Turn Your Computer into an Audiophile Music Server
The computer is increasingly becoming the hub of many audiophiles home stereo systems. No longer just a way for kids to download illegal MP3's off the internet, the computer is slowly taking its place as a serious, high quality audio source. Turning your computer into a music server for your stereo is quite easy. If you have music on your computer, you're almost there.
Here's a list of things you'll need:
If you're reading this, I'm betting you already have one. Any modern PC or Mac will do, but you will want as large a hard drive as possible, as well as plenty of RAM (~512mb). A USB port is required to use a USB device, and if you want a wireless solution, your computer will need a wireless networking (802.11b/g) card. You may also want to consider a backup hard drive for your music. Computer hard drives are prone to failure; you don't want to lose all your music!
A software application to help 'rip' your CDs into music files, organize and play them back for you.WinAmp, iTunes, MusicMatch, Windows Media Player, Foobar, etc. This is really a personal choice. Choose the one that works best for you.
The hardware device that links your computer to your stereo, a crucial link in the chain. This is a critical part of the chain for getting good sound out of your PC. Your PC is a terrible environment for a sensitive little audio signal. It is filled with electronic and mechanical noise and interference that can wreak all kinds of havoc on your music. The stock sound card that came with your PC does very little to eliminate this noise, and will pass it right along to your stereo.
Good sound cards, however, will do their best to isolate the music from the noise. This is a big reason why audiophiles tend to prefer external USB or Firewire sound cards to internal cards. The signal is transferred via USB and where the interference is minimalised. Now you've got something you can work with.
One more thing to consider is whether you will use the analog or digital output of your soundcard.If you have a dolby digital equipped receiver, or a high end digital-to-analog converter, you'll want to use the digital output of the soundcard. Otherwise you'll be using the analog outputs.
The Quick and Dirty Solution
If you're not concerned about quality, and just want to play music from your computer quickly and cheaply, then grab a Mini-to-RCA cable. Connect the RCAs to your stereo and the mini plug into the stock sound card on your PC and you are on your way.
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