Music needs no introduction. But are we giving it the appropriate attention?
Discovering and Listening to Music
as a hobby
AKA: Audiophilia
Related Hobbies: Niksen
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Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.
Plato
Helpful content to get started
We curated content to familiarize you with discovering and listening to music as a hobby and to inspire and help you get started.
We strive for accuracy, but errors may occur. Always use your judgment.
Refer to the listed resources for further research.
Short visual inspiration.
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As we grow accustomed to the convenience of shuffling a generated playlist, we forget that discovering music is an active exercise.
How to break free of Spotify’s algorithm | MIT Technology Review
Basic lingo for orientation.
- Bit Depth: The number of bits used to represent each sample of a sound wave. A higher bit depth provides a greater dynamic range (the difference between the quietest and loudest sounds) and lowers the noise floor, leading to a more accurate representation of the original sound.
- Discography: A detailed catalog of musical recordings, specifically those of a particular performer or composer.
- Hi-Fi Listening Bar: A specialized venue designed for audiophiles and music enthusiasts where high-fidelity sound systems are utilized to create an immersive listening experience.
- High-Fidelity Audio: Commonly referred to as Hi-Fi or HiFi, this term describes high-quality sound reproduction that aims to accurately replicate the original audio recording. This concept is particularly valued by audiophiles and home audio enthusiasts who seek minimal distortion and a full, precise range of audible frequencies.
- High-Resolution Audio: Also known as high-definition audio or HD audio, this is a digital audio format that offers superior quality. It is characterized by sample rates above 44.1 kHz (typically 96 kHz or 192 kHz) and a bit depth greater than 16-bit (usually 24-bit). However, many studies have found no statistically significant difference in preference or perceived quality between high-resolution audio and CD-quality audio for the average listener.
- Sample Rate: The frequency with which a sound wave is measured (or “sampled”) during the digital recording process. Measured in Hertz (Hz) or kilohertz (kHz), a higher sample rate captures more nuances of the original sound, resulting in potentially higher quality recordings.
Term Videos
How to break the ice and make a start. One Aha! moment is all you need.
- Set aside time to just listen.
- Open your music streaming service and spend some quality time exploring its evolving discovery features.
First Steps Videos
Get read-y.
Step-by-step tutorials.
How to Discover Music
- 5 Ways to Find New Music – wikiHow Fun
- How to Find More Music You’ll Love on Spotify: 7 Methods to Try | MUO
- How to Find New Music Online | Lifehacker
- How to Find New Music: 8 Best Ways | Kill the DJ
How to Listen to Music
How-To Videos
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Without music, life would be a mistake.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Essentials to have.
Product Demos
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Further reading.
Benefits of Listening to Music
- Music improves wellbeing and quality of life, research suggests | Health | The Guardian
- Why is music good for the brain? – Harvard Health
Music Lists
Video Articles
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Go-tos for information.
Music News and Reviews
- AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands
- Music – Rolling Stone
- NPR Music: Tiny Desk, New Music and Music News : NPR
- Pitchfork | The Most Trusted Voice in Music. | Pitchfork
Music Databases
- Bandcamp
- Discogs – Music Database and Marketplace
- Discover New Music – Chosic
- Gnoosic – Discover new Music
- Music-Map – Find Similar Music
- Roon
- TasteDive | Music recommendations
Live Music
- Find the Best Concerts Near You, Tour Dates & Tickets Worldwide | Songkick
- Live Music, Concerts & Music Events | Sofar Sounds
Audio Equipment
Website Previews
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Nothing like a good film or a show for inspiration.
Movie and TV Trailers
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Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.
Victor Hugo
Get a clue.
Is there a noticeable difference in audio quality between wired and wireless headphones/speakers?
Historically, wired connections have been considered superior due to their inherent ability to transmit uncompressed audio data directly. However, advancements in wireless technology, particularly Bluetooth codecs like aptX HD, aptX Lossless, LDAC, and LHDC, have significantly narrowed the gap. With these codecs, high-resolution audio can be transmitted wirelessly with minimal loss of quality. In many casual listening scenarios, most people would be hard-pressed to distinguish between a high-quality wireless connection and a wired one. However, for critical listening or professional audio work, wired connections still offer the most reliable and potentially highest fidelity.
Is audio quality important when listening to music?
Audio quality matters differently depending on individual listening preferences and context. For casual music fans, standard streaming quality (around 320 kbps) provides perfectly enjoyable sound. However, serious music enthusiasts and audiophiles often appreciate higher-fidelity recordings that reveal subtle instrumental nuances and emotional depth. The most significant improvement comes from investing in quality speakers or headphones rather than obsessing over bitrates. While genres like classical and jazz might benefit more from high-resolution audio, most popular music sounds great at standard quality levels. Ultimately, personal enjoyment and emotional connection to the music matter more than technical specifications.
