2. pc-audio
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High quality music server on the cheap...sort of

I bought a cheapo HP computer with Vista Basic. Ripped all my music with Media Monkey as .wav files. I've got 40,000+ tracks that take up about 1.5 TB on a Glyph professional 2 TB drive. I have dedicated power lines running to my gear so the computer and the hard drive are on their own circuit.

itunes is not up to the task of handling a large library of .wav files and will not let you add album artwork to .wav files. Media monkey is very smooth in handling music but will only work on a PC.

Output of the HP is via USB into a Benchmark DAC then into my ARC Ref 1. I have an old NEC 17" LCD computer monitor sitting on the floor that displays the album art full screen and changes with each song. I use the new apple bluetooth keyboard as my "remote" for the system. It works nicely with my PC.

I am a vinyl guy with a VPI TNT setup and have never found a CD player that I've liked but I can't stop listening to my little "server" setup. On well recorded/mastered CD's there is real music coming out of my computer! The Benchmark has gotten great reviews and it certainly is delivering in my system. I am going to get their ADC to convert some LP's.

So for around 3k you can listen to your entire CD library (I have about 3000+ CD's) as .wav files along with a nice visual display. I did have some issues ripping in MM but managed to get all my music onto the Glyph after a month of heavy lifting.

I also have a Sonos system but prefer the "hardwired" approach in my listening room.
ntscdan

Showing 1 response by shadorne

shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Nice. Welcome to the club of those enjoying music rather than fiddling with sleeves/jewel cases and feeding the machines like a factory worker.

When I get home I want to relax. From my couch I can select any CD from any of four megachangers and have tracks queued for continuous play. I use a remote keyboard, Mac Mini and an HD TV screen to drive it all. CD changers feed digital to pre amp that does the A to D. All controlled by mouse with distributed IR sensors to send commands to each piece of kit. I've had my setup since 2001 - I'll migrate to a harddrive one of these days - but I really can't be bothered to burn them - as all I do currently is pop in a CD and "inventory" it and I'm ready to go.
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