept me onto "his account" and I have it on my i phone and lap top.

I am overwhelmed and amazed by the choices of music for instant downloads. Entire albums instantly..who woulda figured?? Granted they are compressed files etc. Currently listening to Grant Green wail on my phone.

Now I have to figure out how to play the files at home and on the road. I know about those little portable speakers that hook up to your phone..I paid for a few of them already for the kids..must have an amp in there too. Maybe an option for around the house without breaking the bank. The cheap skate in me has considered one in each vehicle too or do they need an AC source?

Then for the car..my two vehicles are old..my old accord has a cassette with am fm  and the sequoia is a cd cassette amfm. My wife has a newer Camry and is happy with what she has. I have a bunch of old cds and actually many cassettes that still work. I still use the bloody radio on road trips hunting down stations etc. So possibly break down and install new car systems..but the Honda may be gone soon so maybe something portable for now for that one at least.

Anyone up on this new fangled shite? Any decent ways to play these files on the cheap? Any insights appreciated. Thanks.

Edit: Just looked on Amazon, looks like blue tooth may be my friend. Some pretty cheap car audio systems available too.

 

[wendell7]

I have a Spotify Premium account and I love it.  For $10 / month I can listen to whatever I want whenever I want.  Unlimited downloads and you can create your own playlists.

I have a little BOSE Bluetooth speaker for listening at home (surprisingly loud and great sound quality for the size of it)  and I have a larger ION Bluetooth 50 watt speaker if I need to play tunes outdoors for a party or something like that.  Bluetooth ear buds for listening at the gym.  All of these items are rechargeable and portable.

My truck has a Bluetooth connection so I can listen on the road too.

There are almost unlimited options for Bluetooth items to connect to your phone and suit your music listening needs.  That is the way to go IMHO

[Hfan]

Thanks wendell7. My son has a little JBL speaker that sounds ok. From looking at Amazon, there are relatively inexpensive options for the car as well. Bluetooth in dash systems for $100 or less. Kenwood, Pioneer etc. And, even if I sell that old Honda, the likely buyer will be a young kid who would want that anyway. Their head might explode at the sight of a cassette deck.

[mrjamiam]

https://www.amazon.com/Quality-CPA9C-Cassette-Adapter-iPhone/dp/B0057YDNQ2

I was surprised that these are still around.  Mine has worked great since... whatever year Alanis Morrisette's Jagged Little Pill came out.

[Hfan]

^^ yeah I had something similar in a cd player some years ago. The sony seems to be the best of the bunch. Real systems are very cheap now though.

[Studio Custom]

The problem with these services is the artist sees one cent per 500 listens, so smaller artists never earn any money.  I still buy my content via iTunes to help support the artists, plus I now own the content and am not an annuity. 

[tommy p]

3 hours ago, Studio Custom said:

The problem with these services is the artist sees one cent per 500 listens, so smaller artists never earn any money.  I still buy my content via iTunes to help support the artists, plus I now own the content and am not an annuity. 

Shoot!  I still buy CD's!!!  I'm going to be really sad when I buy my next new vehicle because I'm positive it won't have a CD player.

[gorch]

15 hours ago, Studio Custom said:

The problem with these services is the artist sees one cent per 500 listens, so smaller artists never earn any money.  I still buy my content via iTunes to help support the artists, plus I now own the content and am not an annuity. 

You own content bought through iTunes? I have never heard of that.

12 hours ago, tommy p said:

Shoot!  I still buy CD's!!!  I'm going to be really sad when I buy my next new vehicle because I'm positive it won't have a CD player.

This! Buy CDs or LPs and give money to the artists. The quality is even better than any streaming available so far. Although, the master is still the same that is optimized for low-fi mobile phones. Disgusting! 

[Hfan]

18 hours ago, tommy p said:

Shoot!  I still buy CD's!!!  I'm going to be really sad when I buy my next new vehicle because I'm positive it won't have a CD player.

CD players are abundant on Amazon etc for less than $100. Name brands. Last one I bought maybe 15 years ago was $250 now something similar is $79.

21 hours ago, Studio Custom said:

The problem with these services is the artist sees one cent per 500 listens, so smaller artists never earn any money.  I still buy my content via iTunes to help support the artists, plus I now own the content and am not an annuity. 

Yeah there is that. I got the service for my kids not knowing much about it and am piggy backing on to that account. Money is tight now, long story. It does bother me though. I have spent money on I tunes as well and do have an account. Will continue when possible.

And yes the quality sucks of course, but it sounds better than some of my old cassettes or a static filled FM signal.  in a perfect world I'd have a nice old school system with LPs and cds. Neil Young was pushing for better quality files, I assume he hasn't made much head way.

As I get older there is so much music I want to experience, I'm all over the place, obscure stuff in many genres. This may be my only option.

I'm going to put  car stereos in both my vehicles. The existing speakers will do and the actual units are very cheap now and installation is simple.

Thanks.

[tommy p]

10 minutes ago, Hfan said:

CD players are abundant on Amazon etc for less than $100. Name brands. Last one I bought maybe 15 years ago was $250 now something similar is $79.

Not ones that can take the place of the "info-tainment" screen in new vehicles.  I have not seen ANY retro-fit screen/CD players for new vehicles to replace screen-only units.  If anyone ever does make one, my guess is that they would be prohibitively expensive.

[tommy p]

6 hours ago, gorch said:

This! Buy CDs or LPs and give money to the artists. The quality is even better than any streaming available so far. Although, the master is still the same that is optimized for low-fi mobile phones. Disgusting! 

Sound quality is a big reason why I prefer and still buy CD's.  I've looked at some new cars over the last few months, and when I lamented the lack of the CD player to the salesmen, one of them said "You're in the car.  How good do you need it to sound?"  I hope the "you'll never see my ass again" look on my face was evident.

I remember when a car's brochure always included stereo information: brand, how many watts, how many speakers and the location, etc. and there were usually sound package upgrades available.  Now they include NO information and there are no options.  I'm sure it's a cost cutting measure but now consumers are supposed to be content with shitty stream-quality music through a shitty sound system?  I'm not.

[Studio Custom]

6 hours ago, gorch said:

You own content bought through iTunes? I have never heard of that.

They are on my phone, I can transfer them to my computer, my wife can download them to her phone, etc....I don;t know what you'd call that, but it seems close enough to "ownership" for my purposes. 

Once you stop paying the streaming service, you are cutoff. 

[lang]

If you happen to have T-Mobile, you can install Spotify on your phone, and it doesn't count against your data.  Hook phone up to car (bluetooth, or just an old fashioned aux cable), and viola.. Spotify streaming in your car.  I couldn't imagine going back...  Better than Pandora, Better than Sattelite Radio.  

[Carl.B]

Here is cheap fix $145 installed and play's CD's.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/kenwood-in-dash-cd-dm-receiver-built-in-bluetooth-with-detachable-faceplate-black/5713528.p?skuId=5713528

[tommy p]

On 6/2/2017 at 4:11 PM, Carl.B said:

Here is cheap fix $145 installed and play's CD's.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/kenwood-in-dash-cd-dm-receiver-built-in-bluetooth-with-detachable-faceplate-black/5713528.p?skuId=5713528

I ended up getting that one or one that is very close to it when the radio in my 1987 S10 finally quit completely.  It works fine and was a cheap way to keep music in the truck.

[Hfan]

The installation on these (assuming you are keeping stock speakers) is super easy. Crutchfield has low prices, free shipping and they throw in the installation adapter cables and brackets etc for free. A quick visit to you tube will result in multiple videos on how to remove the existing systems, usually just a few screws.