Hi,
My pc-audio rig is based on parts from the last century. My comp is a '99 Compaq Presario 5000T with integrated audio, an 800MHz P3 and 512MB RAM. The headphone minijack is patched to the MiniDisc In (RCAs) on my Aiwa CX-NMT720 5.1 Mini-System (the sub is an Infinity BU-1.) Go easy on me, I bought these pieces when I was in high school.
My .mp3 collection is mostly 192kbps/44.1kHz becuase over the years i tested formats based on the aiwa's performance and found 160 kbps to be the first bitrate that sounded worse. Only now (450 albums later) have I learned that I am missing out. I would like to rip future albums in a lossless format but I am nervous about compatibility issues in the future. I use Winamp with a .mp3 splicing plug-in. I have tried DFX but found it made my music harsh(bright?). Oh, I mostly listen to classic rock, hip-hop, and some of the more instrumental hardcore.
All that being said, I'm trying to figure out the next best step keeping the 80/20 rule in mind. My goal for my system is to take the computer out of the D/A conversion and just use it as a source. For this I'd need a digital out or a wire/less network. Unfortunately, I don't have a digital input on my reciever. This narrows my options down to a usb audio card, or a squeezebox2 type device. I haven't found any threads comparing these two devices side by side. I like the wireless aspect of the squeezebox (if it had 802.11g), how does the burr-brown DAC hold up to quasi-audiophile scrutiny?
I'll stop rambling now, thanks in advance for your help.
-Rick
