advice on configuring a laptop windows system

I've been running a PC front end for over a year now, and I second the comments regarding Jplay, I wouldn't use a computer based front end without it. It is a must have on a PC based system, made a *huge* improvement in sound quality on my rig, one that was immediately apparent. Jplay can run in Jriver and Foobar, can also play with iTunes but the two don't play as well together.
Also consider using a USB converter and buying a less expensive DAC, but one that still accepts high res input. In my experience this route usually yields better SQ than buying a USB DAC. The best shootout of USB converters I have read on the 'net can be found here:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/15-usb-spdif-converters-shootout-15327/

Just a practical consideration, I suspect that USB audio will be the only option available on your laptop as very few windows laptops have any other digital output that can be fed to an external DAC. Some macs (maybe all?) have an SPDIF output, but I've found this drastically inferior to the USB solution.

Also, ripping all those CDs will be truly painful (especially if you picked up some of them used and they're not in perfect shape), but the sonic rewards are well-worth it. Hard drive driven computer audio is leaps and bounds past any transport I've used in my system.

Jriver and DB poweramp is about all you can do software wise....

It has been repeatedly reported USB should be avoided to simultaneously stream onto a DAC and to connect a HDD, because of the serial nature of USB. It will work, but optimum performance is to be attained buy avoid USB for both.

So assuming your external HDD is USB, consider another HDD as an upgrade path.

+1 on the suggestion to use the ripping guide found at Computeraudiophile. I used it to set up dBpoweramp the first time and works great.

Look around for comments regarding JPlay. Many say it's the best software in terms of sound quality. It runs on top of JRiver and improves the sound, while using the excellent interface JRiver provides. However, lately JRiver has taken issue with this and a danger/malitious software banner appears when JRiver detects JPlay is also being used.

AFAIK, only EAC and dbpoweramp allow you to set the offset specific to your cd drive, and are preferred by audiophiles. That is crucial for perfect ripping. No other programs have it.

I bought dbpoweramp out of personal preference, and don't mind the cost because I'm ripping hundreds of cds. I rip to flac, and make a copy in mp3 for portable listening.

I use foobar for flac playback and remote control it from my phone. Foobar requires some work to set up, especially with the "components." My DAC is the Oppo BDP-105

What would you use Audacity for? Unless it does things that I'm not aware of, I don't see the need for it.

You could try http://www.audacity.com

Free, open, comprehensive. I use it for my work.

Have not tried it for copying cd's or playback.

Best

Robert,

Here is my set-up:

* J River 17 to an async USB DAC - get a decent USB cable
* db PowerAmp for ripping CDs - I rip exclusively to FLAC lossless uncompressed - provides more stable metadata and with db PowerAmp now allowing FLAC lossless uncompressed, I can't hear the difference to WAV
* dedicate the laptop in service to the music only
* go to Computer Audiophile http://www.computeraudiophile.com/ and search for JRiver set-up article under "CA Articles" - the article walks you thru setting up JRiver and your laptop to deliver bit perfect output to an async DAC

Good luck.

Brent

You will probably have to make a few choices but here's one thing you to get you started right away. To rip your cd's, the best program to use is a free one called EAC. Just do a search and download it. Others will tell you not to use it because it has a lot of features and is very complicated for a new person. It is. Before you pay for a copy of dbPoweramp, though, you can go here: http://blowfish.be/eac/Setup/setup1.html That's a link to a step by step process on how to set up EAC to get the absolute best audiophile rips. You only have to go through the process once to set up EAC. After that, its as easy to use as any other software.

As far as WAV or flac, WAV is probably the safest choice for best sound quality. Most audiophiles seem to prefer it. flac is nice too because it has better options for tagging and takes up less space on your HD. But if you want the best SQ, I feel WAV would be the best way to go.

Though a few years old, a 2009 article on the Computer Audiophile website provides a good overview.

Here's the link: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/309-computer-audiophile-cd-ripping-strategy-and-methodology/