Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler OT: Best way to convert CD's to mp3?

I understand the talk was about MP3s to replace hanging on to cds - or at least to having to get them out to play them. I was just trying to piggyback on this question with my current question.

So, does an IPOD or a iriver sound any better than a two year old Clie? I would guess they all have small and not great sounding DACs, right?

Thanks for the response. I thought it might just be my ears. But - no - my system with M22s sounds great (on great cds). Just got two of the new Lindsay Quartet Beethoven cds - recorded at 24 bit 176 khz sampling rate. WOW!

I think the iPod with good headphones sounds great. I have not tried it with my audio system.

I can tell you that MP3's....ripped at 256b/s and then burned onto a DVD or CD sound very good on your Pioneer 563a...I have done that. A DVD holds A LOT of MP3's.

Okay, now my interest in ripping & storing my CD collection on a hard drive has been piqued. Can someone explain a wireless method of sending audio from my computer to my receiver? I don't have the money for something like a Yamaha MCX1000, and an iPod just seems silly.

Craig said he's using his Tivo, but I can't imagine ever wanting to use one. So I'm thinking there has to be some other alternative. I could build a dedicated computer for about $500 and put it with the rest of the stereo equipment, but the fan noise would drive me crazy and it just seems wasteful. I'm very attached to the idea of having a screen-based GUI (MusicMatch, iTunes, WinAmp, whatever...) to access & manipulate playlists. Any ideas?

I think this is what you're looking for.

VERY cool!!! Thanks!

I'm kind of gravitating towards the Prismiq media player.

Theoretically, of course.

I like the idea of having control of the lists from the listening room, and also being able to stream video content. I REALLY like the idea of the web browser, but I understand that this one gets mixed reviews. I wish it was cheaper.

Likewise, the computer I would use as the server is connected via ethernet cable to a wireless router, but does not have a wireless card resident in it. It seems like that is a problem with the Airport for me. Does that Apple product give you on-screen control of the playlist? Does anybody have better ideas for similar products?

Tom....as long as you have a wireless router, you can use the Airport Express. Works great with my old Linksys wireless router.

The Airport Express does not use the TV's screen. There is a third party wireless remote available, but I do not know how well it works.

I don't find myself going to the PC often to change songs. I just set it to a playlist and let it go.

I have also looked at the Prismiq, and think it is a great alternative. I almost went that route...and still might down the road.

By god, Curtis, you're going to convert me yet if you keep being so helpful. You don't suppose I'd spontaneously combust or turn to stone or anything if I actually bought an Apple product, do you?

So, to recap, you use CDex (or EAC) and the LAME engine to rip at 256, and then use iTunes to manage and stream the content through the Airport Express. And life is good.

Yes?

I am a PC person and bought the Apple product....but I also like Apple stuff because they took a lot from Xerox....and I worked there for 10 years.

Yup....you got it right...that's what I do.

One caveat, that I expeienced once, was interference from my 2.4ghz phone.

BTW...there are Prismiqs on eBay. I would love to try one of those things.

I should add, the gist of all of this for me is to make enjoying music easier. The Prismiq adds other functionality that I think would be interesting.

A CD changer/jukebox is good....but does not have the capabilities or convenience of MP3 manager on a PC or Mac. Done the right way, the sound difference is extremely slim....if any at all.