CD changer / Harddrive changer / CD player

disneyjoe7

Ok here's the question... For those who feel a $5k CD player is sweet, a CD changer $300 bucks sucks even if you're using the optical output. Where is a Harddrive CD changer player in this? Does this sit next to a CD changer or a 5k CD player?

Lsi9

Do you mean a computer's cd changer?, if so I would say it is worse than both

disneyjoe7

A nice HTPC computer yes. Something I would build nice sound card Apple lossless or WMA lossless.

disneyjoe7

I don't think it will suck. I'm surprise how my IPOD can sound, I be hard pressed what source I hearing between a CD changer optical out vs. RCA IPOD headphone output.

That's an eye opener.

mldennison

i have heard of a number of people that have switched over to a PC as a source. although i have not had experience with them, the sim devices squeezebox seems to be popular. i would think that using a PC as a source could be good and could be bad, alot would depend on the quality of the soundcard. using something like flac or wma lossless, you would not have to worry about jitter from the transport like you do on a CD player. on the other hand, the soundcard still has to put out a clean signal and if it is inside a PC case, you might be introducing just as much noise back into the signal...

reeltrouble1

Look money bags just turn loose of some that dough you have stuffed inside the couch.

There are a bunch of hard drive type players you can put in your rack so you can have boo-coo music in one spot. I really see you as a whole house server man. Lets face it, you like to multi-task, a single drive player is never going to satisfy this trait.

I seem to remember something about computer drives being excellent transports with very low jitter.

RT1

okiepolkie

The low jitter aspect is definetly a plus.

I know you are looking to build your own, but there are several good dedicated music server pieces available that aren't just outrageously priced.

I'm using a Cambridge Audio 640H right now(160 GB hard drive, with the 640C cd player built in), and it sounds very good. It is on the 2 channel system right now.

disneyjoe7

Well I looking to build a HTPC for....

A.) Pictures for everyone (so we didn't need to stand around a small LCD screen)

B.) DVD player for display resolution of 1024 x 768

C.) CD player changer.

D.) to update my IDOD for play back or just to update it?

E.) maybe not sure this can be done but... an redo the display resolution to the native 1024 x 768 from a HDMI input 720p or 1080i?


Love a challenge.

Ferres

When I first dabbled with PC audio 3 years ago, I considered the digital outputs from the Mboard was better and less muddy compared to audio from the soundcard for music.

But in the end, music from a dedicated CD player was still superior. SQ wise.

PC does allow you a continous play with a very large selection. I agree with WMA being better SQ than MP3.

TheReaper

disneyjoe7 wrote:

Well I looking to build a HTPC for....
Love a challenge.

I have my htpc (win xpMCE) connected to my 1080i HDTV (no monitor) in my living room:

A.) Pictures for everyone (so we didn't need to stand around a small LCD screen)

Yes, slide shows are fun, you can even play music in the background. You can also do the reverse, when listening to music, put up a scenic slide show.

B.) DVD player for display resolution of 1024 x 768

I upscale DVDs to 1696x960 (double size), and have 2x750gb external drives for my DVD carousel. Note: 1696x960 is close to the overscan adjustment for display on my hdtv.

C.) CD player changer.

I use an internal 250gb drive for that. I use optical spdif out to my receiver. My cds are ripped as wma lossless.

D.) to update my IDOD for play back or just to update it?

I don't have a portable player, so I can't comment.

E.) maybe not sure this can be done but... an redo the display resolution to the native 1024 x 768 from a HDMI input 720p or 1080i?

If you haven't bought your HDTV yet. Try to get one whose native resolution matches one of the ASTC signals 720/1080, or will accept it's native resolution from a pc over HDMI; and also does one to one pixel mapping of the signal with little or no overscan.

If you are planning to use the htpc as a PVR. Currently only OTA (over the air) HDTV is fully supported. SDTV (standard definition) from most sources is fully supported.

I have a wireless keyboard and thumbball, so I can browse the internet, do email, and other non-exacting tasks on my pc, from the comfort of my recliner.

reeltrouble1

what ever you get, ensure the remote is stout.

also, be careful if your going in the attic.

RT1

disneyjoe7

I wear my Cape.