comfused about ripping?


To all my fellow Audiogoners. I am reading and trying my best to absorb all the infomation on ripping cds to a pc with great interest. I am still greatly comfused with this new technology so please have patients. I would like to know what sites will help me with the right infomation with building a system,what type of software that is needed , hard drive and also hardware such as needing a pc tower for storage and so on. I will be ever so greatful and would also like to know if you all are giving up on your cd players and would you consider the sound a leap compared to standard audiophile cd players on the market? Thank you all.
schipo
Well here's a few to start you off depending on whether using PC or Mac. These sites also provide info on the best players to use. You'll need to configure iTunes(if applicable) to get bit perfect playback, where as the VLC player is supposedly better for this.

For Windows users like myself, Foobar and Winamp are both winners. I forgot to add if using Vista OS, WMP is also very good.

dBpoweramp Music Converter™
ASIO4All Explanation (with Vista pic)
Computer Audio Playback - Setup Guide

For me it was a leap in sound quality and convenience. You can just buy an external HD or two to rip all of your music to.

Hope this helps
Thank you for your response. My other question to you is. I will need in order to play my ripped cds just a pc tower that will be connected to my home stereo, and are all pc towers alike when it comes to sound quility or is this dependent on the sound card or is this bypassed,and in order to protect my info I should purchase a back up HD. Please excuse my ignorance with this topic.
It's really your choice to use a sound card or not. You don't need one. You can use an external sound card or USB Dac. I would opt for the external conversion which ever way you go.

There are many factors here when choosing a PC. Do you want it for HT as well? Or is this for just 2 channel music. Do you want to go wireless or hard wired?

Yes it would be wise to back up your HD.

You could go PC> USB Dac> Home stereo
or PC> internal or external sound card> home stereo
or PC> wireless router > wireless receiver> Home stereo
The possibilities seem endless.