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benkloepfer
PopStar
Joined: Sep 02, 2004
Posts: 1042
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Sep 01, 2005 - 03:59 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Turn my PC into a stereo system? |
Hi I just recently got a computer at home and have been considering making copies of all my CD's before they get scratched any worse than they already are. At that point I'd like to just use my computer to listen to music instead of a CD player.
Does any one have any recommendations for software and hardware to use when converting your computer into a home stereo system?
Here are a few questions I have:
Is mp3 the most practical file format?
Are there any decent juke box programs out there, to play your favorites at random?
Should I just buy the best speakers that are available with for desktop computers, or is there a good way to go straight from my computer to an amplifier/tuner? Do I need a special sound card for high quality music or is a basic sound card enough?
What about going from room to room, is the easiest solution really to bore a hole in the wall and run cables through it or is there some kind of wireless solution that is affordable and high quality?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Regards,
Ben |
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kuldaen
Veejay
Joined: June 06, 2005
Posts: 2076
Location: Somewhere in Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Sep 01, 2005 - 04:17 PM |
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| Post subject: Re: Turn my PC into a stereo system? |
| benkloepfer wrote: |
Here are a few questions I have:
Is mp3 the most practical file format?
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Probably. There are other formats but MP3 is probably the cheapest option. WAV of course is also an option but the file sizes are huge. If you're going to store them on computer hard drive then you should ripping them at a fairly high bitrate: CD quality : 44khz @ 16bit stereo = aprrox 768kbps.
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Are there any decent juke box programs out there, to play your favorites at random?
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Plenty of them out there. My favourite is WinAmp but there's Windows Media Player, ITunes, Jukebox just to name a few.
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Should I just buy the best speakers that are available with for desktop computers, or is there a good way to go straight from my computer to an amplifier/tuner? Do I need a special sound card for high quality music or is a basic sound card enough?
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depends on how far you want to take it. There are some sound cards with Optical output that you can pipe into an amplifier. most sound cards have the standard RCA outputs that you can use as well. I'm not too sure about sound cards so I won't suggest any.
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What about going from room to room, is the easiest solution really to bore a hole in the wall and run cables through it or is there some kind of wireless solution that is affordable and high quality?
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I've been told by professionals to stay away from the wireless ones. They aren't very high bit rate usually and so you lose a lot of quality. But I've never tried myself. |
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benkloepfer
PopStar
Joined: Sep 02, 2004
Posts: 1042
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Sep 03, 2005 - 09:45 AM |
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Thanks kuldaen!
I've heard the same thing about wireless speakers too. Thats a real bummer that the best method to have the same music in different rooms is to drill holes in the walls. Not so practical for people like me who will be renting for the next 5 or 10 years. (By the time I buy a home they'll invent a good wireless solution).
I guess I'll start off by burning my CD's on to the hard drive and see how far I get before investing in hardware.
Best Regards,
Ben |
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lucky
LoopKicker
Joined: Feb 26, 2003
Posts: 844
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Sep 06, 2005 - 09:16 AM |
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Ben,
The key to quality is the file format. Apple and Microsoft have their own proprietary good quality format ( which not talking to each other ) so if you are thinking of having an iPod, you may want to save in Apple Lossless. There is also an open source format called Ogg-Vorbis which is good quality as well, but not playable in iPod and most of MP3 players.
Next is the sound card. Get Creative for more affordable option with decent to good quality. There are some high-end soundcards available in the market but the price is almost the same as high-end hi-fi. Fibre optic is a good option to link it with your hi-fi.
Multiroom, solutions are available in the market (check SONOS, ROKU, WINDOWS MEDIA CENTRE) at premium price. Or if you run iTunes, Airport Extreme is an option. |
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