OK, I'm going to try this again. I would appreciate any guidance you
folks could provide regarding putting together a digital music system
of good audio quality.

I like music and have a decent ear, but any knowledge I have about
audio hardware (or software) is pretty ancient. I am remodelling my
house, and one problem I would like to solve is that I have a few
hundred audio CDs strewn around. I was wondering if I could
put together a good quality digital system with one or more
remote controls, for easily generating and playing playlists of
songs. Any comments would be appreciated (well, almost any),
but I would like specific suggestions if possible. Also, perhaps
you could comment on my assumptions.

1. It is possible to store and play music in uncompressed or
"lossless" formats. Therefore, while mp3-based music is
frowned upon by cogniscenti, mp3 shortfcomings do not
*have* to be an issue with a computer-based music system.

2. In terms of generating an analog line level signal, getting a good
16+bit DAC is not a problem. The real problem is power supply
noise rejection, so PCI or other sound cards are not a good solution.

3. I should get some kind of external-to-the-computer box with its
own power supply. Input to this box is digital (wireless?),
output is line level analog. In doing so, I can produce an
analog signal as good as from a good audio CD player.

4. I can find some kind of wireless RF remote which can select
playlists and control them. Thus, I can control the system
remotely without line of sight (i.e. don't use infrared).

Or, are there amplifiers which accept digital input rather than
line in???? Like maybe an amp with Firewire or USB input????

In terms of software, what specifically would you recommend in
terms of reading in CDs, and generating playlists, and producing
a digital streaming output????

Thanks for any help you might offer,

Bill

Mr_Bill wrote:

1. It is possible to store and play music in uncompressed or
"lossless" formats. Therefore, while mp3-based music is
frowned upon by cogniscenti, mp3 shortfcomings do not
*have* to be an issue with a computer-based music system.

*All* mp3 files are lossy. Don't use mp3 if you want quality.

2. In terms of generating an analog line level signal, getting a good
16+bit DAC is not a problem. The real problem is power supply
noise rejection,

Not really. Yet another audiophool muth. No excuse for poor design though.

so PCI or other sound cards are not a good solution.

The problems with internal sounds card lie elsewhere. Grounding for
example and crosstalk from a PC's 'digital noise'.

3. I should get some kind of external-to-the-computer box with its
own power supply. Input to this box is digital (wireless?),

Uncompressed wireless audio digital links are very few and very expensive
currently.

output is line level analog. In doing so, I can produce an
analog signal as good as from a good audio CD player.

Yes.

4. I can find some kind of wireless RF remote which can select
playlists and control them. Thus, I can control the system
remotely without line of sight (i.e. don't use infrared).

The closest is probably Microsoft's remote for Windows Media Centre. I
think it's IR still.

Or, are there amplifiers which accept digital input rather than
line in???? Like maybe an amp with Firewire or USB input????

Just AES/SPDIF AFAIK

The technology for what you want is still very immature.

Graham

Pooh Bear wrote:

Uncompressed wireless audio digital links are very few and very expensive
currently.

Check out the Squeezebox2 from Slimdevices (www.slimdevices.com). For less
than $300 you can set up a true high-end wireless digital music player that
will stream losslessly compressed music from a pc anywhere in range. I
haven't used a CD player in nearly 6 months.

Best product I've ever purchased.

Bruce

"Pooh Bear" wrote in message
...


Mr_Bill wrote:

1. It is possible to store and play music in uncompressed or
"lossless" formats. Therefore, while mp3-based music is
frowned upon by cogniscenti, mp3 shortfcomings do not
*have* to be an issue with a computer-based music system.

*All* mp3 files are lossy. Don't use mp3 if you want quality.

2. In terms of generating an analog line level signal, getting a good
16+bit DAC is not a problem. The real problem is power supply
noise rejection,

Not really. Yet another audiophool muth. No excuse for poor design though.

so PCI or other sound cards are not a good solution.

The problems with internal sounds card lie elsewhere. Grounding for
example and crosstalk from a PC's 'digital noise'.

3. I should get some kind of external-to-the-computer box with its
own power supply. Input to this box is digital (wireless?),

Uncompressed wireless audio digital links are very few and very expensive
currently.

output is line level analog. In doing so, I can produce an
analog signal as good as from a good audio CD player.

Yes.

4. I can find some kind of wireless RF remote which can select
playlists and control them. Thus, I can control the system
remotely without line of sight (i.e. don't use infrared).

The closest is probably Microsoft's remote for Windows Media Centre. I
think it's IR still.

Or, are there amplifiers which accept digital input rather than
line in???? Like maybe an amp with Firewire or USB input????

Just AES/SPDIF AFAIK

The technology for what you want is still very immature.

Graham