Audio Devices

By what means was music played back in 2012? Audio Devices comprise technical devices that permit access to and enable playback of Audio Sources. This includes CD players, record players, cassette recorders, MP3 player and smartphones but also computers and various multimedia entertainment devices that allow music use.

The German’s most frequently used device for reception and playback of music in everyday life in 2012 is the car stereo. 62 % of the population listened to music in that manner at least once per week. A close second in the ranking are analog radio devices such as kitchen or clock radios which were used regularly by 58 % of the Germans. Ranked third are HiFi component systems with a frequency of use of 46 % for at least weekly music consumption. Next in line are HiFi compact systems (32 %) and DVD players with integrated amplifiers (16 %). The predominant digital device for reception and playback of music was the laptop followed by smartphones and portable MP3 players. Only then follow desktop computers (20 %) and numerous other digital entertainment devices such as tablets, Ebook readers, particular Internet radio receivers, tv home media centers and video game consoles. However, with a low 5–8 % in terms of use for at least weekly music listening in 2012 these devices are ranked considerably below the traditional portable analog Audio Device boombox (15 %). Particular DAB or hybrid radio devices were regularly utilized for music listening by 9 % of the Germans in 2012.

Please access data on the complementary aspects of audio media usage (Audio Sources, Audio Emitters) via the Data Browser on the right-hand side.