Thanks to all for your kind and insightful responses...
Considering myself somewhat advanced on the paths to computer and audio wisdom, this has become a most interesting journey. Having finally got Squeezeserver to work after severely monkeying with my firewall settings and uninstalling the heinous McAfee Backup, I feel comfortable saying that this business could prove somewhat daunting for the uninitiated.
As all now appears to be in proper working order, I think that I am underway at last with my boat having left the proverbial dock. Special thanks to Philistine and Double Ugly for the benefit of their infinite wisdom. I never thought that I would obtain benefit from monikers of their sort. Easy CD-DA Extractor is very fast, easy to use, and its defaults seem to organize ripped files in a logical way.
Over the years I've had several tons of equipment rotate through my rack in search of the perfect coupling. At times I have felt like the butt of the joke that goes: "How does a Buddhist order a pizza?"
Give up?
"Make me one with everything"
It was not until recently that an unlikely candidate leaped to the head of the pack. It is a very decent CD player with a modified tube output stage, further modified with upgraded electrolytic circuits and better tubes. Finally, when my system asked "Can you hear me now?" my answer, at last, was "Yes!!!".
At about the same time, "she who must be obeyed" began to lament rather vocally over the hideous rack(s) that debauch our media room. Since she perceives this as our living room, I found it prudent to begin to investigate storage alternatives. The Transporter appeared in my sights as a candidate. Previously, Dan had upgraded a DAC for me that provided many hours of intense listening gratification. When I discovered that he had done similar improvements to the TP, and with tubes, my course was set.
So here I sit, flinging disks into my computer as fast as I can, for lossless transcription, trying to anticipate the next roadbump.
I like the idea of the Squeezebox Controller. Anyone here use one with there TP yet? I think that being able to visually convey the album art for "she who must be obeyed" would represent a sense of value and useful purpose for all those funds committed to this new endeavor.
Well, back to the salt mines of perpetual disk flinging.
Sincerest thanks for your kind help and warm greeting...
