Music Server format?

As noted above, AIFF on the MAC and FLAC on the PC will produce the best sound quality such they are both uncompressed.   Yes, these formats take the most space on your storage device but storage is very inexpensive.   In my case, I rip my CD's to an external hard drive using the AIFF format (MAC) and copy them to my music server (Aurender N10).   Another option, of course, is to connect your hard drive to your music server.   Please remember to have all source material backed up.   I backup my ripped CD's to two different hard drives.

If you are unclear what format to use, you could rip some CD's using these different formats and listen.  Please take your time making this decision since you do NOT want to have to do it over again using a different format.   The goal is to maximize sound quality so an uncompressed format is the best.

Please verify your album cover art is included in the ripping process so that the cover art gets displayed on your music server.   

Third the concept that FLAC for PC and AIFF for Mac. 

Thanks.
How do I move files from my CDs to computer storage? Do I need to use ripper and delete ending? Someone said those files have cda at end preventing copy to computer? I've mulled idea of buying decent CD player as computer CD player is likely cheap. Could use my new Oppo 105 though?? Oppo would output an analog file I believe? Internal DAC if I understand correctly? 
I prefer buying a Western Dig 4 Terra byte portable and storing there. My home PC is 5 years old.
How do I discern multiple copies of same song? ie Stones Can't Get No Satisfaction five copies from different venues. Should I just color code or number files?
Just don't know what to do about server? Some of these run $16K. Must be some quality in 2-5K range?

Hey @awoof,

You’re asking good questions and you have good timing. You’ll find plenty of choices in your price range. Take your time. I suggest focussing on getting familiar with building your library by starting to rip some cds using your existing PC. There’s plenty of free software that will give you the basic tools you need for ripping, orgainizing, and playback. I suggest the iTunes download from Apple as a start. If you set up the format to lossless, you can move these files to the server, once you get one.

Here’s a good resource to start learning some basics:.

http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/

There’s a lot of good info and wisdom on the computeraudiophile.com forum but finding it and sifting through a ton of opinions can be overwhelming at first. It is a great forum so I suggest you become familiar with it.

Ripping is a chore so you will want to avoid having to do it more than once to your collection. ( I am on my second pass. Ugh).

I use a MacMini with a 2TB USB harddrive to hold my 2500 albums or so. I started with iTunes for listening but now I use Roon. I still manage my library using iTunes, XLD, and TagEditor. I rip to AIFF because I am not concerned with storage size and the format is as universal as any I know. Back that library up!

You will enjoy finding the forgotten gems in your library as you rip. I have plenty of "What was I thinking when I bought this?" albums in my collection. But there’s many more that I find and wonder how I could have forgotten how much I liked them.

Good luck.

Thanks. Seems daunting. I did check into computersudiophile but hard to sift.
trying to move to full music file and avoid MP3/MP4 formats or anything that compresses original recorded music.
Like you say, don't want to do process over and over.
So hard to find expertise locally. Relying on on line forum help from those that learned as they go.

thank you again for taking time to reply.