I have a USB 2.0 external drive (2.5") having 80 GIG of Mp3. The problem is that I still need to use my computer to listen the music. I would like to be able to plug the USB drive directly on a HIFI, without using the computer.
I will have to buy anyway a new HIFI, a new LCD TV 26", a new CD player, etc. I am ready to buy some new piece of equipment.
So If I can plug the external drive directly on a new kind of HIFI, or can I buy a kind of USB2.0 HUB linked to a HIFI ?
etienno@gmail.com wrote in news:1147953860.328002.323640 @j73g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
HI,>
I have a USB 2.0 external drive (2.5") having 80 GIG of Mp3. The> problem is that I still need to use my computer to listen the music. I> would like to be able to plug the USB drive directly on a HIFI,
without> using the computer.>
I will have to buy anyway a new HIFI, a new LCD TV 26", a new CD> player, etc. I am ready to buy some new piece of equipment.>
So If I can plug the external drive directly on a new kind of HIFI, or> can I buy a kind of USB2.0 HUB linked to a HIFI ?>
Thanks.>
Etienne.> Paris>
There might be some stereo systems, but I have never seen such useable USB ports in home systems (not that I've looked), just mobile systems.
Some DVD players might support USB mass storage and media cards.
LaCie (and I'm sure others do too) have multimedia HDDs, which to your computer is a USB drive, and to your Hi-Fi a media device you can play audio and video files from. You will use it to replace your 80 GB drive, essentially.
On a similr vein is an HDD based Personal Media Player, such as iPod (also to replace your USB2.0 HDD.
Haven't tried one, but the specs sure makes it sound like an interesting proposition...
/ptr
I have a USB 2.0 external drive (2.5") having 80 GIG of Mp3. The> problem is that I still need to use my computer to listen the music. I> would like to be able to plug the USB drive directly on a HIFI, without> using the computer.>
I will have to buy anyway a new HIFI, a new LCD TV 26", a new CD> player, etc. I am ready to buy some new piece of equipment.>
So If I can plug the external drive directly on a new kind of HIFI, or> can I buy a kind of USB2.0 HUB linked to a HIFI ?>
<etienno@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1147953860.328002.323640@j73g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...> HI,>
I have a USB 2.0 external drive (2.5") having 80 GIG of
Mp3. The> problem is that I still need to use my computer to listen the music. I> would like to be able to plug the USB drive directly on a HIFI, without> using the computer.>
I will have to buy anyway a new HIFI, a new LCD TV 26", a
new CD> player, etc. I am ready to buy some new piece of equipment.>
So If I can plug the external drive directly on a new kind
of HIFI, or> can I buy a kind of USB2.0 HUB linked to a HIFI ?>
Thanks.>
Etienne.> Paris>
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=39&Title=Azur+640H You said you wanted a new CD player well then this will fit the bill as well. You can store all you uncompressed music on this and then up/download to and from your USB drive in any format you wish. Plus you can also network it with your existing home network. This is the near perfect solution of integrating your hi-fi with your computer system.
I have now used one for about 3 months now and am still very impressed with it. There are some small glitches with it but nothing the next firmware upgrade wont fix (hopefully).
BTW one last thing it has some excellent DACs in it and it is worth every cent just as a CD player.
I have a USB 2.0 external drive (2.5") having 80 GIG of Mp3. The> problem is that I still need to use my computer to listen the music. I> would like to be able to plug the USB drive directly on a HIFI, without> using the computer.>
I will have to buy anyway a new HIFI, a new LCD TV 26", a new CD> player, etc. I am ready to buy some new piece of equipment.
Or, you can connect your HDD drive to a NAS adaptor such as a Linksys NLSU, and then attach any network media player to it. There are a few of these out there. (Freecom, Philips, Creative, Roku etc...)
Or, If you are buying a TV, you may be in the market for a PVR (personal video recorder). Some of these have USB interfaces for external drives and memory sticks, indeed some of these ARE computers (but not as big and hopefully quieter) - and run operating systems such as Windows Media Center Edition, which can access all sorts of digital media including MP3.
Or, you can buy a DTT (digital TV) receiver made by Netgem (french!) which has a USB port. It is admittedly USB 1.1 but should not be an problem playing back MP3s. It's called the 'iplayer+' over here, I think in france, it's called the Netbox. http://www.netgem.com
All of these sources (and also others in this thread) will connect to your HiFi, but ultimately the choice is made depending on how 'HiFi' are your expectations - and what you want to spend.
Adrian C wrote:> etienno@gmail.com wrote:>> I have a USB 2.0 external drive (2.5") having 80 GIG of Mp3. The>> problem is that I still need to use my computer to listen the music. I>> would like to be able to plug the USB drive directly on a HIFI, without>> using the computer.
