Please excuse the title, should be Question,CD players. Tried to edit. Tom

Hi Tom,

I take it that a computer is no where near your music room.

Do you own a laptop? This could be your answer.

If not, then you could either purchase one or buy a device that has a usb port to accept your external hard drive and RCA composite out cables that would plug into your sound system. I believe the Logitech Squeeze Box will do what you need. I don't have one so I can't say for sure but Google it and see.

What I do is load my iPod with music and plug into the back of my stereo RCA's and play. Works for me.

So, what... you burn CDs from your computer to play on the CD player? Much easier to just make new play lists to put on an iPod - sure, it won't hold the whole collection, but it will hold hours of tunes, and you won't have to wait for CD changing. Can plug into stereo, or you can plug it right into your ears. I use my computer directly, but still set it on various playlists for drumming. CDs are just not practical anymore.

Darn dude that is old. I couldn't roll with that but then again I am 19 too. I personally have a server setup with all my music on it, then depending on where I am in the house I can use my ps3/laptop/or my phone to stream from there and play it on my stereo. In my opinion the ps3 sounds the best. Allows for some really nice 7.1 PCM to be played through. Music sounds amazing. I run a older onkyo receiver from around 2005, however it cost $1000 back then so it is still fairly good. No HDMI though :(. I personally use cerwin vega speakers, there VE line, although I am gonna be upgrading to the CMX line sometime this year. Sounds amazing,Just so many parts you haven't heard before. Stereo's have come a long long ways since them times.

For you, you can take it a few ways and it ALL depends on what you want to spend. If you can give me a estimate of what you have to throw down I can do some research and figure it out for you, if you like that is. I am personally leaning away from a iPod. I don't see the use in it. It doesn't reproduce sound that well at all, the comparison between a ipod and my ps3 using the same format is night and day. iPods are about as overrated as Apple the company.

For you I am thinking more of a set top box so you can plug the Hard Drive right into it. Now the problem is finding one that will allow me to use old RCA instead of HDMI as that is the standard now, most don't even support RCA. Anyway let me know, I think I could help you out the most here, I am kinda a giant geek ;)

Yeah Mr Lud is right about recreating a better sound than the an iPod playing at their best audio format. But if you're looking to have decent loud music enough to play along with, actually any mp3 player would work. I think something like the Squeeze Box allows you to use older RCA cables to plug right through your stereo. There's probably other devices out there as well.

On a side note,

Mr. Lud, I see you're from Traverse City MI., I spent 2 years living there when I was in the service. Absolutely loved the place

Thanks guys for your knowledge. I,am probably going to spend $500 on something that will work.

BigDrummie, No computor near but I,ll check into an MP3 player or laptop, sounds OK. I will check into a logitech squeeze box as I am using the logitech G35 headphones and software now.

DaddyNowhere, your solution may be the way to go, I,ll ask my grandson to try it as he is the only one with an Ipod.

Mr Lud, sounds like you are also very knowledgeable about sound systems and as I will be going out to some electronic stores I,ll need your knowledge. I think I,am going to check into a a set top box. My question is is that the electronic box that I see setting to the left/right of drummers. I intend to visit some music/drum stores also. I plan on spending some $ on new heads, or maybe more if they have any electronics that will help me, I,ll see whats out there.

Tom

@Bigdrummie

Yea I like it here, I am thinking I will be taking a trip this summer to see what else is out there though. I have been here my whole life pretty much. Looking for something new and exciting ha. You are right though it is very pretty up here.

Okay back on track I looked at the squeezebox, I like it. I think that would be a great way to go, and you have the wifi so you can potentially just stream the music right from your computer. It has the usb port so you can plug in the hard drive, and it has standard RCA, along with digital too so you should be good.

I would personally suggest that you look into a new receiver. It would be nice to see you use some of the digital advantages to the squeezebox. If you were interested in something like that I suggest you go with Denon receivers. There is nothing like them out there for quality/clarity/and just enjoyment of your music. We had our last one for almost 11 years before it gave out and that was only because of a power outage. They have a 5.1 receiver for 150ish right now. I know the price sounds really low to be good but it can handle its own as a entry level thing. That would allow you to slowly upgrade speakers over time and allow you to jump into the digital audio.

Again I would stay away from an iPod to get the job done. It just won't be the same. There not made to drive a home stereo and due to my recent mistake I have found using anything but something specifically designed for RCA CAN POTENTIALLY BLOW YOUR SPEAKERS. If you would like to know more about that let me know and I can tell you why and how and that stuff.

Anyway would the squeezebox, new receiver sound good? I wouldn't go with anything for a PA setup or I might even throw out a music store. I am more picky with my stereo stuff than most though, I like it to sound how it should lol.

I have our repetoire on my laptop, it is connected to a small mixer as is my Yamaha DTX.. I mix both and send to my Hi fi system via a Wireless transmitter - receiver. Or after hours just use phones from the mixer.. Works for me,,

Cheers

Wow, so many options. I am going to upgrade into the 21s century pretty soon and I have started looking at various recievers & different ways to get a good sound at high volume. Probably a laptop or a squeeze box with a new reciever. I was hoping to wear out my Marantz (4270) but I'll probably retire it when I get a replacement. I don't know if I will retire my Yamaha studio speakers yet because even listening to the new wave of speakers I can't tell much difference in the sound. I paid a pretty penny for them a long time ago. Maybe its the ringing in my ears or something Ha.

In the meantime my son called to let me know he's ok and I asked him for a solution until I am ready to pay out good cash for a new system. He told me to buy a 8gb mp3 with the right plugin cords and just plug it into the rca plugs where the cd player was. This would be something I could use until we upgraded.

So,I bought a sony 8gig mp3 player and I must have done something right because along with the bluetooth ear buds, and their own volume control, everything is ok for the short run.

But It is still hard for me to understand how such a small piece of plastic can load over a thousand songs and with my Marantz sounds as good as I had before, amazing.

Anyway I,am good to go until I settle on a good reciever and a Laptop to organize my collection of music.

I,ll get back with you'al when I go for the future, it shouldn't be too long. So thanks to all.

Tom