So how do you play your audio/video?

[khundalini]

I still use a classic stereo system, plus a surround system and two blu-ray players, as well as a cd player with a USB input that can also read high-resolution flacs. Most of my collection is on USB sticks.
The highlight is my Pro-Ject Yellow Submarine turntable.
I won't say anything about the quality of the components because that could lead to a dispute here.
I can accept all alternative playback options, but I like to have an expansive sound in the room.

[Ziggy C]

The point is we should be able to say what we're using, how we like it, etc. There is an inherent harmony to this forum, which still means something....to me anyway. I try to can my negativity. And it still creeps out occasionally. And I don't mind it when someone calls me out on it.

[skynet]

I still use a classic stereo system, plus a surround system and two blu-ray players, as well as a cd player with a USB input that can also read high-resolution flacs. Most of my collection is on USB sticks.
The highlight is my Pro-Ject Yellow Submarine turntable.
I won't say anything about the quality of the components because that could lead to a dispute here.
I can accept all alternative playback options, but I like to have an expansive sound in the room.

Where is the "like" button for comments like this??

[alphabeatles]

Do a test! When you play tunes you like on whatever system and media you use, does your toe tap-? There you go!

[rtbcIII]

Good to see some smart comments.

Processing/display is where it's at, fidelity-wise.

Like many of us, I suspect I have the audio-visual version of Jurassic Park around the house. Turns out you may need a good Triceratops once in a while. Even have a Technicolor 8mm film cassette system. Someone once tried to give me a wire recorder, too. But good grief, you have to draw the line somewhere!

But for the purposes of playing the treasures posted herein, I've yet to find anything as efficient as these little digital media players. Do they have various drawbacks/spec differences? Sure - just like everything else (and especially given the supply chain vagaries of the pandemic years). Be happy to discuss those, rather than ill-informed comments of the "piece of junk" variety.

[BeatleG]

I use JRiver Media Center to play both audio and video (along with VLC which I use on the fly). I love the program. It's got tons of features. I'm not an audiophile though I appreciate good sound but I'm not as discerning as many others. I acquire and play flac files as much as possible these days but the bulk of my audio collection is still mp3s, 320kbps of course preferred but I'm OK with lesser bitrates when I want to hear songs I don't have at 320 or flac. JRiver does so many cataloging functions and has other features that are cool, including showing lyrics for many of the songs as I play tracks. I'm not familiar with other cataloging/playing media programs with the exception of iTunes which I used to load my iPod and still do for my iPad, so I can't compare JRiver with those programs.

Anyway, I love this group and I'll try to find ways to contribute. Thank you to all that post both files and text!

[Ziggy C]

A little bit of funny. Remember wax cylinders?

[Nimbus]

Just to lighten the tone a bit, here's one for the dinosaurs amongst us (and that includes me).

[rtbcIII]

Remember wax cylinders?

My dad (founder of our family's original AV Jurassic Park) almost bought an Edison cylinder machine back in the '70s, but balked because the media was scarce. I did inherit his deluxe cabinet Victrola, where the horn went down into the fine woodwork, instead of standing atop the machine. It's big technical breakthrough was volume control, achieved by how far you opened or closed the cabinet doors.

Here's one of 1908's (and Edison's) biggest hits - a song that's still very familiar, though folks only sing the chorus these days.

[Rickenbacker325]

I still use a classic stereo system, plus a surround system and two blu-ray players, as well as a cd player with a USB input that can also read high-resolution flacs. Most of my collection is on USB sticks.
The highlight is my Pro-Ject Yellow Submarine turntable.
I won't say anything about the quality of the components because that could lead to a dispute here.
I can accept all alternative playback options, but I like to have an expansive sound in the room.

The only way to listen/watch!