Computer based music collection ??


Computer based music collection ??
I have read that people are getting away from cdp,ect and going to a computer based system??
How does this work and what are the pros and cons of this?
I was in a room a couple of years ago at the Rocky Mountain Audiofest that was set up with only a computer running it.
I wanted to talk to the person showing the room but they had allot of people in there and with so much to see so I wondered off.
I find this very interesting.
Would this be like hooking up a Ipod or something to your system?? Is this were music is going?
btstrg
I have my entire 4K cd collection encoded as MP3. There are many different ways to get your digital music to your audio system. I personally use the Sonos wireless music system to stream music to several locations in my home. In my main setup, I have the digital music going through my DAC, though I have also run it straight to my preamp. However, I still keep a small stash of cds when I want to critically listen. Because of the size of my music collection, i am forced to encode in a lossy format (mp3). Others have encoded in lossless formats such as FLAC. Theoretically, if you have your music in lossless format and run it through a high quality DAC you should have CD quality. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Hi thanks for the response,You need to run it thorough a dac?
Is there a place were I can go and read up on this and are there any brand names of products I can look at on the web.
Thanks
A good soundcard will have digital out and audio out. Audio Out can connect directly to a line level pre amp. Digital Out will need a DAC then into the pre. Ok that was the short explanation. Like most things that have to do with computers and HiFi there are tons of configurations and options.

A good place to start would be in the PC Audio Forums here and also go to Audio Asylum and spend some time in the Digital-PC Audio Forum there too.