Question Options to put CD's to sleep
ddsski
Posts: 50
Is it me , or is the current state of the audiophile world extremely confusing? As my sig suggests, I'm old school audiophile. I have a Mac based surround system in Maine home where I have most time to listen. Usually physically dead after long days skiing. As an insurance policy, I have a duplicate copy of every CD (~1200) I own at this home, but obviously, even though I keep them in CD 100 stack containers that's a lot of space.
Part 2 of this scenario is my home in CT. This stereo is older equipment and strictly 2 channel at present. I have owned 1 Carver M200t since new in 1985, and several years back found another one at Audio Classics so I have two Carver M200t's bridged for 350wpc. My preamp is a Macintosh c504 (more compact series again purchased at Audio Classics. My speakers here are also Polk LSi15's and my sub is a Sunfire True Sub. Again as in Maine my DVD player is a Pioneer Elite DV-46. Again ~1200 CD's take a lot of space and I finally just got a 55in Vizio widescreen so the old AV console just got retired asnd several hundred CD's are sitting in 2 drawers (homeless)
The 2 scenarios have one thing in common, both have tons of CD's taking up space.
The difference is in Maine the MX134 is a sweet piece and I'd prefer to not replace it with some newer preamp that accepts ?via USB an external Hard Drive or some form of network input. That leaves me looking for either a music server and DAC or a way to install a computer with all my iTunes music recorded at AAC256kbps (classical at AAC 320kbps). If the iTunes option is better in long run, and several audiophile types at Audio Classics strongly feel that iTunes (Mac) is taking over the music world, I will patiently reimport all my treasured pieces losslsss over time as long as I can load my Ipod for auto use at 256kbps as I can hear the degraded sound at 128kbps when i use my Iphone with more compressed music installed.
In CT, the MacC504 is old so it can be replaced, but I still love my Carvers and it would require a several thousand dollar expenditure to equal the quality I already have. In CT, I am trying to consider between a music server and a computer based sytem that runs thru a new preamp. I would go hard wire as I have heard of some wireless issues transmitting non compressed sound that concern me.
Here is my wild card question. I now have Microsoft Sync toy that has made copying my iTunes to an external Hard drive easy. I keep a primary copy in my HP and periodically backup to an External HD that only gets plugged in for backup. Are there Preamps out there that allow you to plug in an external HD? I know the DAC issue also has to be answered Basically do preamp/computers exist yet as that, to me, seems the IDEAL scenario!!
Let's discuss as the info, and I have spent hours reading, is so dsijointed out there that I'm at a loss at present. BTW I have read this forum for years and found it a great source, but now I feel I have something to contribute.
Had this posted in Electronics then realized to you digital junkies this a probably basic. I want to mazimize the sound quality
Part 2 of this scenario is my home in CT. This stereo is older equipment and strictly 2 channel at present. I have owned 1 Carver M200t since new in 1985, and several years back found another one at Audio Classics so I have two Carver M200t's bridged for 350wpc. My preamp is a Macintosh c504 (more compact series again purchased at Audio Classics. My speakers here are also Polk LSi15's and my sub is a Sunfire True Sub. Again as in Maine my DVD player is a Pioneer Elite DV-46. Again ~1200 CD's take a lot of space and I finally just got a 55in Vizio widescreen so the old AV console just got retired asnd several hundred CD's are sitting in 2 drawers (homeless)
The 2 scenarios have one thing in common, both have tons of CD's taking up space.
The difference is in Maine the MX134 is a sweet piece and I'd prefer to not replace it with some newer preamp that accepts ?via USB an external Hard Drive or some form of network input. That leaves me looking for either a music server and DAC or a way to install a computer with all my iTunes music recorded at AAC256kbps (classical at AAC 320kbps). If the iTunes option is better in long run, and several audiophile types at Audio Classics strongly feel that iTunes (Mac) is taking over the music world, I will patiently reimport all my treasured pieces losslsss over time as long as I can load my Ipod for auto use at 256kbps as I can hear the degraded sound at 128kbps when i use my Iphone with more compressed music installed.
In CT, the MacC504 is old so it can be replaced, but I still love my Carvers and it would require a several thousand dollar expenditure to equal the quality I already have. In CT, I am trying to consider between a music server and a computer based sytem that runs thru a new preamp. I would go hard wire as I have heard of some wireless issues transmitting non compressed sound that concern me.
Here is my wild card question. I now have Microsoft Sync toy that has made copying my iTunes to an external Hard drive easy. I keep a primary copy in my HP and periodically backup to an External HD that only gets plugged in for backup. Are there Preamps out there that allow you to plug in an external HD? I know the DAC issue also has to be answered Basically do preamp/computers exist yet as that, to me, seems the IDEAL scenario!!
Let's discuss as the info, and I have spent hours reading, is so dsijointed out there that I'm at a loss at present. BTW I have read this forum for years and found it a great source, but now I feel I have something to contribute.
Had this posted in Electronics then realized to you digital junkies this a probably basic. I want to mazimize the sound quality
The MAINE System
Marantz AV7005
2 Carver M200t's biamped, Adcom GFA 7000
Pioneer DV-46A, Lightspeed
Polk LSi 15's, PMC DB1+C, Polk LSi7, Sunfire True Sub II
Samsung HP-T1254 42in Plasma
Kubala Sosna Center wiring, DAO Kubala Sosna , Apature & Monster HDMI's
The CT System
Marantz AV7005
MacIntosh MC352, Marantz MM7705w/Sig. upgrade
Polk LSi15's, Golden Ear Technologies Sat 50's & 50C
Kubala Sosna Speaker wire, Audioquest interconnects and assorted other goodies
Marantz AV7005
2 Carver M200t's biamped, Adcom GFA 7000
Pioneer DV-46A, Lightspeed
Polk LSi 15's, PMC DB1+C, Polk LSi7, Sunfire True Sub II
Samsung HP-T1254 42in Plasma
Kubala Sosna Center wiring, DAO Kubala Sosna , Apature & Monster HDMI's
The CT System
Marantz AV7005
MacIntosh MC352, Marantz MM7705w/Sig. upgrade
Polk LSi15's, Golden Ear Technologies Sat 50's & 50C
Kubala Sosna Speaker wire, Audioquest interconnects and assorted other goodies