Ripping CDs


I would like to be able to rip CDs. My streamer, Cambridge CXNv2 doesn’t have that capacity. although it can store CDs. What do I need to rip CDs?

128x128rvpiano

Tascam cd-RW900MKII LOW $200.00

TEAC CD-RW 890 PRICE ???????????

TWO RCA CONECTORS

I have a PC, NAS drive, Dac connected via Balanced cable to a great stereo system. I ripped all my CD's and play the ripped files using JRiver. I have tried FLAC and WAV formats; both sound great. I have learned how to tag and manage the data for each recording. Sometimes it happens automatically, sometimes the data needs to be manipulated which is time consuming. In my experience it has been worth the effort.

Buy a reasonable used laptop with CD/DVD record/play unit built-in. You don't need major computing power to rip and burn music. You can find them for about $200.  I use JRiver Music Center 30 (they're up to 32 now) which I find much easier to use than Windows Media Player. JRiver costs $70. I have about a terabyte of music (931 gB) to choose from and do it from a 12-year-old HP 6300 that I bought for $300.

I use AShampoo Burning Studio.  It's the least fussy burning software I've found.  Very inexpensive.  You can RIP or BURN music, to and from ISO files or whatever you need.  It also looks up the song data on Gracenote and names your RIPped files accordingly.  I've found that not all CDs have the data burned in their songs so you have to name the files yourself.  Nevertheless, it's great software that I use all the time.

For a computer, you only need a basic machine, perhaps a used laptop with Windows (10 preferably, but it works with 7) and a CD/DVD drive.  You can also get a USB CD/DVD drive if the laptop or PC doesn't have one.  It doesn't have to be an expensive endeavor.