[NAC] AUDIophile! Stereo Options?

[Ben Swann]

George,

How much time does it take to digitize old media anyway?  I would think even the process
of getting a CD inserting and digitizing takes at least a minute per, and based on some
experience, well it just takes too much time.  I just don't see myself doing this.
Maybe the next computer system I get will do this better.  Digitizing tapes and old
phono albums is something I will get to when I'm 6' under - maybe I can get my daughter
to do this for me   I do plan to get stuff into MP3 poco a poco - little by little.  As
it is I don't have an IPOD or MP3 player - I have not needed one since all my stereo
stuff works great as is.  It would be great if I could obtain all the music I have
bought and paid for - sometimes 2 or 3 times and download it.  At some point I know I
need to find some sort of service that lets me do this relatively inexpensively without
taking a lot of time - BTDT on tapes - cassette and reel-reel to record albums, same
with making CDs.  Now that I have $thousands$ into an audio library, it does not make
sense to replace it.

Anyway,  I didn't want to go off on this topic. I asked for info on creating a system
that utilizes ancient technology with some provision for going to newer media. I do
welcome the suggestion, but I admit to having a steep learning curve to adapt to using
what many now were weaned on.   If I do anything like what you suggest, it would be to
have an onboard computer system interface that does all this - I would want that to be
my MP3 player. Maybe I'll get a dedicated MP3 or whatever.  I just don't have one now
and my CDs - well they work fine, as advertised originally to last indefinately, unlike
tape.

Like I said, I have the amp and speaker stuff figured out and mostly in place already.
I had a nice Nachamichi that I bought for this car, but since the project was dragging
on, I used it to replace  - get this - an AIWA MP3 player.  Hated the MP3 sound quality
and really did not have the media.  BTW, CDs sounded fine in the AIWA - MP3's just seem
to not capture the fidelity. 

 In short, I have the media, just need something to play it.  I certainly welcome any
advice on a service that will help me do what you propose - needs to incur low to no
cost <- Sarcasm.

OK   - see I went off on a tangent.

Ben

[Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:01:44 -0400
From: George Selby <gselby4x4 at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: AUDIophile! Stereo Options?
To: quattro at audifans.com
Message-ID: <E1PDjWo-0004ap-Vi at elasmtp-banded.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 12:49 PM 11/3/2010, you wrote:
>I mostly play CDs - Remote CD changer is probably a given.  I could 
>utilize a few Audi and ALPINE Changers if they would be compatable with 
>the newer. .

I think CD Changers for the car are an idea that's come and gone.  My 8GB usb drive can
hold 100 hours worth of music, and it's all easily accessible.  Plus you don't scratch
your CD's up using them in the car, no worry about them being stolen, and you don't have
a CD changer taking up room in the trunk.

So here's my suggestion:  You have a computer, it's high time you input your entire
music library into your computer in MP3 format.  You can input the tapes, too, just
takes more effort dividing them into tracks (or you can do an entire tape side as 1
track.)  Once you've done this for your collection, you don't have to worry about doing
it again, except for new albums you buy. (Make sure you have a backup.)  If you do the
tapes you can make CD's out of them if you want to.

I've been happy with my Kenwood eXcelon head unit, it has a USB input, plays CD's,
satellite input (I love XM, don't even listen to FM anymore)and has good crossovers for
the line-level outputs built in, and it mostly matches my BMW dash (buttons are red, but
knobs are blue backlit.)

George Selby]