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HELP! Importing Files to Music Server - Totally Confused

So, I just started ripping my CD collection to an external hard drive in .flac using dbpoweramp. So far, so good. Ultimately, I plan on purchasing a music server with an internal hard drive (like the Sony Hap-Z1ES) in order to transfer the files from the external drive to the music server. Can I do this through a USB function on the music server itself or does it have to be via wireless or ethernet? My listening room is not wired up for ethernet, so it would have to be wireless. Just trying to get a handle on this newfangled and unnecessarily complicated methodology ... personally, I much prefer the physical media, but it seems that the era of my beloved CD is fast approaching its tragic end. Any advice on this as well as suggestions for a music server would be much appreciated. Thanks.
rlb61
hgeifman
2,296 posts
 
rlb61,  Okay.  I understand you are not interested in streaming and running an Ethernet connection to the 2nd floor is impossible.  Please note that using an Ethernet over power connection works fine for your application.  This technology sends the Ethernet signal using your electrical power lines using a small box connected at each end (source end and the router end).  

For example, see the NETGEAR PowerLINE 1000 Mbps, 1 Gigabit Port with Pass-Through, Extra Outlet (PLP1000-100PAS) below:

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-PowerLINE-Gigabit-Pass-Through-PLP1000-100PAS/dp/B01M2WSIVD/ref=sr_1_4/136-3229033-8457622?ie=UTF8&qid=1523305110&sr=8-4&keywords=ethernet+over+power

Once you finish ripping your existing CD's to your hard drive, what are you going to play them on?  I am not familiar with this the Sony Hap-Z1ES you mentioned above.   I believe (please confirm) that you can copy your ripped CD's to the Sony and play them.  My guess is the Sony will run without an Internet connection but I do  not know.  

I recommend you rip your files using an uncompressed format such as the Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF).  It is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data for personal computers and other electronic audio devices.   The Free lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) is another audio coding for lossless compression of digital audio.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,269 posts
 
Music servers usually have a built-in hard drive for music storage, but most also have the capability to connect external hard drives.  As such, you could copy your files to the internal hard drive or merely attach the hard drive as an external drive to the music server.  My only concern is what file format you are using.  Not every music server supports every file format.  FLAC is very popular, but it's not universal.
rlb61 OP
792 posts
 
Once I have ripped the CDs,I think I’ll get a cheap laptop with at least a 2T internal hard drive and get a USB DAC Stick. I’ll use a USB to RCA Y splitter to connect the laptop to my preamp’s Aux output, and will use JRiver or some other library management software. Since I’m not interested in streaming at this point, that should do it. What do you all think of my solution?
kdude66
1,200 posts
 
Not optimal,but it will work and as time and budget allow you may want something else.

Kenny.
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