Here’s why city musicians prefer digital sound systems

There is a high-fidelity music system laying in the living room of Cactus frontman Sidhu’s Garia apartment, but he rarely uses it. Being a singer and composer himself, Sidhu usually spends hours listening music every day. But he completely relies on his smartphone for that. That’s the scene with most musicians in the city we spoke to. They use their smartphones, computers or car stereos for that.

Ease of use and portability are important
Singer Iman Chakraborty owns a pair of expensive speakers, but they are never attached to a music system. She uses a portable music player and whenever there’s time, she connects it to the speakers to listen to music. “I don’t believe in downloading music for free, so whatever I listen to, I buy online,” she said.

Lagnajita Chakraborty

also uses her smartphone or portable music player to listen to music. “My only condition is that I must have a good pair of headphones,” she said. Even

Subhamita Banerjee

told us that doesn't use music systems anymore and relies mostly on her computer and smartphone for that.

Technology is changing fast
When we asked them why they prefer digital devices, the musicians told us that it's the portability. “When I am travelling, I rely on my car stereo. It’s true that it doesn’t produce the best sound, but I have never had any problem with that,” Sidhu told us.

Moreover, according to the singers, music systems produce clearer and better sound only when attached to a good output device. “When a music system is used with a pair of good headphones, all disturbances are cut out and that helps me concentrate on the music,” said Lagnajita, adding that even now, when she comes to Kolkata, she visits some friend’s house to listen to music on a proper music system.

Another deterrent for them is the fact that changing technologies have rendered most music systems obsolete. “It might sound weird that being a musician, I don’t use a proper music system, but I think that’s the nature of technology. It changes and with it, we should too,” said Sidhu.

The reach is wider
What’s more, the reach of digital music is much wider. Subhamita said nowadays, no one listens to music using a proper music system and smartphones or other portable digital music systems are widely used. “With these new devices, one can get access to music across the world — something that was not possible earlier,” she said.
Percussionist Bickram Ghosh agreed and said that with his portable music system, he can listen to Rabindrasangeet with the same swiftness and efficiency as he can access a Latin or African soundtrack. “So, in that way, a digital device is much handier than a conventional music system,” he said.