Rip all the CDs and then what?

[admin_exported]

Good afternoon all,

I have been a regular reader of the magazine for quite some time but I didn't noticed there is a forum also. From what I see this is a nice place to share thoughts and I will be glad if you clear my mind on a few topics...

In a couple of weeks, I will be experiencing the agony of moving to a new city again. And as always, having not enough free space is a big problem. A friend of mine suggested me that I should stop moving my CD collection around and make high quality FLAC rips of them.

For some time, I have been meaning to buy a turntable and go back to analog system, thus it seemed a reasonable suggestion to get rid of CDs and clear some space. So I started to look my options in this area and found two solutions.

1) Laptop -> a USB supported DAC -> Amplifier -> Speakers

2) Laptop -> so-called Streaming Device -> Amplifier -> Speakers

If there are any more probabilities please tell.

Now my questions are,

1) In order to listen some music, do I have to open my laptop?

2) Assuming mid-budget options of a DAC and a streaming device, is there a difference in terms of sound quality? Or is it one system just connected with cables and the other one is wireless?

3) Squeezebox seems to be very popular but 2011 what hi-fi winners are different (cambridge audio product). And the money difference is not so much between the winner and Squeezebox, which is around 100£. So why this gadget is so popular? Maybe ease-of-use?

Thank you very much for your answers and time!

 

[amcluesent]

You should read through the guides on music streaming published by Gramophone (sister mag. to what hi-fi - http://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/focus/listening-wirelessly

>So why this gadget is so popular?<

It offers more proven features at a lower price-point than the competition

 

[tino]

For some time, I have been meaning to buy a turntable and go back to analog system, thus it seemed a reasonable suggestion to get rid of CDs and clear some space.

You can't just get rid of your CDs after you have ripped them since you must still have a legally obtained copy. But you can put them in a box and store them somewhere.

Question: How is your turntable and lots of records going to help you with your limited space and portability problems?

1) In order to listen some music, do I have to open my laptop?

No, but you need to set power management accordingly for when the lid is closed. However be warned that some laptops run a lot hotter if they are kept closed.

PS Don't forget to factor in your amplifier, speakers (or active speakers), accessories etc. when considering the total size of your system and number of boxes. This thread might be useful for you ... http://www.whathifi.com/forum/your-system/lowest-not-highest-box-count-systems-please