Describing, explaining, testing, reviewing and comparing the myriad of formats, hardware and software players, renderers, streamers, endpoints, servers, etc is (like describing the kinds of users who build or buy them) far too complex to tackle here. Some have been around since SSDs were a fantasy, and others are so new that they’re still in constant beta use.

It’s no surprise that there are many music management systems from which to choose. These format shifts mean steady, strong and growing demand for new vehicles to deliver our music to our ears. We’re also accumulating fewer offline archives of our own, with digital downloads down 27% from first half 2017 and CD sales off 41%. Per the 2018 RIAA midyear revenue report, streaming now generates 75% of all music industry revenue – and 75% of that comes from paid subscription services.

The computer audiophile, a geeky anomaly only a decade ago, is now a mainstream player in the market. We can choose from many media and delivery platforms to get our music wherever we are, whenever we want it, at whatever level of quality we’re willing to store &/or fund. The 21st century is a great time for audiophiles. “ And in the black trunks, weighing in at 6.7 gigabits.

Jriver media center 26