Humbug
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| posted on 23/4/11 at 04:13 PM |
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What to replace all the CDs with?
OK, here's the thing: We have 100s if not 1000+ CDs and are just redecorating/refurbishing several rooms and thinking that we really don't
want to have all these CDs clogging up space.
SWMBO and I each have an iPod with some but not all of the CDs on them.
Our main PC has most of the CDs on as MP3s - most at 128kbps but the more recent ones at 192kbps.
We do not have a hifi as such in the living room but we do have a home cinema system that can play CDs, though it doesn't plays DVDs for some
reason, so we have to use a separate DVD device to feed the sounds system.
In the kitchen we have a small Sony stereo system with separate speakers and an Aux lead through which we can play the iPods if necessary.
We have a home network with a wireless router, if that makes any difference?
We will probably be upgrading to a digital TV in the next year or so, and will also be looking at a replacement DVD/BluRay player and/or home cinema
system.
I am thinking that maybe we should get a "box" (technical term) to put ripped CDs and DVDs on, then link that to the TV/sound system to
play Or would it be better to get a separate audio system (we are not audio geeks, just like to have some music on)? What about the kitchen area? -
link somehow to the other box? Also, I have seen advertised a box called the Brennan JB7 which essentially seems to rip CDs and allwo playback, but in
a living room-friendly format and can have speakers attached. However, it seems maybe a bit limited - anyone got experience of these?
So, any advice, or thoughts as to what questions we should be asking ourselves?
TIA
Simon
[Edited on 23.04.2011 by Humbug]
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bj928
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| posted on 23/4/11 at 05:32 PM |
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i think a network hard drive would work well, my friend has one and the play station 3 picks films and music up off it to play on the tv, and if its
on a wifi setup i'm sure the ipod would be able to link to it as well, maybe some others could comment on that one, that way ipod in kitchen and
ps3 in living room, or run the computer through the tv if you haven't got a ps3, ps3 also plays blue ray i believe so would only need one
device, just my bit of input, hope it helps
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HowardB
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| posted on 23/4/11 at 05:39 PM |
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I have a JB7 it is awesome.
there are whole house systems available, but they tend to be v.v.v.very expensive.
hth
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again  and goes zoom)
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russbost
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| posted on 23/4/11 at 05:41 PM |
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I've just bought (about a month ago) a Logitech Duet Squeezebox, cost me about £170 off Ebay brand new (retail is a lot higher than that).
Absolutely brilliant bit of kit. Basically it accesses the music you already have stored on your wireless network, you can control everything either
from a handset which you can use anywhere the Wi Fi reaches (so you can control volume or playlists from a different room to where the music is
actually playing) or from a web interface (which I hardly ever use) - I think you can probably contol it from an iphone or similar, but I'm not
that techy, don't have an iphone & as the handset is so good can't see the point of controlling it with anything else. The unit will
access around 15,000 worldwide radio stations over the internet & you can access by name, genre etc.
The box which is accessing the music you just sit near to your amp - in your case the surround sound cinema thingy & it will output either via
phono leads or a digital output to your existing amp & speakers (they also do an alternative unit called the boombox which has it's own amp
& speakers). Basically now we've ripped all our CD's & all my old albums to the computer we have access to any of the music by
title, artist, genre etc. in seconds - it has released lots of music I'd not played in ages & also released tons of storage space in the
lounge where we had several racks of CD's. I would say the only possible downside is that you need to have a pc turned on 24/7 (which I do
anyway) or be prepared to wait for it to boot up
Overall quality of both the sound & the handset & box itself is brilliant & I would say for us it has been worth every penny!
Edited to say I also looked at the JB7, but felt it was very expensive for what it is & some reports say it is difficult to back up? Which would
worry me! with the Squeezebox if you want to add another room just add another "box" to the system (Ithink they're a little over
£100) & connect that to amp & speakers - I've not fully investigated this side of it but I think it can either be synched to play the
same music in both rooms or can play different tracks in each
[Edited on 23/4/11 by russbost]
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ChrisW
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| posted on 23/4/11 at 07:01 PM |
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I was going to suggest the same - Squeezebox. They're excellent bits of kit.
If you're ripping the CD's yourself, try to use a lossless codec if you're planning on throwing the originals away. FLAC is the one
I use but there are others, much better sound quality than mp3, theoretically exactly the same as the CD. You can then convert to whatever mp3 (or
various mp3s at different qualities for different devices) and archive the FLACs for future use.
So for example I use FLAC for playing 'at home' on the hifi via an XBMC media centre with digitial out, but also make a 320kbps mp3 for
the car (Audi AMI system with hard drive) and a 192kbps for iPhone which has less storage capacity.
Chris
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ChrisW
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| posted on 23/4/11 at 07:03 PM |
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Another thing to note that if you've got a reasonably fast connection it's probably quicker to download the FLACs from a reputable music
sharing site than rip your own albums. Certainly less labour involved!
Chris
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Humbug
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| posted on 23/4/11 at 09:36 PM |
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Thanks for the replies so far - keep 'em coming!
I will google Squeezebox for more info.
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IainL
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 08:35 AM |
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Another one to consider is the Sony Giga Juke, I have one and it seems a good bit of kit, mine came with a base station, client station, wireless
router and an Ipod docking station.
You should be able to connect to the base station via any PC to listen to you music collection, but it's a bugger to get this side working!!!
The only downside is the client station does not have DAB radio only Internet Radio.
Cheers,
Iain
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NigeEss
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| posted on 24/4/11 at 09:11 AM |
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Another vote here for the Squeezebox Duet. My ears can't tell the difference
between lossless rips and the original CD. I refuse to use MP3 though.
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.................Douglas Adams.
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