Is this the END of DAYS for the high end CD player

Neophyle: There are numerous ways to go with computer audio. My suggestion is go the path of least resistance as you start out and keep it simple. A mistake I made when I started was to complicate the process with multi zones with a NAS (network hard drive) and then an incompatible hard drive among other things. Forget all the wireless stuff for a while.

Start out with a mac mini and two harddrives. I chose OWC (http://www.macsales.com/) for the hard drives due to MAC centric technical service and warranty. A few more bucks but worth it to me. Probably a good place to buy the Mini as well. BTW, I bought mine on Craigslist for $300.

With regards to usb converters, usb cable, digital cables, and DAC... well... that's another thread but I suggest to go cheap at first and live with it for a while.

Neophyle,

I hear you. I'm navigating those same waters and it's taking me time. Fortunately I'm patient!

The Computer Audiophile website is good for this. They've put together a "Computer Audiophile CD Ripping Strategy and Methodology" (found at http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Computer-Audiophile-CD-Ripping-Strategy-and-Methodology), which I'm following to get started.

They also have setup guides (eg: JC River and Windows 7), but I haven't looked into those yet. It's a good place to get going.

BTW, an apparently very easy way to get into computer audio is with a Squeezebox Touch, which allows to stream wirelessly, play hi-rez, listen to internet radio, etc for $300. This is the initial route I'm taking.

I hope this helps.

As much as I hate the idea, the CD player is coming to the end of the road. Manufacturers will not put money into R&D if people cease to purchase the physical copies. The hard-core of us that continue to purchase CDs are nowhere near enough to prolong their lifetime - we remain in an ever decreasing minority.

Pretty much sums up my life and my preferences - I'm in a minority of a minority.

Vinyl will inevitably continue as it does not have a technological parallel.

I think vinyl will probably stick around for quite some time, too. But if 96K and 192K downloads become more available for a wide selection of music, vinyl will probably become even more marginalized than it is now.