To provide an audio system that can efficiently search for and find a desired piece of music.

An audio system comprises a recording unit that records information; a playback processor that processes playback of audio information; and a controller that calculates within a prescribed playback range average levels of audio signals obtained by playback processing. The controller shifts this playback range and calculates averages a number of times, and determines a playback range in which the average satisfies prescribed conditions. For instance, it determines a playback range in which the average is the closest to an expected level or a playback range in which the average level is the highest. When an instruction to play back audio information is detected, the controller so controls the playback processor as to cause playback processing to be started out of the determined playback range.