2. digital
  3. 1104503957

Computer as remote "CD player"

Hi,

I'm struggling with the "I need a CD player, want a changer, what about sound quality?" problem. Rest of system is Classe CP-35 pre-amp, Classe CA-200 amp, and older Celestion speakers. I have both wired and wireless Ethernet running to the stereo cabinet. I have a couple of good computers elsewhere in the house, also wired to Ethernet.

I've seen some mention here of using your computer as a CD player after "ripping" music onto it.

Here are some questions for you knowledgeable folks:

1. Can the computer be somewhere else besides the stereo cabinet?

2. Can I get good sound quality (better than $200 CD player) for $1000 or less?

3. Can I just stick a CD in the computer and "play" it, or does it *have* to be "ripped" first?

4. Can you play DVDs for movies this way?

5. Can this link be two way? In other words, can I record off my stereo to the computer (for recording LPs, tapes)?

6. Is there any way to remotely select a ripped "CD" without walking up to the computer?

Sorry for my igorance, thanks for your help!

- Eric
ehart
ehart OP
215 posts
 
Great information, thanks. I am working to absorb it.

JKRING, the squeezebox looks great. Two more questions: 1. Is it possible to request an album or tune by ID number, rather than by browsing? 2. Is it possible to "force" music to the squeezebox from the serving PC, or does it always have to "request" music?

For recording from LPs, you say to use a quality sound card. Does the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz qualify?

RSBECK, what USB DAC are you using, it sounds like you are happy with it?
rsbeck
887 posts
 
I am using the Apogee Mini-Dac and I am extremely happy with it.
rsbeck
887 posts
 
Here's something I found ---

This is from 6 moons' review of a Hard Drive based system --

One of the great advantages of playing music from a hard drive is that the
playback is all byte-by-byte. You are not hearing music through a device
that is trying to read a spinning disc in real time. The major source of jitter
and distortion is simply eliminated in this hard drive-based process. As I
heard it, the net effect is a terrific sense of natural musical flow.

http://6moons.com/audioreviews/vrs/vrs_3.html

.
More to discover