The Perfect Music Setup

Music is one of life's real pleasures, and it's so exciting to see where the future of music consumption is heading. Streaming services are focused not only on providing a place to listen to the music you know, but also to share, create, and explore music in ways that have never before been possible. There are some fantastic music streaming services cropping up that offer a variety of features: want to be a DJ? Find a new favorite band? Get music suggestions from your friends and family? You can do all of these things now, for free. With all the great options available, the question now is, what's the perfect music setup for you?

I've compiled a list of web-based services that are leading the pack in user-friendly music streaming. And, since you need speakers to actually hear the music, I've also included a list of my favorite devices for listening to music wirelessly at home or on the go. If you are an avid music lover or just looking to explore music a bit more, this list should get you pointed in the right direction towards perfecting your own personal music experience. Happy listening!

Do you listen music on your phone? On the web? Old school radio? I'd love to know you're favorite way to listen to music.

1. Subsonic (free)
   Subsonic is a free music streaming service that manages your personal music collection and streams it to your wireless devices--smart phones, speakers, etc. Designed to handle large music libraries, subsonic has a clean and simple interface for browsing and can stream to multiple devices simultaneously (your living room and kitchen speakers, for example). Subsonic also provides apps for streaming music to android devices, iPhones, and windows phones, so accessing your personal collection from anywhere has never been easier.



2. Turntable.fm (free)
   Turntable's tagline is "play music together," and it offers you the chance to DJ with anyone around the globe. Even thought it's a new service with some kinks to work out--it's free and easy to use, highly addictive, and one of the best ways to combine socializing and music listening online, in my opinion. Each room has four DJ spots which open up on a first come first serve basis; you can choose to create your own room with friends and take turn playing songs, or simply wander through rooms as a listener. Turntable has a vast library of songs to add to your DJ queue, but if they don't have what you're looking for you can upload your own music to the queue as well. The funny avatars, message boards, and interactive "like-o-meter" for rating the DJ's picks give you plenty of ways to engage with your fellow turntablers. It's a great way to listen to music at work (although it may be a bit of a productivity-killer), discover new music, and make friends.



3. Pandora (free, limited w/ ads or $36/year for unlimited + no ads)
   Pandora might not have the fanciest interface or a long list of added features, but it's the music service that time and again proves the best at introducing you to new music you'll actually like, thanks to being powered by the Music Genome Project. Pandora can provide you with a radio station customized to your mood or inspired by your favorite song, band, genre, etc. If you don't like something they've chosen, simply click the "thumbs down" button and Pandora moves ahead to a new track (you have limited "skips" in the free version, however). It's great for picky audiophiles and music beginners alike.



4. MOG - (free, limited + ads; $4.99/month unlimited; $9.99/month unlimited w/ downloads + mobile)
   MOG is similar to Pandora in that you can create customized radio stations and discover new music, but it provides a few more features for a more controlled "exploration". MOG also provides some solid apps for listening in the car and download options for a relatively low monthly fee, which allows you to take the new music you discover anywhere.



5. Spotify
   Spotify is a strong contender in the streaming pool, and it's mostly due to its extensive library of over 15 million songs. While it doesn't provide the same kind of recommendation and discovery options as Pandora or MOG, it does sync up to your remote library allowing you to mix your collection with theirs to provide a seemingly endless amount of listening enjoyment. Spotify's interface is well designed so it's easy to search and browse; syncing is surprisingly fast; and the service is priced reasonably for access to such a vast collection of tracks.



6. Rdio - (free w/ limited web streaming only; $4.99/month unlimited; $9.99/month unlimited + mobile)
   Rdio is similar to Spotify in that it will stream a combination of tracks from your browser and synced tracks from your own library. Rdio doesn't have nearly as large a library as Spotify, but where Rdio excels is in social connectivity. You can connect with your friends and see what they're listening to, and in that way you get the chance to discover new music through the people who you trust most. If social networking is less important to you, than Spotify would be the wiser choice, but if you're connecting with friends regularly through facebook and other online networks, Rdio is the perfect musical addition to your online social scene.

1. Creative D200 wireless bluetooth speakers, $130
   Compatible with iPhone, iPod, or iPad, the D200 provides wireless bluetooth music streaming. Built in bass and high quality sound make this speaker a great option for mac device users with moderate sized rooms.



2. Altec Lansing inMotion wireless air speaker, $200
   This speaker lets you listen to music from your computer anywhere in your home. The USB connected wireless transmitter sends your computer's audio into your speaker up to 300 feet away.



3. Mac mini, from $599
   If you already have a massive collection of music that threatens to overload your laptop, consider getting a Mac mini for your media storage needs. The mini is super compact and sleekly designed, and easy to hook up to your tv, monitor, or speaker system to provide a streamlined home media center.



4. Motorloa EQ7 BT Hifi system, $120
   The EQ7 is a super portable system that works for home or travel. It connects wireless to your phone, music devices and streaming services to provide you with music anywhere. It's got impressive sound for a compact system and would be great for small rooms and to take on the road.



5. Sonos Play 3 home music system, from $350 (one play 3 speaker $299 + bridge $49)
   I had the opportunity to test drive the Play 3 system for a few weeks, courtesy of Sonos, and it proved to be one of the more thoughtfully designed audio systems I've seen. The speakers are minimalist, sleek, and give out great sound; the system sets up almost effortlessly, and the app to use your smart phone as a remote was much appreciated. To outfit your entire home in the Sonos system would be no small investment, and if you're addicted to the iTunes interface you might not want to switch over to the one Sonos provides. The ease of use and sound quality of the Sonos are hard to match, and if you're looking for a home system to use in conjunction with streaming services like Spotify, the Play 3 is an excellent option.



6. Logitech Squeezebox radio, $180
   The Logitech Squeezebox is a great choice if you want a small, simple device to play all of your music. The Squeezebox allows you to play music wirelessly from your streaming services and from multiple computers, making it a great choice for a bedroom, office, or any moderate-sized room in your home. It has a nicely compact, non-obtrusive design; color screen and easy-to-navigate interface; and it plugs directly into music players if needed.



7. Bose Soundlink wireless mobile speaker, $299
   Bose is known for provided top-notch designs and great sound quality, and the SoundLink is another gem in their line of stylish, mobile speakers. The SoundLink is small and lightweight enough to use for travel, but also provides enough sound strength to be a great choice for the home as well. The protective integrated cover doubles as a nifty speaker stand, and the speaker features an eight hour battery life and wireless range up to 30 feet. If you want a an attractive and great sounding wireless speaker for traveling, the Bose is a wise investment.

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