# Best ways to listen to certain bands/genres?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-listen-to-certain-bands-genres/807589>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 27, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-listen-to-certain-bands-genres/807589 "2018-01-27T16:59:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Solanaceae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@Solanaceae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solanaceae)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-listen-to-certain-bands-genres/807589/1 "2018-01-27T16:59:46Z")

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What’s your opinion on how to listen to certain bands/types of music? As in, what music format goes well with who/what you’re listening to? I like listening to 70s music like deep purple or steppenwolf on 8 track and more 80s on vinyl just as an example.

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-listen-to-certain-bands-genres/807589/2 "2018-01-27T17:18:59Z")

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I’ve never thought about the physical medium mattering all that much, beyond the fact that some music works best as albums (listened to from beginning to end) while some works best as individual songs. And, among albums, some have a definite Side 1 and Side 2.

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**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-listen-to-certain-bands-genres/807589/3 "2018-01-27T21:48:34Z")

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Yeah, I’m not sure that the medium matters as much as the listening environment and the audio system (primarily the speakers). I’ll switch to some “big sound” speakers for heavier rock, but to my more delicate ribbon tweeter speakers when I’m listening to acoustic material. If I want the vinyl or tape experience, I can use a digital “filter” and a sound editing program to insert some era-appropriate noise, I guess.

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-listen-to-certain-bands-genres/807589/4 "2018-01-27T22:35:12Z")

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And I’d also say it depends on where you live. In my small 520 sq foot apartment, I think a good pair of headphones is probably the most important and that goes double since I work night shift these days.

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**Author:** ![Mrdeals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-listen-to-certain-bands-genres/807589/5 "2018-01-28T00:50:23Z")

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I think the physical medium matters a great deal.

Listen to Blind Melon driving on a sunny summer day.

Listen to Xasthur during a cold wintry eve driving through the forest.

Listen to Lil Pump on mute.

It will blow your freaking mind