(Sorry for following up someone else's posting, but I've lost the original)
John Lewis (Edinburgh) had a radio or CD/radio on display which had a USB socket on the front for MP3 devices "suitable for pen devices only" (which I think means No Ipods). I think it was made by Teac and was about ??150?
Owain wrote:> John Lewis (Edinburgh) had a radio or CD/radio on display which had a > USB socket on the front for MP3 devices "suitable for pen devices only" > (which I think means No Ipods). I think it was made by Teac and was > about ??150?
Owain wrote:> Owain wrote:>> John Lewis (Edinburgh) had a radio or CD/radio on display which had a >> USB socket on the front for MP3 devices "suitable for pen devices >> only" (which I think means No Ipods). I think it was made by Teac and >> was about ??150?>
The Azur 640H Music Server looks interesting, but I have a few questions/comments: 1. The Cambridge Audio site mentions "the Azur 640H music server instantly retrieves artist, album and track information using an advanced web-based look-up system". How accurate and reliable is this look-up system? In ripping a large CD collection to my computer, I've found that song info from both Gracenote CDDB and freedb can be incorrect, incomplete, or totally missing. 2. Does the Azur 640H offer customizable folder and file naming of the ripped tracks? 3. What kinds of lossless compressed formats can be used when ripping or for playback (i.e. AAC lossless, WMA lossless, FLAC, etc.) 4. Is it possible to copy ripped tracks from the Azur's internal HD to a networked PC?
"Scott J" <sjacobsjpn@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1148456767.632054.241550@j73g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...> TT,>
The Azur 640H Music Server looks interesting, but I have a
questions/comments:> 1. The Cambridge Audio site mentions "the Azur 640H music
server> instantly retrieves artist, album and track information using an> advanced web-based look-up system". How accurate and reliable is this> look-up system? In ripping a large CD collection to my computer, I've> found that song info from both Gracenote CDDB and freedb can be> incorrect, incomplete, or totally missing.
To date it has ripped to HD 240 CDs. I had a Problem with 1. The only problem I have is with genres. I disagree with some and there are toooo many so I try and keep it more simple.
2. Does the Azur 640H offer customizable folder and file
naming of the> ripped tracks?
They are placed on the HD exactly like your CD collection - Alphabetically by Artist/Title/Track, also can search by Genre. It is very simple to use with a monitor of some description. I use a small 5" LCD screen next to my listening chair which was already there for DVD-A navigation purposes. BTW I also use a wireless key board for this thing so it is very easy to change any title information you chose. e.g It will name artist as "Elton John" where as I want them stored "John, Elton". So question is, "Is it Pink Floyd or Floyd, Pink" ? Also you can end up with "The Who", "The Corrs" all under "T" so I use "Who, The" and "Corrs, The"
3. What kinds of lossless compressed formats can be used
when ripping> or for playback (i.e. AAC lossless, WMA lossless, FLAC, etc.)
Not Sure if it does FLAC.
4. Is it possible to copy ripped tracks from the Azur's
internal HD to> a networked PC?
Most definitely YES. What I have been doing is recording LPs to HD, drag them across the network to my computer, edit them in Cool edit Pro (track titles added, fade in/out, remove any large artefacts) cut to CD and then either store or put back on the 640H's HD. Also if you want to make compilation albums you pull the tracks over the network and burn on your PC. Believe me it is quicker that way
Also it can play from *ANY* networked HD *OR* any other networked computer can play the files on its HD. What I like about this is that I can download a MP3 album that I think I may like and play it (in high fidelity) on my main system and see if I like it before committing to buying the album.
Thanks,> Scott>
Some more points. It will also copy *any* copyrighted CD and of course it is also a burner
Thanks a lot for the detailed info. So what format do you use when ripping CDs with the Azur? Would you say it is more convenient to rip a large collection of CDs with the Azur or with a PC?
"Scott J" <sjacobsjpn@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1148522299.998165.166240@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com... : TT, : : Thanks a lot for the detailed info. : So what format do you use when ripping CDs with the Azur?
PCM 16/44.1 I want audiophile quality not an MP3 player BUT it will store CDs as PCM and then afterwards will do background compression when it is in standby mode to save time. Nifty little idea I thought
: Would you say it is more convenient to rip a large collection of CDs : with the Azur or with a PC?
With the Azur as it finds *all* the info off the net (well 99.8% of the time). BTW It will also play Net Radio as well : : Thanks, : Scott :
Before you rush out and buy one demo it first and then I will tell you some of the bad points that I don't like about it
A new small Hitachi hifi (lofi really) with stereo speakers and a bass unit has a USB port and even a CD card slot. It costs about 100 dollars, so don't expect too much, but it's fine for the kids. ANd you can plug in a HD with USB or a SD card as an external music source. Or e.g the JVC UXGD7