Can most people hear the difference between high-resolution audio and CD-quality audio?
This is the central debate. While technically HRA contains more information, studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that many listeners struggle to reliably distinguish between HRA and CD-quality audio in blind listening tests. Some studies have shown that trained listeners or those with exceptional hearing can sometimes distinguish HRA from CD-quality under controlled conditions. However, many studies have failed to find a statistically significant difference in preference or perceived quality between the two formats for the average listener.
FAQ Videos
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Smart start.
Concerts and Live Music
Music Library Management and Integration
Music Streaming
Music Discovery and Purchase
App Trailers
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Get smart.
Video courses and trailers
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Get together.
Places
- Hi-Fi Listening Bars Near You
- Record Shops Near You
- The world’s greatest record stores | Financial Times
Events
- Bandsintown | Live Music, Concert Tickets, Tour Dates & Live Streams
- Concerts Near You
- Find the Best Concerts Near You, Tour Dates & Tickets Worldwide | Songkick
- Music Events Near You | Eventbrite
Groups
Related Videos
Additional advice for beginners.
- Don’t let Spotify typecast you: Be mindful and broaden your musical horizons. Use the features and tools provided by your music platform to keep diversifying your listening. Remember, discovering music is an active exercise.
- Listen to albums and artists, not just playlists. This will help you appreciate the artistic vision and coherence of the music, as well as discover new songs and genres that you might not find on curated playlists.
- Bring music to the foreground. Pay attention to what you are listening to. Set aside time for solely listening. This will allow you to immerse yourself in the music and pay attention to the lyrics, melodies, rhythms, and emotions that it conveys. You can also try listening to music in different settings, such as outdoors, in a dark room, or with headphones.
- Research and explore. This will enrich your musical knowledge and appreciation, as well as expose you to different perspectives and cultures. You can read reviews, interviews, biographies, histories, and analyses of the music you like or want to learn more about. You can also watch documentaries, concerts, and performances online or on TV.
- Utilize your music app features such as recommendations, new releases and nearby concerts. This will help you stay updated on the latest trends and discoveries in the music world, as well as find opportunities to see live music and support your favorite artists. You can also follow playlists, radio stations, podcasts, and blogs that cater to your musical tastes and interests.
- Go to see your favorite artists live. Either by using the native nearby concerts feature of your music app or by using dedicated apps such as Bandsintown and Songkick. This will give you a memorable and exhilarating experience of seeing and hearing your favorite music live, as well as connect you with other fans and musicians. You can also discover new artists and genres by attending festivals, open mic nights, and local shows.
- Maybe invest in quality headphones. This will enhance your listening experience by providing better sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort. You can also choose headphones that suit your style, personality, and budget.
- Listen to music with others. This will make your music listening more social and enjoyable, as well as spark conversations and debates about the music you love or hate. You can listen to music with your friends, family, colleagues, or strangers online or offline. You can also join clubs, groups, or communities that share your musical passion and preferences.
- Follow music podcasts. This will keep you informed and entertained by listening to experts, critics, artists, and fans talk about music. You can find podcasts that cover specific genres, topics, eras, or regions of music, or that feature interviews, reviews, stories, and debates. You can also interact with the podcast hosts and guests by sending them questions, comments, or suggestions.
- Subscribe to music newsletters. This will deliver curated and personalized content to your inbox on a regular basis. You can find newsletters that offer news, insights, recommendations, playlists, and more on the music you love or want to discover. You can also share your feedback and opinions with the newsletter writers and readers.
- Explore the soundtracks of your favorite movies. The music might be a key reason why those films resonate with you, and discovering these soundtracks can lead to new musical favorites and deepen your appreciation for cinema.
Video Tips
[…] we also find that algorithmically-driven listening through recommendations is associated with reduced consumption diversity. Furthermore, we observe that when users become more diverse in their listening over time, they do so by shifting away from algorithmic consumption and increasing their organic consumption.
Algorithmic Effects on the Diversity of Consumption on Spotify
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Additional information
| Activities | |
|---|---|
| Fields | Entertainment and Media, History and Culture, Music, Spirituality, Wellbeing |
| Locations | |
| Participants | |
| Skills | Active Listening, Attention to Detail, Attention to Health, Concentration, Creativity, Cultural Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Empathy, Language Skills, Mindfulness, Musical Ability, Research, Resourcefulness |