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67 yrs. old computer audio

I've recently have become interested computer audio... at 67 I'm not very computer savvy. Have a ASUS Eee PC 1000HE XP netbook (2 GB upgrade, 1.66 GHz and 1.75 GHz in super high power mode)... don't use except for internet radio. Would like to start downloading cd's and using computer as source sometimes. Read, you can upgrade this computer to Windows 7 and 64 bits... can I use this computer or buy something else? (50's 60's Be-Bop jazz, old rock, movie scores)

ASUS Eee PC 1000HE netbook (2 GB upgrade, 1.66 GHz and 1.75 GHz in super high power mode)
Microsoft Windows XP (32-bit)
Digital to Analog Converter: Musical Fidelity M1 A
Preamp: Quicksilver Line Stage (non-remote) 2010 new model
Amps: Quicksilver 90 watt silver monos
Loudspeakers: 12x15x9 room... Fritz Rev 5 (with upgraded drivers: Scanspeak Illuminator 5 inch woofer, Revelator tweeter)
Interconnects: Kimber KCAG (amp to pre)
Kimber Silver Streak (dac to pre)
DH Labs digital (Theta Miles CD player as transport to dac)
DH Labs usb
Loudspeaker Cables: WyWires Blue
Power Cables: Kimber PK 10 Gold (pre to API Power Wedge 1)
DH Labs Encore (from dac and CD transport)
Amps: hard wired
zoot45
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,867 posts
 
I can offer a relatively simple and effective approach similar to what I adapted a couple years back. I am 52 and deal with computers for a fairly large and well known company for a living.

I'd say your computer can be used, but use external USB hard drives to actually store any music library files.

You also need 2 such disks and an automatic backup program to keep an extra copy of files at all times in case the main drive dies.

I use Seagate drives from Best Buy. These work well, have been quite reliable for several years now, and include the backup software needed.

Then, use a separate Squeezebox Touch connected to your system for playback. You will need a network connection from Squeezebox to computer/music server. Any good quality modern wireless router can provide this.

This solution covers all the bases, is inexpensive, reliable, very flexible and provides excellent sound guaranteed. Adding an external DAC later (connected to SB TOuch digital output and in turn then connected as source in your stereo) provides a means to tweak or improve sound quality further down the road if needed.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Forget it, spend the time listening to more music. I've been in audio for sixty years, computers fifty years. I have found that stand alone media players, including vinyl, tape and cd's provide a better listening experience. I do rip music to MP3 files for use 'on the go', but found that all the codex's to store sound at full fidelity lacking. Recently I've been using one of Sony's 300 disc players, purchased for $99, and have found the sound and convenience great.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,867 posts
 
One thing I forgot to mention is you need software to rip the CDs to disk. I find WIndows MEdia Player does a good job and is included in windows. You will need to set the output format. For best sound use a lossless format, which will make bigger files but also provide best sound. I use .wav, which is most like CD format. The down side of .wav is you have to get the metadata tags (artist, album name, etc.) correct prior to the rip process in that editing after the fact is nearly impossible. TO change tags/metadata, you have to re-rip a file. Also, WMP automatic tagging using the integrated web service works very well for most CDs, however getting correct metadata ags with classical CDs is often problematic. THere may be better tools that do a better job with automated tags for classical CDs. If you are willing to manually edit tags in WMP prior to ripping, it is not a problem, but manual editing can be very time consuming in general and I try to steer away from having to do that. FLAC lossless format is better for editing metadata tags but WMP does not support FLAC.
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