Online music subscribing and services

[Frans]

Hey guys,

I'm going to replace my Marantz SR6003 with a AV7005 / MM7055 combination. Partly because I love the new network options it has. It seems to have pretty decent integration for Napster, Rhapsody and Pandora. I just started checking out Last.FM and I really like it. It seems a good way for me to get introduced to new music that I like, based on related music I play currently have in iTunes. I got tired of listening to crappy Dutch FM stations that usually only play top 40 hits. I want to hear music I like instead of what the public or the DJ's think I should listen to. Not to mention the annoying news, traffic information and advertisements every 30 minutes or so!

I'm thinking about subscribing to either Napster, Rhapsody or Pandora as well. Mostly because I think the 30 second preview of the iTunes Music Store just isn't enough to get a good feel of new music. What are your opinions about these three services? Which one do or don't you like? I'd love to read about your opinions before I did into it.

 

[swspiers]

First- be sure to keep us updated on the new Marantz gear!

Second- I love Pandora. Ease of use, and all the different 'channels' I can create makes for a (mostly) enjoyable experience for me. For me the biggest factor has been using it on my Rolu box- but I'm not sure what is available in the Netherlands as far as Roku goes...

Anyway, I'm happy enough with Padnora that I haven't really experimented with the other options you list.

-s

 

[mpompey]

I've used both Pandora and LAst.FM. I like Pandora more than last.fm because of integration with my WDTV live player in the living, the Android phone app for use in my car, and of course with my laptop.

The last.fm android app really turned me off as it wouldn't sign in automatically for me. Although last.fm is featured on my Xbox and Pandora isn't right now.