Debate is a big part of being a classic rock fan. Which is the best band, which is their best performance, and which was their worst album are all hot topics we’ve all been too emphatic about at some point, and we’re here again to jump into the fray.
The topic of the best listening device is a divisive one, with diehard purists with home CDs and vinyl setups all having strong arguments in their favour. To be more than a little contradictory, we’re going to champion the use of smartphones as the best music players, in what we’re sure won’t ruffle any feathers.
As a Multitool
From a starting position, the humble smartphone is by far the most flexible musical listening tool of all. For example, if you’re a fan of checking out Slingo games for real money like Hot Roll and Money Train, this can be accomplished easily from any smartphone setup. The experience is just as good as playing from tablets, laptops, and desktops, and the greater portability makes gameplay even more convenient. Of course, the same applies to watching YouTube, browsing the net, and communicating too.
Instant and Convenient Access
There’s something to be said for working with physical media. The feel of a vinyl in your hand, of seeing the needle drop into position can’t be matched, but there’s also no denying its inconvenience. With a smartphone, you can search your library in seconds, and you don’t need to be confined to your home space to make it work.
Access is further bolstered by online musical systems like those listed at CNet. No matter what you choose, lightweight music files and fast mobile internet means you choose what you want, or what you might be interested in, and you’re ready to go anywhere that offers an internet connection.
Storage Volume
Extending the idea of convenience is a direct measurement of how many tracks can be stored on a single mobile phone. CDs and vinyls might not take up much room individually, but if you start collecting, the space they consume will quickly grow.
Compare this to the theoretical capacity of the smallest storage drive of an iPhone 14, 128 gigabytes. According to calculations from Livewire, four gigabytes of storage can fit at least 500 songs, assuming high-quality rock tracks of regular length. With this low-ball figure, a single low-capacity iPhone could fit around 16,000 songs, assuming that’s all you used your space for. This number in physical media would require hundreds of CDs or vinyls, which probably wouldn’t be good for our backs.
Customisation Options
While it is possible to listen to your music on smartphone speakers, seriously suggesting such a thing is nothing short of blasphemy. Fortunately, the enormous range of accessories for smartphones means you’ll never really be stuck playing this way. With smartphones, you can purchase the exact right headphones, play with equalisers, and even attach your phone to docks with speaker systems for more robust sound profiles.
As classic rock fans, it’s easy to get stuck in the traditional ways of listening. Hell, we even have a soft spot for our ageing cassettes that should have been abandoned a decade ago, but ultimately, it doesn’t matter. The important thing to remember is that smartphones are just a delivery system, and as long as we don’t use their speakers, they’re as valid as any other choice. That is until they run out of power halfway through Rumours.
