Adding a hard drive

There are 4 basic steps, but unfortunately hundreds of different approaches to achieving this which can lead to confusion. The 4 steps are:

1 - Extract the information from the CD and store in a file on a computer. For best results this needs to be done losslessly, so avoid MP3 type file formats and stick to WAV or FLAC. This process is referred to as ripping.

2 - Store the ripped files somewhere. Most people use a device known as a NAS (Network Attached Storage) which is a bunch of hard disks with a dedicated processor and some specialised software that allows the disks to be 'seen' from another computer on the network.

3 - You need some kind of device which can be a computer of a number of specialised media players that can access the stored files and send the digital data in the correct format to the final stage.

4 - Digital to Analogue conversion. This converts the digital music data into an analogue format that can be fed into your preamp.

This may sound very complex, but fortunately all 4 steps can be combined into one device such as the Naim HDX which makes for a relatively simple introduction into hard disk based music. Other less expensive choices include the squeezebox range from Logitech, but for these you will need a computer and network.

Hope that helps, for more info try looking at the distributed audio section of this forum.

hello,
See my thread in dist audio, called digital newbie. It outlines a cheap and effective way to get started. Be warned there is a lot of info out there, and it can get rather complicated.
Good Luck,
Marc

Thanks for the replies so far
It is as I feared a wee bit complicated
It looks like there is a place for a cheaper HDX at less than £2000 or a hard drive only device so you can utilise your existing CD player

No matter what, you won't be able to utilize your existing CD player to play digital files unless it has a digital input. Your CD5i does not.

Nimrod.

To get you anywhere near to the same level as your CD player & go down the streaming route it will cost a few hundred quid. You will need for example-

1. A streaming Device- Squeezebox / Sonus circa £200 gbp
2. Hard Drive to store your files- if you use your computer then £50- NAS(network deive which can store your files would be £100-200 GBP. You should look to back them up also on a spare drive.
3. A decent DAC- numerous out there but as a min £200-300.

4. Patience to be able to set up a ripping progamme such as EAC and spending a lot of time at your computer.

I have a Supernait- and Squeezebox 3 and a CD player priced similar to yours. I would stress that the CD player(Arcam 9)is far better. I am in the process of going CD less and going down the streaming route but I am investing in a HICAP to improve the Supernait and I will be possibly looking for a better DAC later.

Hope this helps

quote:

Originally posted by nimrodmr2p:
Thanks for the replies so far
It is as I feared a wee bit complicated
It looks like there is a place for a cheaper HDX at less than £2000 or a hard drive only device so you can utilise your existing CD player

It is a fairly rapid learning curve at first nimrodmr2p but don't be put off. After a while you will be ripping with ease.

BTW ... EAC is a great ripping program but dBpoweramp is probably easier to use.

Good luck!

In the last 24 hours I have entered into the world of "Distributed Audio" and I have to say I am chuffed to bits.

So in the last 24 hours I have bought

(1) Musical Fidelity (M1 DAC) £400 - (actually on home loan for a week)
(2) Apple Airport Express - £81
(3) Digital interconnects - £???

I am running Apple Lossless through iTunes streaming to the Airport Express and using my iPod touch as the Remote using Apples App "Remote"

It was a complete breeze to set-up. The longest bit actually downloading the Remote App.

I will look to experiment with WAV and FLAC in due course.

I also felt "bamboozled" by all the technical jargon and was wary of going in this direction and I am a SOA Enterprise Architect by profession!

Now I just need to start saving for the NAIM DAC

If I can do it anyone can.

ATB
Gary

Not sure if you are using a Mac or not Nimrod, but if you are, I found XLD to be the best ripper on my SnowLeopard MacBook Pro, nice software and it's free.

As Gary says it actually will come to you fairly easily with help here and online. Good luck.

Dave