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Thread ID: 119398 2011-07-21 06:53:00 CD Jukebox?? Happy Harry (321) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1218157 2011-07-27 12:54:00 WMP can play FLAC with a plugin, but it's a headache and the last one I had didn't support seeking.

This was the also show stopper for me. MediaMonkey works well.
Cato (6936)
1218158 2011-07-27 13:29:00 XBMC may be worth a look.
It uses mplayer as the engine so it plays pretty much everything (+1 for flac too btw)
fred_fish (15241)
1218159 2011-07-27 21:39:00 DBpoweramp Music Converter is probably the best and easiest I have found.
You can still find version 10 for free online. Basically it gives you the option of .wav and mp3, conversion rates compressed or uncompressed, mp3 upto 320.
You get a very helpful feature of keeping all freqs and levels the same as the original.
Used it for years (the free version) and never once had an issue ever.
rob_on_guitar (4196)
1218160 2011-07-27 21:44:00 Wave is a waste of space though, FLAC is much better. I use EAC for ripping CDs. Agent_24 (57)
1218161 2011-07-27 22:12:00 I'm sure FLAC is great, and I understand it's mathematically lossless. But really with storage so cheap these days why bother (1TB around $80-90). Rip to wav format and be assured of compatibility, and given that it's the same format CD's themselves use you can't get any more similar.

Connect digitally as you seem to intend and you don't need to worry about expensive cables either. For myself I'm happy with 192 kb MP3's as that's about where my ears stop noticing the difference. I would agree that 128 is not great and sounds dull and flat. Depends on the enviroment though, in my car for instance it doesn't really matter what the bitrate is.

I don't like software with library functions, I already have my collection organised into folders under genre\artist\album and prefer just to use windows explorer to locate and play them. Although a lot of players have very nice libraries I still find them slower to use in practice.

I would point out though that Windows 7 media centre and a media centre remote give you a very usable interface from the comfort of your chair. I have been contemplating a SFF pc for this purpose myself, although my collection only weighs in around 250 CD's.
dugimodo (138)
1218162 2011-07-27 22:13:00 I find it useful, personally I can't hear the difference, although I do ears battered by gun fire.
I do however have a soundblaster xtreme card that I was looking at either selling off cheap etc

Sorry this was a reply to post #24
rob_on_guitar (4196)
1218163 2011-07-27 22:29:00 I'm sure FLAC is great, and I understand it's mathematically lossless. But really with storage so cheap these days why bother (1TB around $80-90). Rip to wav format and be assured of compatibility, and given that it's the same format CD's themselves use you can't get any more similar.

One disadvantage to wav is that it does not allow for info/art tags in the file structure.
Flac can also be compressed to different levels, including uncompressed, for less 'work' when playing it, at the expense of disk space (cheap as stated).
fred_fish (15241)
1218164 2011-07-27 22:32:00 One disadvantage to wav is that it does not allow for info/art tags in the file structure.

Very good point actually, I had forgotten :horrified about that 'feature' of wave.
Agent_24 (57)
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