Digital Audio Server

Get a Mcintosh and use iTunes. It's the easiest and best option. You can go with a G5 desktop with a large hard drive. It has an optical digital out. But what I would recommend is get a basic iBook and a large external hard drive (I would start with at least 200 GBs, you can always expand the storage space in the future by simply getting a larger hard drive). The iBook takes up a lot less space than the G5. You don't need a ton of RAM since presumably all you will be running is iTunes which comes with the iBook and will meet your needs perfectly. When you rip or play a CD it connects to an internet database to look up the album info and enter it for you. You set iTunes to rip the CD to the external hard drive and turn off all of iTunes default equalization so the sound is not touched. With the iBook you can output through the headphone jack (the lesser quality option, but still adequate) or use a USB DAC which is the better option (there are a few currently available, but more on the way soon). Wavelength Audio makes a great tube-based, zero sampling USB DAC, but it is pricey ($3500). There are far cheaper USB DACs available.

This system is not expensive and is easy to use, fully expandable and very convenient. I've set this up in my home office and have really fallen for it because it is so convenient. I can play any CD instantly.

I tried to use laptop with a M-Audio Sonica Theater USB card with my DAC. I find the sound is not comparable to Theata transport.

My long term solution is to use an external HD (200G) with laptop as an alternative audio source, but seems I need to reconsider it.

You definitely want to use a higher-end sound card. I recommend the audiophile 2496 from m-audio. The quality of the pci card vs a usb connection is immeasurable. An inexpensive set up is to pick up an older Macintosh tower on ebay just make sure it’s a model with Firewire connections and that it’s Airport ready (for wireless) -- you should be able to get one for around $300. Buy the sound card ($150). Then buy external Firewire hard drives to plug into the tower. Buy a wireless card ($60) buy a wireless router ($50). Apple makes software called “apple remote desktop” which allows you to control computers remotely and wirelessly (around $300).

Here’s my set up. I have my old tower as described above running Apple remote desktop with no monitor. It’s just sitting next to my rack plugged into my pre amp. I control the unit from anywhere in my house from my laptop running the Apple Remote Desktop client software. Your entire music collection is only a click away.

I would run a PC platform. Mac no longer maintains a software advantage and certainly doesnt have a hardware advantage. As a matter of fact, Macs use converted PC technology in every hardware aspect except for CPU and motherboard. Upgrades, parts, and initial purchase will all be cheaper with the PC platform.

M-Audio makes very popular soundcards at attractive prices. My recommendation would be use an outboard DAC and feed it via the Digital out (spdif) from the computer. So the ultimate soundcard wont be an absolute. Of course if you dont plan on a DAC, then the better cards will provide better analog outs. I use a lowly Audigy 2/Theta DAC at the moment and cant really complain.

Memory is more of persoanl preference. Basic sound reproduction doesnt require a lot of system resources.

If this server is to be located in your listening area I would recommend a quiet approach. Maybe a low core voltage CPU that wil run cool and wont require CPU fans or case fans. Whirring fans you probably dont want. Check out the powersupply as well, they usually have built in fans.

As of right now I use an old program called "Siren" it was from a sound engineering software company called "Sonic foundry." They may still make it, it is OK. There are probably better music serving programs available now. It can call up the names from the internet so you dont have to type them all in. I think that is a paid service, though I am not sure.

I hope this helps...

I forgot to talk about hardrives. Sorry.

Bigger is better in this case. Music is just under 10 megs a minute in its native format. Just as stated above 600 CDs will require a lot of storage, probably multiple harddrives. I would recommend tried and true IDE ADA/66/100 Harddrives. Ther is no need for cutting edge technology, music data transfer wont require high data transfer rates. The best deals on HDs are in the 60-120 GB size right now. Although, they do make bigger ones, they come at a cost.