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CDs to harddrive to DAC wtihout a PC?

I've been trying to get this all straight. Digital seems very confusing what with all these names like airport express, squesebox, transporter, sonus, Flac, EAC,RAID,SATA, etc. But is it possible to download music from an audiophile transport directly to a harddrive without a cumbersome computer? I've not tried a Mac, but slugging it out with anything made designed for Windows does not sound relaxing at all. (If Microsoft and friends were held as responsible for their products as say the automobile industry is they'd recall every product I've tried!) I don't want the sound distributed all over the house, (at least not now) but the idea of my music library played from a harddrive and memory buffer (which many insist can sound better) through my own DAC does sound appealing. I'd like the chain to be something like this. Output from transport, to a harddrive, then from the harddrive to my DAC with a backup and of course a remote control display like I've seen with the squeezebox by my chair as an interface? What would I need to do this? Or is it possible. I'd rather buy the CDs than download. Can anyone help. Thanks in advance, and maybe I'm wishing here. . .
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jampot90
4 posts
 
The Olive does exactly what you require. Rips cds direct to internal hard drive and has digital out for playback via a dac. The cd 'drive' is actually just that so it will burn cds (compilation for the car the beach or whatever) just like a computer.

It is useful to be able to connect it to the internet via your pc network but not essential. It actually has ethernet ports and wifi built in and can act as a 'hub' for your home network.

If you doubt the sound quality, mods are available - notably from Red Wine Audio.

Jim
synthfreek's avatar
synthfreek
627 posts
 
The cheapest Olive I see is $1100 and only has a 160GB hard drive. You could get a mac mini, a huge external hard drive & a killer audio interface for that price.
joeylawn36111
574 posts
 
Yamaha offers the CDR-HD1500 with CD burner, 200GB Hard Drive, and has digital out for a DAC. I have the 1500 and a Benchmark DAC. Works well for me, and the Yamaha is significantly cheaper than an Olive or Cambridge hard-drive players.
chiroman
12 posts
 
Since im a newbie at this tech talk, let me see if I got this straight; So NO cdp is needed, just get an imac and a DAC and your off and running? What is the advantage to this besides the obvious (continuous shuffle) is there better sound then a cdp? What would be the total cost for an imac and DAC or whatever else is needed? This sounds attractive because I am in the market for a cdp! I like my ipod (docking station, with poor sound!!!) because of the shuffle mode and ease, I listen to music more often and if I can do that with no compressed files and better sound quality that would be awesome!!!
Thanks
ckorody
643 posts
 
Sound quality will be better then all but the very best CDPs

There are a myriad of ways to access and organize your music

Cost will vary - go to an Apple Store to see the various models and pick the one best suited to everything you want to use it for. Lots of guys are doing Mac Minis. If you have a large CD collection you will need two large external hard drives (one primary and one back up) Lots of choices in DACs - unless you already have one, look for a USB DAC.

Read a bit - plenty of posts here and on Audio Asylum's PC Audio Forum. If you spend an hour you will know the answer to every question you are likely to have and be able to make an informed decision - certainly easier and faster then trying to figure out the right CD player =)
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